Mickey Higham Explained

Micky Higham
Fullname:Michael Higham
Birth Date:1980 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Billinge Higher End, Wigan, England
Height:5feet
Weight:13st [1]
Club1:Leigh Centurions
Year1start:1999
Year1end:00
Appearances1:45
Tries1:22
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:88
Club2:St Helens
Year2start:2001
Year2end:05
Appearances2:116
Tries2:35
Goals2:0
Fieldgoals2:0
Points2:140
Club3:Wigan Warriors
Year3start:2006
Year3end:08
Appearances3:97
Tries3:17
Goals3:0
Fieldgoals3:0
Points3:68
Club4:Warrington Wolves
Year4start:2009
Year4end:15
Appearances4:174
Tries4:37
Goals4:1
Fieldgoals4:0
Points4:150
Club5:Leigh Centurions
Year5start:2015
Year5end:17
Appearances5:68
Tries5:5
Goals5:0
Fieldgoals5:0
Points5:20
Club6:Leigh Centurions
Year6start:2018
Year6end:19
Appearances6:22
Tries6:1
Goals6:0
Fieldgoals6:0
Points6:4
Teama:Great Britain
Yearastart:2004
Yearaend:05
Appearancesa:4
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
Teamb:England
Yearbstart:2008
Yearbend:09
Appearancesb:4
Triesb:1
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:4
Retired:yes
Source:[2] [3] [4] [5]
Updated:17 November 2018

Mickey Higham (born 18 September 1980) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.

He played for the Leigh Centurions in three separate spells in the Super League and Betfred Championship. Higham also played for St Helens, Wigan Warriors and the Warrington Wolves in the top flight. He played for both Great Britain and England at international level.[2] [3]

Background

Higham was born in Billinge Higher End, Wigan, England.

Playing career

Leigh Centurions

Higham joined St Helens from Leigh in November 2000.[6]

St Helens

Higham played for St. Helens from the interchange bench in their 2002 Super League Grand Final victory against Bradford Bulls. Having won Super League VI, St Helens contested the 2003 World Club Challenge against 2002 NRL Premiers, Sydney Roosters. Higham played from the interchange bench in Saints' 38–0 loss.

He suffered an ankle injury which ruled him out of most of 2004's Super League IX. He'd made over 100 appearances for St Helens, scoring 33 tries.

Wigan Warriors

Higham joined Wigan in October 2005 after a transfer deal involving three clubs, and fellow Terry Newton. Higham was unable to join Wigan directly as his club, St. Helens, would not sell. However, Bradford Bulls stepped in and bought Higham from Saints for £70,000 and then immediately released him to Wigan. In exchange, Wigan allowed Terry Newton to join Bradford. Higham signed a three-year deal with Wigan and commented: "It looked at one stage as though I would be playing next season at Bradford but when the opportunity to join Wigan came up at the last minute I jumped at it." At Wigan, Higham again teamed up with coach Ian Millward who he had played under at both Leigh and St Helens. Millward was however sacked by Wigan in April 2006 and Higham, ironically, was coached by Brian Noble who was Bradford coach at the time of the "three-club transfer". Higham's contract at Wigan was not renewed, and he subsequently signed for Warrington on a two-year deal.

Warrington Wolves

Higham enjoyed a successful spell with the Wolves making 174 appearances and was a fans favourite throughout his time at the club. [7]

Higham played in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos at Wembley Stadium.[8]

He played in the 2012 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos at Wembley Stadium.[9] [10] [11] [12]

He played in the 2012 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.[13]

He played in the 2013 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford.[14] [15] [16] [17] [18]

Leigh

Higham then returned to his first club Leigh for £50,000 on 20 May 2015,.[19]

On 11 September 2019 Higham announced his retirement to join the Leigh coaching staff[20]

International career

He made his Great Britain début in the 2004 Gillette Tri-Nations against New Zealand, after recovering from an ankle injury which ruled him out of most of 2004's Super League IX.[5]

In September 2008, he was named in the England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup,[21] and in October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man England squad.[22] He was named in the England team to face Wales at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, prior to England's departure for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[4] [23] He made his England début in the victory over Wales on 10 October 2008.[24]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brian Carney's Warrington player profiles. news.bbc.co.uk. 28 August 2009. 1 January 2010.
  2. Web site: Profile at loverugbyleague.com. loverugbyleague.com. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  4. Web site: England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk. englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  5. Web site: Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk. englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  6. Web site: Higham joins Saints.
  7. News: Leeds 6–30 Warrington. BBC. 28 August 2010. 28 August 2010. Ged. Scott.
  8. News: Chris Hicks hat-trick leads Warrington to Challenge Cup triumph over Leeds . London . The Guardian . Andy . Wilson . 28 August 2010 . 22 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100831105934/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/aug/28/leeds-rhinos-warrington-wolves-challenge-cup-final . 31 August 2010 . live . dmy .
  9. Web site: Warrington's battered Brett Hodgson recovers to see off Leeds in final. 25 August 2012. Guardian UK. 20 November 2019.
  10. Web site: Leeds' Kevin Sinfield stars in Grand Final triumph against Warrington. Guardian. 6 October 2012. 20 November 2019.
  11. Web site: Leeds Rhinos 18–35 Warrington Wolves. 25 August 2012. BBC Sport. 20 November 2019.
  12. Web site: Warrington Wolves Are Challenge Cup Winners 2012! . 25 August 2012 . Warrington Wolves Official Site . 20 November 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131217230118/http://www.warringtonwolves.org/warrington-wolves-are-challenge-cup-winners-2012-5628 . 17 December 2013 . dmy .
  13. News: Grand Final: Warrington 18-26 Leeds. 20 November 2019. BBC Sport. 6 October 2012.
  14. Web site: Super League Grand Final . Super League . 14 July 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130729050226/http://www.superleague.co.uk/super_league/grandfinal . 29 July 2013.
  15. News: Newsum. Matt. Super League Grand Final: Wigan Warriors beat Warrington. 13 November 2019. BBC Sport. 5 October 2013.
  16. Web site: Super League Grand Final: Warrington v Wigan. BBC Sport. 13 November 2019.
  17. Web site: Warrington Wolves 16 Wigan Warriors 30. 5 October 2013. Daily Telegraph. 13 November 2019.
  18. Web site: Wigan see off Warrington in X-rated Grand Final to complete double. 5 October 2013. Guardian . 13 November 2019.
  19. News: Higham signs for Leigh Centurions. Leigh Reporter. 20 May 2015. 20 May 2015. Mark. Taylor.
  20. Web site: Micky Higham to retire at end of season. Leigh Journal. 19 Dec 2020.
  21. Web site: Myler gets England call. England Rugby League. 29 September 2008. 3 October 2008. unfit. https://web.archive.org/web/20081007232803/http://www.englandrl.co.uk/article.php?id=11890. 7 October 2008 .
  22. News: Purdham earns World Cup call-up. BBC. 7 October 2008. 7 October 2008.
  23. News: Gleeson to lead new-look England. BBC. 9 October 2008. 10 October 2008.
  24. News: England warm up in style. Sky Sports. 10 October 2008. 11 October 2008.