Higginbotham Calls Time On Career

DEFENDER Danny Higginbotham has decided to retire from football after just two appearances for boyhood club Altrincham.

Higginbotham, 35, joined the Skrill North club last week after deciding to leave Chester. With his increasing media work, the former Stoke City man thought Step 2 would better suit him.

However, after Tuesday night’s 5-4 defeat at Gainsborough, Higginbotham decided to call it quits, saying that he no longer felt the enjoyment of playing.

The Gibraltar international started his career at Manchester United before enjoying spells at the likes of Derby, Southampton, Stoke, Sunderland and Sheffield United before dropping into Non-League with Chester at the start of this season.

He was a big part of then-boss Neil Young’s defence but with work commitments taking priority, Higginbotham fulfilled a life-long ambition and signed for Alty.

“I realise this will come completely out of the blue to a lot of people, but, believe me, it is not a decision that has been taken lightly,” he said.

“It is a massive step to hang up your boots and accept you are finished, but it’s one I could not avoid.

“The plain truth is, I have been going on to the pitch recently not wanting to get hurt. It’s almost like I’ve been going through the motions, and that’s not me.

“I haven’t been enjoying it, and I haven’t been giving my best, and that’s not only out of character but something I can’t live with. I have never short-changed anyone in my life, and I’m not about to start now, especially with a club and set of supporters as close to my heart as Altrincham.

“That pointed to just one conclusion and, while I’ll never forget signing forms at the ground and pulling on the shirt, I’m just desperately sorry it’s all over after only two games.

“To be honest, the downward spiral started when I decided I’d had enough of full-time football with still a year left on my contract. That told me something, but I still went to Chester because my media work was taking off and I wanted to show there was still something left in the tank. For the first few weeks, I enjoyed it and thought it might work out.

“I had to be true to myself, and if I had carried on pocketing money for the rest of the season, I’d have been letting down the rest of the players, the manager, the supporters and everyone connected with the club. I hope no-one thinks negatively of me, but the plain fact is, I couldn’t do that. That is the top and bottom of it, really.”