Matthew Higgins

Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

The name Higgins has been well known in Shepparton for many years due to the Higgins Bakery business, Higgins pies became the best known pies in Shepparton and are still well loved today. It was from the Higgins family that a star hockey player emerged as a youngster for Shepparton Youth Club. Matthew Higgins became an important part of the legendary Youth Club outfit that won 10 premierships in the Shepparton Hockey Association. At 19 years of age he moved to Melbourne to play for the Altona Club and soon won a place in the Australian Institute of Sport. He worked hard to improve his game and his performances with Altona impressed the State selectors. At 23 he won selection for Hockey Victoria. This found him flying around Australia to play other states whilst playing alongside Australian players – a great opportunity for the Shepparton star. His inter-State career would see him pull on the shirt for the Victorian hockey team for108 games between 1999 and 2008. Matthew was also named in the Victorian “All Stars “team on 4 occasions. At State level he would play 332 Premier League games with Altona before retiring in 2016. Throughout his career he won 3 best player awards with Altona and was runner up 3 times. He was the Altona Club Champion in 2011.Following his retirement, Matthew returned to Shepparton to help manage the family business which was commenced by his grandfather Ron Higgins in Shepparton in 1947, then by his Father and Mother Maurice and Margaret. It is now up to Matthew and Sally to keep the Shepparton Iconic pastry business successful. Matthew has continued to support and continue to contribute to local hockey as a coach and conducting clinics for junior players.  He has been the foremost male hockey player from Shepparton and is now recognised for his achievements by the City as he is inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame.