Mark Higgins (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Nicholas Higgins is an English
former footballer who played at centre back for Everton
, Manchester United
, Bury
and Stoke City
.
, Derbyshire
, Higgins joined Everton as an apprentice in 1975, before turning professional in August 1976. He made his first team debut for the Toffees on 5 October 1976, playing in a 2–2 draw at home to Manchester City
. After making just two appearances for the club in the 1976–77 season, he then played 32 times as the team finished in third place in 1977–78. However, mainly due to competition from more experienced players, Higgins struggled to establish himself as a regular first team player. Then, during the 1982–83 season, after captain Billy Wright was dropped, Higgins was named as his successor to the captain's armband, and missed just three games that year.
Unfortunately, just when Higgins might have been expecting an extended run in the side, he suffered what was believed to be a minor groin injury in a League Cup
Fourth Round replay against West Ham United
. In actuality, Higgins had picked up a rather more severe pelvic disorder, which forced him to temporarily retire from the game in May 1984.
Defying all expectations, Higgins returned to the game 18 months later, when he joined Manchester United
for £
60,000 in December 1985. He made his Manchester United debut in a 2–0 home win over Rochdale
in the FA Cup
Third Round on 9 January 1986. However, he was unable to recover the form he had shown while with Everton and, after just eight appearances for United (six league, two cup), he was allowed to go on loan to Bury
in January 1987 before the transfer was made permanent in February 1987 for a fee of £10,000.
Higgins played for Bury until September 1988, when he moved to Stoke City
. After just over two seasons with Stoke, Higgins picked up a back injury while on trial with Burnley
and finally retired from the game permanently.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer who played at centre back for Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
and Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
.
Career
Born in BuxtonBuxton
Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, Higgins joined Everton as an apprentice in 1975, before turning professional in August 1976. He made his first team debut for the Toffees on 5 October 1976, playing in a 2–2 draw at home to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. After making just two appearances for the club in the 1976–77 season, he then played 32 times as the team finished in third place in 1977–78. However, mainly due to competition from more experienced players, Higgins struggled to establish himself as a regular first team player. Then, during the 1982–83 season, after captain Billy Wright was dropped, Higgins was named as his successor to the captain's armband, and missed just three games that year.
Unfortunately, just when Higgins might have been expecting an extended run in the side, he suffered what was believed to be a minor groin injury in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
Fourth Round replay against West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. In actuality, Higgins had picked up a rather more severe pelvic disorder, which forced him to temporarily retire from the game in May 1984.
Defying all expectations, Higgins returned to the game 18 months later, when he joined Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
60,000 in December 1985. He made his Manchester United debut in a 2–0 home win over Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Third Round on 9 January 1986. However, he was unable to recover the form he had shown while with Everton and, after just eight appearances for United (six league, two cup), he was allowed to go on loan to Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in January 1987 before the transfer was made permanent in February 1987 for a fee of £10,000.
Higgins played for Bury until September 1988, when he moved to Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
. After just over two seasons with Stoke, Higgins picked up a back injury while on trial with Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
and finally retired from the game permanently.