Emma Higgins

Emma Mary Higgins (born 15 May 1986) is an association football goalkeeper from Northern Ireland, currently playing for Glentoran. She previously played for Icelandic clubs Grindavík, KR and Selfoss. In 2013 she was with Doncaster Rovers Belles of the FA WSL. Since her first appearance in 2004, Higgins has accrued over 85 caps for Northern Ireland.

Emma Higgins
Emma Higgins (in blue) playing against Sweden in May 2014.
Personal information
Full name Emma Mary Higgins
Date of birth (1986-05-15) 15 May 1986
Place of birth Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 6 1⁄2 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Glentoran
Number 24
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Ballymena United Allstars
Glentoran Belfast United
2007–2010 Leeds United
2010–2011 Grindavík 26 (0)
2012 KR 7 (0)
2013 Doncaster Rovers Belles 0 (0)
2014–2017 Grindavík 48 (0)
2018 Selfoss 1 (0)
2019– Glentoran
National team‡
2004– Northern Ireland 87 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14:50, 30 June 2012 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Ballymena,[2] Higgins played for her hometown club before joining Glentoran Belfast United. She had originally played outfield but when the Ballymena Allstars goalkeeper became pregnant, Higgins was selected as her replacement. The coach knew Higgins had a background in Gaelic football and reasoned she would be good at catching the ball.[3] In 2007, she won a scholarship to Leeds Metropolitan University and signed for Leeds United, where she competed with Carly Telford for a place in the team.[4]

She subsequently played for Grindavík and KR in the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild.[5] She returned to Northern Ireland to play for Glentoran ahead of the 2019 Women's Premiership season.[3]

International career

Higgins made her senior Northern Ireland debut aged 17, against Portugal at the Algarve Cup in March 2004.[6] Eight years later she made her 50th appearance against New Zealand at the 2012 Cyprus Cup. Higgins was named captain for the occasion and was Player of the Match in Northern Ireland's 2–0 defeat.[7]

In June 2012, Higgins was named as one of four reserves to the 18-player Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.[8]

References
  1. "Women's Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 – List of Players Great Britain" (PDF). FIFA. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  2. "Wylie names squad to face England". Irish Football Association. 27 February 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  3. Sterling, Mark (26 June 2019). "Lunch with Mo, FA Cup final and World Cup dreams - Glens keeper prepares for League Cup showpiece". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  4. "Emma's aiming to keep out English hotshots". Ballymena Times. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  5. "Emma Mary Higgins" (in Icelandic). KSI.is. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  6. "Hutton Hits Half Century". She Kicks. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  7. "Emma Wins 50th Cap". Irish Football Association. 29 February 2012. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  8. "Northern Ireland keeper Higgins named as GB squad reserve". BBC Sport. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
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