Wayne Biggins

Wayne Biggins (born 20 November 1961 in Sheffield, England) is a former professional footballer. He was a striker and was nicknamed 'Bertie' throughout his career.

Biggins was a latecomer to league football, for although he began his career with Lincoln City he played just 8 games for them before he was released and played non-league football with Matlock Town F.C. and Kings Lynn while working as a hod carrier. It was during this time he met close friend and fitness advisor Garry Kyle who influenced his aggressive style of play, upped his fitness levels and reduced his body fat percentage. He found a way back into league football with Burnley in 1984, for whom he scored 29 goals in 78 appearances. His form attracted the attention of Norwich City, whose manager Ken Brown signed him in October 1985. Norwich were re-building their squad after relegation from the first division and were looking to bounce back to the top flight at the first attempt. They succeeded, and Biggins ended the season with a second division championship medal. He stayed at Carrow Road until the summer of 1988 when Manchester City's new manager Mel Machin - who had until that summer been Brown's assistant at Norwich - took him to Maine Road. He scored 9 goals in 32 games for Manchester City before Lou Macari signed him for Stoke City where he scored 46 goals in 122 games.

Lou Macari then signed him again, for Celtic. His and Macari's time at Celtic coincided with a period generally regarded by the club's fans as one of the worst in their history. Biggins struggled to make an impact at Parkhead and is not remembered with fondness by the club's supporters. He returned to Stoke after just four months with Celtic, before playing out his league career with Luton Town, Oxford United and Wigan Athletic. He won a third division championship medal with Wigan in 1997. He went back into non-league football with Leek Town before moving to Stocksbridge Park Steels, where he became assistant manager and then manager. He left Stocksbridge in 2003.

Honours

As a player

* Second division championship winner 1986
* Third division championship winner 1997

External links

* [http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/biggins.htm Career information at ex-canaries.co.uk]