During Brentford's match with Cardiff City on Monday, one of the finest players in the Club’s history was honoured. Tommy Higginson left an indelible mark at Griffin Park throughout the 1960s, and was posthumously inducted into the Brentford FC Hall of Fame. The award was presented to his wife and son Andrew at half-time by Brentford Chairman Cliff Crown.
Tommy joined Brentford from Kilmarnock in the summer of 1959, initially as an inside forward. He made himself a firm favourite at Griffin Park with a number of spirited displays, which arrived in a number of positions. However, his favoured berth was at wing half.
He finished his Brentford career at the age of 33 with 388 league appearances and 433 in all competitions - he also scored 15 goals for The Bees, picking up a Fourth Division Championship winners’ medal in 1963. Tommy was honoured with a testimonial against Queens Park Rangers at Griffin Park in April 1969.
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the attempted takeover by Queens Park Rangers, it is worth noting that he, above all players at the time, were remembered for taking the lead in fundraising activities. He walked from Brighton to Brentford in June 1967 in order to raise funds to repay a huge loan which enabled the Club to be bought from Jack Dunnett.
He finished first amongst a field of more than 200, despite losing his way en route, with three other players dropping out.
By the time he left Griffin Park to join Hillingdon Borough in the summer of 1970, he was second on the Club's all-time appearances list. To this day, only Ken Coote, Jamie Bates, Peter Gelson, and Kevin O'Connor have made more appearances for the Club.
He died on July 22 2012, at the age of 75.