Higgs: Shane Peter (Shane)

2009-Current (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Oxford: 13-05-1977

Debut: v Exeter City (h): 08-08-2009

6’3” 14st 6lb (2009)

Higgs began his career as a trainee at Bristol Rovers, signing professional forms on 17th July 1995. He joined York City on loan in September 1995, but failed to make any appearances for Alan Little’s team. He made his League debut for Rovers on 19th November 1996 in a 2–1 home defeat by Burnley. However, he was unable to stake a regular claim and was given a free transfer to Southern League Worcester City in 1998, after making ten appearances for Rovers in two seasons. He only spent one season with Worcester, but it was enough to enhance his reputation and after thirty-eight league and Sixteen appearances in several Cup competitions, he moved to Cheltenham Town who paid £10,000 to sign him on 21st June 1999, after they had been impressed by his performance in an FA XI against the Dr Martens League representative match in 1998. He spent nearly four years as reserve to Steve Book, having to be content with just two substitute appearances, before finally breaking into the first team in March 2003 and making ten starts in that season. He then became their recognized number one and was virtually ever-present winning the club's Player of the Year award twice in 2007 and 2008. On 25th September 2006 he signed a new three year contract, which was designed to keep him at Whaddon Road until the end of the 2008-09 season. Whilst at Cheltenham he gained two promotions in 2002 and 2006 and appeared in two hundred and thirty-seven League games of which two were as a substitute and started fourteen F.A. Cup ties and eight League Cup games as well as playing thirteen times in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and three times in League Two play-off finals. His stay at Cheltenham came to an end when he joined CCCL side Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan for one month on 27th November 2008. He never actually played a competitive game in his stay at Molineux, although his stay was twice extended, and he finally stayed until the end of the season, but acted as number two to several keepers and as an unused substitute. He earned a medal as Wolverhampton finished Champions of the CCCL. He joined League One side Leeds United on a free transfer on a one year contract on 3rd July 2009. After a good showing in the pre-season games, Higgs started the season as first-choice goalkeeper, making his debut in the first fixture of the season at home to Exeter City on 8th August 2009 and cemented his spot in the team until a thigh injury in the game on 26th September2009 at MK Dons sidelined him. At first it was thought to be a minor problem but eventually sidelined him for most of the season. The club showed faith in him and on 13th November 2009 he signed an extension to his contract which would keep him at Elland Road until the end of the 2010-11 season. He eventually returned in time to join in the run-in to United's promotion, as runners-up. On 27th May 2010, Leeds signed Kasper Schmeichel and Higgs knew his first-team place was under threat from the big Dane. After performing well when given the chance in pre-season friendlies, it seemed, for a while, that he might withstand the threat, but it was Schmeichel who got the nod for the first game of the season at home to Derby County on 7th August 2010. He was given a run in the League Cup against Leicester City on 24th August 2010. Schmeichel picked up an foot injury and Higgs returned for the games against Swansea City, on 11th September, Barnsley, on 14th September, Doncaster Rovers, on 17th September, Sheffield United on 25th September and Preston North End, on 28th September, but again his luck ran out as he had to come off in the sixty-third minute after an hamstring injury. Higgs returned to Leeds' bench against Coventry City on 5th November 2010, after recovering from injury, but those six games were to be his only ones in the Championship, as was his lone game in the League Cup that season. He did sit patiently on the bench but he was never called on to the field. On 13th May 2011 Leeds did not renew his contract and he became a free agent. He joined Northampton Town on 24th December 2011 and had made three League appearances for them by the end of March 2012.