Hignett: Craig John (Craig)

2004-2004 (Player Details)

Striker/Midfield

Born: Prescot: 12-01-1970

Debut: Nil

5’9” 11st 10lb (2007)

After attending school in Huyton, Liverpool, Craig started his career in the youth team at his hometown before moving to Crewe Alexandra in 1988, making his debut on 8th October 1988 against Wrexham. In his first spell with Crewe he made one hundred and fifty appearances, including sixteen as substitute, helping them to promotion from the old Division Four in the 1988-89 season and to the play offs in the 2001-02 season, his last season at Gresty Road, before moving to the EPL with Middlesbrough in November 1992. After the club were relegated in his first season with Middlesbrough, he helped them back up two seasons later. In 1996-97 Hignett again suffered relegation with Middlesbrough and was part of the team that lost in the FA Cup Final and League Cup Final in the same season. He had however made sure of a place in the club's history by scoring the first goal at the Riverside Stadium, their new ground, in a 2-0 win over Chelsea at the start of 1995/6 Season. Hignett also famously took a pay cut in order to stay at the club at one point, in stark contrast to the many big-name signings Middlesbrough were bringing in at the time. In July 1998 he left Middlesbrough to sign for Aberdeen on a free transfer having made one hundred and ninety-four appearances, including thirty-five off the bench, and scored forty-eight goals for Boro. His stay at Aberdeen was short lived, less than six months, before signing for Barnsley for £800,000 in November1998. He scored twice in fifteen appearances for the Dons. After suffering relegation from the Premiership, Barnsley were looking for a quick return to the top flight and Hignett's twenty goals in his second season at Oakwell helped them reach the play off final of the 1999-2000 season. Hignett scored twice in the final but Barnsley lost 4-2 to Ipswich Town. Hignett finally left Barnsley in July 2000 after seventy-three starting appearances, and another four from the bench, and scoring thirty-five goals for the club. He signed for Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £2.25 million. He helped Rovers regain there Premiership status and won a League Cup winners medal in 2002 when Blackburn beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the final. However, in the 2002-03 season he only played three League games and one UEFA Cup game. Hignett was sent on loan to Coventry City halfway through the season, having eight starts and one from the bench and scoring twice in his short stay. After returning, he scored on the final day of the season in what was to prove to be his last appearance for Blackburn Rovers. He played sixty-eight times, with exactly half of them from the bench, and scored fourteen goals for Rovers before being released. In July 2003 he signed for Leicester City but struggled to get in the side, making only fifteen appearances, of which ten were from the bench, and only scoring once before going on loan back to Crewe Alexandra in February 2004 season and playing another fifteen games, including four as substitute, and failed to score. In the 2004-05 pre-season he had a brief stint on trial at Leeds United. His only action was to play in a friendly at Oldham on 23rd July 2004 and was an unused substitute in the home fixture with Huddersfield Town in the League Cup on 24th August 2004. After being rejected by Leeds he then signed for Darlington in September 2004, scoring on his debut. He scored nine times in nineteen games, two of which were off the bench, before moving to Cyprus in April 2005 to apparently end his professional playing days with Apollon Limossol. In late August 2006, Hignett signed for Northern League Two side Spennymoor United on a part-time contract. He made an impressive debut for them scoring in a 3-1 win over title challengers, South Shields. He made limited appearances and on 22nd March 2007, Hartlepool United signed Hignett on a short-term contract. Hignett had been training with the club and had taken part in Reserve Team fixtures prior to signing up permanently. He left the club in May 2007, after two goalless substitute appearances. He now works as an agent.