Tommy Higginson

Thomas Higginson (6 January 1937 – 22 July 2012) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a left half and inside forward. He is best remembered for his 12-year spell in the Football League with Brentford, for whom he made 433 appearances and is a member of the club's Hall of Fame.

Club career

Kilmarnock Higginson began his career with spells at junior clubs Edina Hibs and Penicuik Athletic. He impressed enough to win a contract, but departed Killie in the summer of 1959 without making an appearance, He began his time with the club in the reserve team. An inside forward, Higginson made his debut in a league match versus Tranmere Rovers on 27 February 1960. For the following game versus Bournemouth, Higginson replaced club legend Jim Towers in the line-up and the Griffin Park support responded by booing manager Malky McDonald's decision. Despite this beginning, Higginson soon won over the Bees supporters with his performances. The News of the World Football Annual stated that Higginson once passed back to his own goalkeeper from a corner kick. In 1967 and with Brentford in a dire financial situation and the subject of a takeover bid by rivals Queens Park Rangers, Higginson volunteered to take part in a Brentford to Brighton walk, to raise funds for the club. earning £1,853 from a 6,620 crowd. He made 433 appearances for the Bees and is fifth on the club's record appearances list. He was posthumously inducted into the Brentford Hall of Fame in December 2016.

Sunday League career Higginson played on in Sunday league football during the 1970s, appearing for Thornbury, Syon Villa, Northumberland and Sutton Athletic. Higginson's funeral was attended by many former Brentford favourites, including Peter Gelson, Alan Hawley and Gordon Phillips.

Career statistics

Honours Brentford

Football League Fourth Division: 1962–63

Individual

Brentford Hall of Fame