Craig Hignett

Born in Whiston and previously a trainee at Liverpool, Hignett began his senior career with Crewe Alexandra in 1988, making his debut in a goal-less Fourth Division match at Wrexham on 8 October 1988. During the 1989–90 season, he scored his first league goal in a 3–2 defeat by Swansea City at Gresty Road on 7 October 1989, and began to make more regular appearances, notching six more goals. On 30 April 1991, he scored his first hat-trick as Crewe beat Rotherham United 3–0 at Gresty Road, and on 14 November 1992 he hit four in his penultimate club appearance as Crewe beat Wrexham 6–1 in an FA Cup first round tie, also at Gresty Road. He made 150 first team appearances for Crewe, scoring 57 goals, before being sold to Middlesbrough for £500,000 on 27 November 1992. The club rejected a £350,000 offer from Port Vale in 1994. 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 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 1995–96 Season. Hignett also took a pay cut 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 1998 he left Middlesbrough to sign for Aberdeen on a…

As of April 2008 he was part of the academy coaching staff at Middlesbrough. He was linked with the Darlington job after Colin Todd was sacked, he was again rumoured after Steve Staunton was sacked. In May 2013, Hignett became assistant manager at Hartlepool United alongside Colin Cooper. Hignett had a successful stint at Hartlepool, helping to lead the club to 9th before leaving for Middlesbrough in March 2014 to work as Aitor Karanka's assistant. On 2 December 2014, Middlesbrough announced that Hignett had parted company with the club. The statement explained that, "Following discussions between Craig, Head Coach Aitor Karanka, and the club, all parties have agreed for Craig to leave his position with immediate effect." Hignett was widely praised for having a hugely influential role in the upturns of Boro's fortunes, which had seen them challenging for promotion that season. In February 2016, Hignett was appointed first-team manager of Hartlepool United following the departure of Ronnie Moore. His first game as Pools boss came in a 2–1 home win against Yeovil Town. Hignett's arrival saw an upturn in form and an unbeaten run of seven games in March saw Hartlepool rise from 22nd to a respectable finishing position of 16th in League Two. Hignett's start to the 2016–17 season was solid if unspectacular. While Hartlepool lost just two of their opening twelve league games, they had not won a home game and had drawn six. October was an especially disappointing month for the…

Hignett provides commentary and punditry for BBC Radio Tees and BBC Radio Merseyside. He is also a regular after dinner speaker. Hignet also hosts the Yer Joking Aren't Ya? podcast alongside fellow Boro alumni, David Wheater.

In June 2013, Craig Hignett joined former footballer Colin Cooper and Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling and 12 other intrepid explorers to climb the 5,895m summit of Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, to raise vital cash for the Finlay Cooper Fund in aid of children's charities. At the beginning of 2023, Hignett became the Honorary President for the Hartlepool United Supporters' Trust.