CHELMSFORD City had multiple causes for celebration at the weekend as striker Sam Higgins penned a contract with the club which commits him to the Clarets for at least one year.

CHELMSFORD City had multiple causes for celebration at the weekend as striker Sam Higgins penned a contract with the club which commits him to the Clarets for at least one year.

Glenn Pennyfather’s men, who had just completed a record sixth straight home league clean with after a 2-0 win over Maidenhead United in the Blue Square Bet South, were then doubly delighted as the former East Thurrock United goal-getter, who has netted ten so far, signed a one-year deal which gives the club a further one-year option.

The contract followed hot on the heels of Higgins’ pride at being named Conference South ‘Player of the Month’ for September alongside Pennyfather, who scooped the ‘Manager of the Month’ prize. Sam has also been named amongst the contenders for the FA Cup ‘Player of the Round’ award after the Second Qualifying Round where he bagged four goals in the 7-0 victory over Chertsey Town at Melbourne.

Higgins gained his early experience in the game within the youth set-ups at Millwall and Southend United from 2007/08 but set the Ryman League Division One North alight last season as the division’s top scorer with East Thurrock United. The Rocks missed out on promotion via the play-offs but Pennyfather was convinced the 19-year-old deserved his chance at a higher level and brought him to City in June.

The forward spent time at Bishop’s Stortford on work experience in December 2008 before gaining playing time elsewhere in the south-east that season at Fisher Athletic, Brentwood Town and AFC Hornchurch. But he made his latest impact at Rookery Hill with East Thurrock, where he was named Supporters’ Player of the Year last term.