Shane Higgs
Encyclopedia
Shane Peter Higgs is an English footballer who is currently without a club after being released by Leeds United
in the summer of 2011.
, Oxfordshire
, Higgs began his career as a trainee at Bristol Rovers
. He joined York City
on loan in September 1995, but failed to make any appearances for the team. He made his league debut for Rovers on 19 November 1996 in a 2–1 defeat to Burnley
. However, he was unable to stake a regular claim and was given a free transfer to non-League
Worcester City
in 1998, after making 10 appearances for Rovers.
for £10,000 in 1999, after impressing in an FA
XI v Southern Football League
representative match in 1998. He spent nearly four years as reserve to Steve Book
, making only a handful of appearances, before finally breaking into the first team in March 2003.
He then become their firm number one and winning the club's Player of the Year award twice. Whilst at Cheltenham he gained two promotions and was a fixture in Cheltenhams first team for many years. His spell at Cheltenham came to an end when he joined Wolves on loan and after his contract expired at Cheltenham he left the club to join Leeds United on a free transfer.
of the Championship
on a month's loan on 27 November 2008, twice extended to reach the end of the season. However, he did not make an appearance for the club as they won promotion. He acted as number two goalkeeper whilst Wolves goalkeepers Matt Murray
, Wayne Hennessey
and Carl Ikeme had all faced spells on the sidelines. Before he moved to Leeds Wolves manager Mick McCarthy
highly recommended Higgs to Leeds manager Simon Grayson
.
now Championship side Leeds United
on a free transfer on 3 July 2009, signing a one-year contract. Higgs' chance came in pre-season against Newcastle United
and after a string of fine saves in the game and keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw, Higgs retained his place for the friendlies against Blackburn Rovers and Burnley
where he continued to impress. Higgs started the season as first-choice goalkeeper after fierce competition from former number one Casper Ankergren
, and he helped the club earn a valuable point away to Southend United
, after saving a Lee Barnard
penalty kick
in a 0–0 draw. Higgs conceded his first goal from open play in the league in the 4–1 over Gillingham
, which was the eighth game of the season.
Higgs suffered an injury against Milton Keynes Dons
and had to be replaced by Ankergren. It was revealed Higgs injury was a thigh injury and he is expected to miss a few games as a result. Higgs missed his first Leeds United game after his thigh injury ruled him out of the next few Leeds games. He is hoping to make his Leeds return in the game against Norwich City
. Higgs returned from injury and started the game against Norwich but suffered a recurrence of his thigh injury and had to be substituted and was replaced by Ankergren. He signed a new contract with Leeds in November 2009, which contracted him at the club until June 2011. Higgs was on the road to recovery, but still was not fit enough to return to the Leeds squad, as a result Leeds signed David Martin on loan as backup for Ankergren.
After almost six-months out with injury, Higgs returned to Leeds' squad when he was named as a substitute in the loss against Millwall. Higgs returned to the starting lineup in the next game against Norwich City replacing understudy Ankergren. Higgs played an instrumental part as Leeds were promoted to the Football League Championship after finishing in second place in League One and thus earning automatic promotion, however Leeds' signing of Kasper Schmeichel
, on 27 May 2010, put Higgs' position as number one under threat.
After much speculation over pre-season who would be first choice goalkeeper for the forthcoming season, it was Kasper Schmeichel
who was given the nod ahead of Higgs, when he made his debut for the club on 7 August 2010 in Leeds United's opening Football League Championship defeat against Derby County
. Higgs came into the starting lineup for his first appearance of the season, coming into the starting lineup against Leicester City
in the League Cup.
Higgs came into the starting lineup against Swansea City after Kasper Schmeichel picked up an ankle injury. After conceding five against Barnsley in a 5–2 defeat, Higgs kept a clean sheet in the next game against Doncaster Rovers
. Higgs was substituted in the second half of the match against Ipswich Town after picking up an injury. Higgs returned to Leeds' bench against Coventry City after recovering from injury.
After playing just seven league games for Leeds in The Championship, after being understudy to Kasper Schmeichel
, Higgs has left Leeds after it was announced the club were not renewing his contract.
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
in the summer of 2011.
Early career
Born in OxfordOxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, Higgs began his career as a trainee at Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
. He joined York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
on loan in September 1995, but failed to make any appearances for the team. He made his league debut for Rovers on 19 November 1996 in a 2–1 defeat to 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...
. However, he was unable to stake a regular claim and was given a free transfer to non-League
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
in 1998, after making 10 appearances for Rovers.
Cheltenham Town
He spent a single season with Worcester, before being signed by Cheltenham TownCheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
for £10,000 in 1999, after impressing in an FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
XI v Southern Football League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
representative match in 1998. He spent nearly four years as reserve to Steve Book
Steve Book
Steve Kim Book is an English professional football goalkeeper who is now the goalkeeper coach at Football League side Cheltenham Town. He has previously played for Mangotsfield United while being the goalkeeping coach at Cheltenham Town...
, making only a handful of appearances, before finally breaking into the first team in March 2003.
He then become their firm number one and winning the club's Player of the Year award twice. Whilst at Cheltenham he gained two promotions and was a fixture in Cheltenhams first team for many years. His spell at Cheltenham came to an end when he joined Wolves on loan and after his contract expired at Cheltenham he left the club to join Leeds United on a free transfer.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
He joined Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
of the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
on a month's loan on 27 November 2008, twice extended to reach the end of the season. However, he did not make an appearance for the club as they won promotion. He acted as number two goalkeeper whilst Wolves goalkeepers Matt Murray
Matt Murray
Matthew William "Matt" Murray is an English former football goalkeeper who spent his entire career at Wolverhampton Wanderers. His career was plagued by injuries which eventually forced him to retire aged 29.-Career:...
, Wayne Hennessey
Wayne Hennessey
Wayne Robert Hennessey is a Welsh international footballer who plays for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers as a goalkeeper.-Early career:...
and Carl Ikeme had all faced spells on the sidelines. Before he moved to Leeds Wolves manager Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
highly recommended Higgs to Leeds manager Simon Grayson
Simon Grayson
Simon Nicholas Grayson is a retired English footballer and current manager of Leeds United. He is the elder brother of cricketer Paul Grayson....
.
Leeds United
He joined the then League OneFootball League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
now Championship side Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
on a free transfer on 3 July 2009, signing a one-year contract. Higgs' chance came in pre-season against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
and after a string of fine saves in the game and keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw, Higgs retained his place for the friendlies against Blackburn Rovers and 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...
where he continued to impress. Higgs started the season as first-choice goalkeeper after fierce competition from former number one Casper Ankergren
Casper Ankergren
Casper Ankergren is a Danish professional football goalkeeper currently playing for English team Brighton & Hove Albion...
, and he helped the club earn a valuable point away to Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
, after saving a Lee Barnard
Lee Barnard
Lee James Barnard is an English footballer currently playing for Southampton.Born in Romford, London Borough of Havering in 1984, he attended Billericay's Mayflower County High School.-Playing career:...
penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in a 0–0 draw. Higgs conceded his first goal from open play in the league in the 4–1 over Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, which was the eighth game of the season.
Higgs suffered an injury against Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
and had to be replaced by Ankergren. It was revealed Higgs injury was a thigh injury and he is expected to miss a few games as a result. Higgs missed his first Leeds United game after his thigh injury ruled him out of the next few Leeds games. He is hoping to make his Leeds return in the game against Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. Higgs returned from injury and started the game against Norwich but suffered a recurrence of his thigh injury and had to be substituted and was replaced by Ankergren. He signed a new contract with Leeds in November 2009, which contracted him at the club until June 2011. Higgs was on the road to recovery, but still was not fit enough to return to the Leeds squad, as a result Leeds signed David Martin on loan as backup for Ankergren.
After almost six-months out with injury, Higgs returned to Leeds' squad when he was named as a substitute in the loss against Millwall. Higgs returned to the starting lineup in the next game against Norwich City replacing understudy Ankergren. Higgs played an instrumental part as Leeds were promoted to the Football League Championship after finishing in second place in League One and thus earning automatic promotion, however Leeds' signing of Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Peter Schmeichel is a Danish professional football goalkeeper, and son of Peter Schmeichel. He plays in the Npower Championship for Leicester City. He played 17 games for the Denmark under-21 national team...
, on 27 May 2010, put Higgs' position as number one under threat.
After much speculation over pre-season who would be first choice goalkeeper for the forthcoming season, it was Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Peter Schmeichel is a Danish professional football goalkeeper, and son of Peter Schmeichel. He plays in the Npower Championship for Leicester City. He played 17 games for the Denmark under-21 national team...
who was given the nod ahead of Higgs, when he made his debut for the club on 7 August 2010 in Leeds United's opening Football League Championship defeat against Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
. Higgs came into the starting lineup for his first appearance of the season, coming into the starting lineup against Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in the League Cup.
Higgs came into the starting lineup against Swansea City after Kasper Schmeichel picked up an ankle injury. After conceding five against Barnsley in a 5–2 defeat, Higgs kept a clean sheet in the next game against Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
. Higgs was substituted in the second half of the match against Ipswich Town after picking up an injury. Higgs returned to Leeds' bench against Coventry City after recovering from injury.
After playing just seven league games for Leeds in The Championship, after being understudy to Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Peter Schmeichel is a Danish professional football goalkeeper, and son of Peter Schmeichel. He plays in the Npower Championship for Leicester City. He played 17 games for the Denmark under-21 national team...
, Higgs has left Leeds after it was announced the club were not renewing his contract.
Cheltenham Town
- Third Division play-off winnersFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
: 2001–02 - League Two play-off winnersFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
: 2005–06
Leeds United
- League One Runners Up (Promoted): 2009–10
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Championship championsFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
: 2008–09
Club awards
- Cheltenham TownCheltenham Town F.C.Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
Player of the Year Awards – 2006–07: Players' Player of the Year - Cheltenham TownCheltenham Town F.C.Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
Player of the Year Awards – 2007–08: Players' Player of the Year