HE’S got a name which few fans are likely to forget, but Kallum Higginbotham is keen for his football to be just as memorable at Huddersfield Town.
The 22-year-old signing from Falkirk made an impressive debut against MK Dons – earning a place in the League I Team of the Week – just a couple of days after training with his new Galpharm teammates for the first time.
Salford-born and a former Rochdale player, Higginbotham was busy on the ball as manager Lee Clark’s premier link man and was very pleased with how things went on his first appearance, although he would obviously have preferred three points to the 1-1 draw.
Higginbotham did more than enough, however, to underline why Town were so keen to beat the transfer deadline and bring him in – and the player himself couldn’t wait to put pen to paper.
“This club is massive and the lads have been there or thereabouts every single year, so as soon as I knew they were interested in me, I wanted to come here,” he explained.
“It was all a bit of a rush, but I was delighted when the paperwork went through and everything now is geared towards the main aim of trying to win promotion to the Championship.
“I know we have got quality strikers here with Jordan Rhodes going really well and Alan Lee and Lee Novak also doing great, but the role I had last Saturday is basically the same one I’ve been playing at Falkirk all season.
“The gaffer knows I can play in the hole behind the main striker, although it’s a real shift with the way we look to attack and then having to have the discipline to get back in when the other team have got the ball.
“But I am willing to run through a brick wall for the team, the manager has watched me and he knows I am capable of doing that job.”
The surname is pronounced with the emphasis on the ‘th’ in the second part, but what about the unusual spelling of his Christian name?
Google Kallum and, as soon as you put the H to follow his name jumps to the top of the list.
“There aren’t many Higginbotham’s about – maybe just Danny down at Stoke – and the spelling of Kallum is down to my parents,” he smiled.
“We are all K for our Christian names. My brothers are Korie and Kade, so that’s why I’m Kallum with a K.”
Higginbotham enjoyed his 18 months in Scotland, where his last match for the Bairns was in their Scottish League Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic at Hampden Park.
“We’ve had a young side at Falkirk and done well and Steven Pressley (the manager) has been magnificent in creating a role for me, so I can’t praise the Falkirk staff enough really,” he added.
“I’ve become a much better player as a result of it and this is the best I’ve played in my career – certainly the most consistent.
“I feel I’ve been giving a lot to the team in terms of assists and a few goals, and long may that continue, because I’ve come here to help us get up. If I can do well and Huddersfield Town can get into the Championship, then everyone’s a winner.”
Higginbotham believes he will develop as a player in Town’s squad and under the watchful eye of manager Clark and his staff.
“I’m only 22 so I would expect to learn more and more over the next few years and become more wise as a player,” he explained.
“There’s definitely a lot more to come from me as my career progresses and hopefully I can go on to bigger and better things – just like the club.
“When I spoke to the manager, his ambitions for Town matched what I want to achieve and that’s why I was so keen to come and sign.
“I thought it went well against MK Dons and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season and to us doing well.”
