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Ron Higgins
Personal information
Full name Ronald Valentine Higgins[1]
Date of birth (1923-02-14)14 February 1923
Place of birth Custom House, England
Date of death 23 January 2016(2016-01-23) (aged 92)
Place of death Newham, England
Position(s) Centre forward
Youth career
West Ham United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Leyton
Clapton
Green & Silley Weir
1949–1950 Leyton Orient 2 (0)
1950–1952 Tonbridge
1952–1953 Brighton & Hove Albion 8 (0)
1953–1954 Queens Park Rangers 3 (1)
1954–1955 Sittingbourne
1955–1956 Chelmsford City
Managerial career
East Ham United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ronald Valentine Higgins (14 February 1923 – 23 January 2016) was an English footballer who played as a centre forward.

Early life

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Born in Maplin Road, Custom House, Higgins began his career with local club West Ham United. Whilst in the youth ranks at West Ham, Higgins scored five times in a 6–1 win against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. In 1939, Higgins joined R & H Green & Silley Weir in the Royal Docks as an apprentice driller.[2] During World War II, Higgins served as a gunner in the Royal Air Force, surviving 32 missions. A supporter of the Labour Party, Higgins was a trade union convenor following the war, first voting in a general election in 1945.[3] Higgins also won numerous awards as a sprinter in the Essex County Championships.[4]

Club career

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Before joining the Royal Air Force, Higgins played amateur football with Leyton and Clapton. Following the war, Higgins played for works team Green & Silley Weir. In December 1949, Higgins signed amateur forms with Leyton Orient. Whilst at Leyton Orient, Higgins made three appearances for the club in the Third Division South, before signing for Tonbridge in September 1950.[1][4]

In January 1952, Higgins returned to the Football League, signing for Brighton & Hove Albion. At Brighton, Higgins made eight league appearances before departing the following January to join Queens Park Rangers, with Bert Addinall being exchanged as part of the transfer.[1][5] On 28 February 1953, Higgins made his debut for Queens Park Rangers, against his former employers Brighton, scoring in a 3–3 draw at home.[6] Higgins made two further appearances in the league for QPR, without scoring.[1]

In January 1954, Higgins dropped back into non-League football, signing for Sittingbourne.[7] During the 1955–56 season, Higgins signed for Chelmsford City, following a successful trial with the club. At Chelmsford, Higgins scored nine goals in 17 appearances in all competitions.[8]

Managerial career

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Following his playing career, Higgins managed East Ham United, winning the Woolwich Cup during his time at the club.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Ron Higgins". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Footballer, RAF gunner and 'true hero' from Newham dies". Newham Recorder. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Bank Holiday Green Street, Harlow, Stratford & Ilford North". John's Labour Blog. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Up There Cazaly!" (.pdf). Tonbridge Angels F.C. 9 February 2016. p. 2. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Sporting memories - our look back to the 1953/54 season". Brighton & Hove Albion. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  6. ^ Rose, Ash (2012). The QPR Miscellany. The History Press. ISBN 978-0752467382.
  7. ^ "Queens Park Rangers 1953–54" (.xls). QPRnet. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  8. ^ "City Memorabilia". Chelmsford City Supporters' Club. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
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