16 Facts About Tommy Higginson

Thomas Higginson was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a left half and inside forward.

Tommy Higginson 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.

Tommy Higginson began his career with spells at junior clubs Edina Hibs and Penicuik Athletic.

In 1956, Kilmarnock manager Malky McDonald saw Tommy Higginson playing in a junior match and invited the youngster to a trial with the Scottish League club.

Tommy Higginson impressed enough to win a contract, but departed Killie in the summer of 1959 without making an appearance, having missed two years due to his National Service and a ligament injury.

Tommy Higginson began his time with the club in the reserve team.

An inside forward, Tommy Higginson made his debut in a league match versus Tranmere Rovers on 27 February 1960.

In October 1964, Tommy Higginson suffered the ignominy of being the first Brentford player to be sent off since the resumption of football after the Second World War, when he, along with opposition player Eric Brodie, was sent off during a league match versus Shrewsbury Town.

The News of the World Football Annual stated that Tommy 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, Tommy Higginson volunteered to take part in a Brentford to Brighton walk, to raise funds for the club.

Tommy Higginson made 433 appearances for the Bees and is fifth on the club's record appearances list.

Tommy Higginson was posthumously inducted into the Brentford Hall of Fame in December 2016.

Tommy Higginson ended his career with Southern League Premier Division club Hillingdon Borough and reached the final of the FA Trophy with the club in 1971.

Tommy Higginson played on in Sunday league football during the 1970s, appearing for Thornbury, Syon Villa, Northumberland and Sutton Athletic.

Tommy Higginson retired from all football in 1990, at age 53.

Tommy Higginson's funeral was attended by many former Brentford favourites, including Peter Gelson, Alan Hawley and Gordon Phillips.