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Published: Thursday 04 Sep 2008
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Sunderland fans deliver their verdict on Danny Higginbotham following his move back to the Potteries

Higgy waved goodbye to the Stadium of Light after a season in the North East

by Dave Knapper
dave.knapper@thesentinel.co.uk

DANNY Higginbotham is no stranger to Stoke fans having spent a successful year in the Potteries where he won the Player-of-the-Season award and was made club captain.

Those performances for City lead to a £2.5 million move to the Premier League with Sunderland in August last year.

Higgy returned to the Britannia Stadium this week following just one season in the North East with Roy Keane’s Black Cats.

During his 12-month stay at the Stadium of Light the 29-year-old made 22 appearances and scored three goals - including a strike against fierce rivals Newcastle United.

But was a goal against in one of the country’s most heated derbies enough to win admiration from the Mackems?

Sunderland fan Kevin Gibson, aged 25, lives just five miles from the Stadium of Light has mixed views on Higgy departing the club.

Kevin, a web and graphic designer, said: “I am sorry to see him go, yes and no.

“Yes, because I do quite like him and he was part of the squad that kept us up and I'm a sucker for sentiment, but no, because he was on the outskirts of the team and we got some money back for him.

“He wasn't going to get much of a game at centre back with Ferdinand coming in and Collins being preferred, and with George McCartney coming back I can't see him getting much of a look in there.

I would have liked to have seen more of him at left back, like I say he looked good there against Spurs, but I don't know how much of that is us not having a proper left back in the
two years since George McCartney left

“When he first came to the club and played centre back last season, he did look clumsy at times. He'd be a yard off the pace and do stupid things, making needless challenges and pulling shirts to make up for his mistakes. I seem to remember he gave penalties away in a few games and free kicks in dangerous areas trying to recover from a man going past him or letting the ball bounce.”

Life-long Sunderland fan Stephen Johnston, from Southwick, will always remember Higgy for his goal against Newcastle.

He said: “Any scorer against Newcastle enters a very special select group of past Sunderland players. Danny went one better and scored also against Middlesbrough in a vital game at the end of last season so he will always be welcomed back to the Stadium of Light.

“He has a lot of heart, never seems to give up. He’s good in the air as shown by his goals for us last season so he’s always a threat at set pieces, however he isn’t the quickest player and sometimes got caught out of position and is prone to the odd silly mistake that you get punished a lot more for at this level.”

Stirling-based Sunderland fan Ewan Moffatt, reckons the £2.5 million the Black Cats paid was correct.

Ewan, a quantity surveyor, said: “ I think he has proved to be worth the money we paid for him.

“He has played quite a large number of games, has generally coped well and, of course, he has chipped in with a couple of goals.

“He was obviously brought in to try and play a part in keeping us in the Premier League and, since we achieved our goal and he played a part in it, I think he has very much justified his price tag.

“I think he will do a perfectly good job in the Premier League with Stoke.

“He isn’t outstanding, but he is very much, in my opinion, capable of holding his own in the premier league.

“If you are wanting to push on above around 15th place, he might not be an ideal first team choice, but if the aim is, as I assume it will be, to survive this season, he will be a good addition.”

With Stoke currently looking healthy for the number of centre backs at the club, it looks likely Higgy will be shifted out to left back - the position he played in the opening games of his first spell for the Potters.

Thirty-year-old Andrew Calder, from Sunderland, believes its a position the former Southampton player can handle.

He said: “Danny played predominantly as a centre half last season, but was used mostly as a left back this pre season and in our early games.

“I'd say he's looked better at full back, but then again he didn't really play with a regular centre back partner last season and he and Paul McShane really didn't do each other two many favours!”

Jim Inkson, a 58-year-old sociology lecturer from South Sheilds, is sorry to see Higgy leave.
He said: “Danny is without a shadow of a doubt a much improved player since he made his debut at the Stadium of Light.

“Will always be remembered as the scorer of a vital goal against the enemy Newcastle in the heated derby last season. He had some problems adjusting to the pace of the premiership, but has looked strong recently and had a good game recently against Spurs away.

“I for one will be sorry to see him leave as He was dependable and reliable, Stoke have a good player for their money.”

Ian Keeley, a customer service adviser for the Royal Mail, said: “Whilst Here Danny was an
excellent pro and I am sad to see him go.

“He will always remembered up here for his goal against Newcastle for us.

“When played he never let us down and was often asked to play in different positions from game to game and in some games moved about a couple of times during the match to accommodate substitutions.

“When fit he was more or less in the squad every week and never moaned about not been picked.

“I regularly go and watch the first team train and he always trained the best and was still always willing to have a chat and word with anyone who was there.”

Michael Scullion, has held a season ticket at Sunderland for 35-years.

The 46-year-old, distribution manager for Durham, said: “Personally I'm slightly disappointed that Higgy has gone as I think he would have been a useful squad member for us moving forward. He was left-back in a tight display at Spurs in our only victory so far

“He has a number of attributes, his attitude and commitment being at the fore - but also his goalscoring was also a vital ingredient last season and that will be missed

“He was however prone to lapses of concentration and rash challenges in unnecessary areas and situations and I think this was possibly his undoing here.

“Also I'm sure the club will have been looking to recover wage costs wherever possible following recent substantial investment.”

Sunderland fan Chris Sumby added: “Best of luck look to him at Stoke, Higgy should get a warm welcome when comes back playing for City.”

And Higgy will no doubt be hoping for a warm welcome from City supporters after ruffling a few feathers when he departed for Sunderland 12 months ago...