Royal Marines Football
"Corps football whats it all about"
Former Player
Anthony George Higgins 1939 - 2020
By RMFA Historian Shaun Foster
1973 RM Deal Football Team
Maj-Gen R. B. Loudoun presents Sgt Tony Higgins with Deal Wednesday Cup
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Picture 1 Sgt Tony Higgins Joint Services Captain 1968 v Kilibski Dynamos at Jalan Stadium Singapore
Picture 2 Tony Higgins pictured in 1963 playing for Depot RM Deal
Picture 3 1969 Presidents Cup Winners, Royal Marines, Amos, Mick Hardie, Tony Higgins, John Ellis, Elliott.
Royal Marines Sportsman of the Month, (source 1977 Jan/Feb edition page 43 Globe & Laurel magazine).
Born three weeks after the outbreak of World War 2, Tony Higgins is a sportsman of many parts. He represented his school in Woking at Cricket, Rugby, Boxing, Athletics, Swimming, Cross Country, Badminton and Soccer. After leaving school he signed for Preston North End but decided the Corps offered a more secure future. He joined in 1957 and had his first Corps soccer success whilst at Poole being in there winning Tunney Cup team.
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His draft to HQ 3 Cdo Bde in 1960 was the start of what was to be a continuing sporting career starting with soccer and finishing with his present achievement as a Great Britain Bobsleigh man. Whilst in the Far East he played for the Singapore State Soccer Team in the Djakarta games. Returning to the UK, he qualified as a PT2 returning to Singapore with 42 Commando. He was made Combined Services Soccer skipper playing against the Russian Dynamos, an England Xl and was in the winning President's Gold Cup team in the Djakarta games.
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Meanwhile his athletic prowess in the shot and javelin was developing and he still holds the Corps record of 62 metres in the latter event. In most units in which he has served he has represented them also at judo, hockey and cricket. In between time he has had tours with 42 Commando (Borneo and Sarawak) and 41 Commando (Malta and Cyprus).
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In 1973 he tried his hand at the Bobsleigh under the expert guidance of Capt Roger Spiers, working his way up to the Navy and finally the British team. In 1974 and 1975 he won the Brakeman's Trophy, was second both years in the British Championships and was on the short list for the last Olympics. Now, at the age of 37, he has achieved International honours by being selected for the Great Britain Bobsleigh Team. He is brakeman to Leading Airman Colin Rimmer (RNAS Culdrose), competing as GB ll in the two-man Bobsleigh World Championship at St Moritz, and is also competing in the four man Bobsleigh crew.
1978 Sgt Higgins RM (No 2 from front) in the Great British 4 man Bobsleigh team. Kneeling is Capt Roger Spiers RM
1963 Depot RM Deal Football Team
Back Row L to R Curly Barlow, Griffith, Porter, Dusty Millar, Lt Chase, QMS Ken Ketcher.
Front Row L to R Ollivant, John Ellis, Tony Higgins, Williams, Willie Turnbull, TBC
1969 40Cdo Football Team Singapore
(Sent in by former CSgt Geoff Barker)
Back row on his own Scouse West Back row L to R Les Danter, Doc Barr, Ginge Golder, Geoff Barker, Ray Johnston, Brian Goble, John Thacker, Curly Hilson Front row L to R TBC, Alexander, QMS Sticks Norton (Manager), Tony Higgins (Trainer), Terry Glover, John Chapman
1970 RN 1 v Southampton FC 4
Back ro L to R Merriman, Geof Atkey, Keith Wilson RM, Dalton RM, Tony Higgins RM, Roy Wilkinson (Capt)
Front row L to R George Welsh, Beatie, Peter Shackloth, Ray Johnston RM, Glyn Pughsley.
1971 Royal Marines PT Branch Centenary Football Team
Back row L to R Keith Wilson, Willie Turnbull, Tony Higgins, Gordon Russell, Archie Houston, Dave Clark, John Ellis (Coach).
Front row L to R Pete Best, Alex Scott, Geoff Barrs, Viv Harris, Dave Nicholson, Johnny Bickford.
1981 Royal Marines Football Team
Back row L two R Maj Dizzy Dawson, Tony Higgins, Shaun Elliott, Phil Keith, Martin Sharpe, Dondo Pearson, Graham Griffin, TBC8, Jimmy Foy. Front row L to R Phil Kay, Tiv Lowe, Andy Holding, Bustling Bill Sharp, Paul Dixon, Spot Watson, John O'Connell