Dave Highton

{{Short description|English rugby league footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|playername = Dave Highton

|fullname = David Highton

|image =

|image_size = 290px

|position = {{rlp|HK}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|1|31|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Billinge, Merseyside, England

|height = {{convert|5|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|13|st|4|lb|kg|abbr=on}}

|club1 = Warrington Wolves

|year1start = 1998

|year1end = 01

|appearances1 = 37

|tries1 = 2

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 8

|club2 = Salford City Reds

|year2start = 2002

|year2end = 03

|appearances2 = 45

|tries2 = 1

|goals2 = 0

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 4

|club3 = London Broncos

|year3start = 2004

|year3end = 05

|appearances3 = 48

|tries3 = 2

|goals3 = 0

|fieldgoals3 = 0

|points3 = 8

|club4 = Halifax

|year4start = 2006

|year4end =

|appearances4 = 0

|tries4 = 0

|goals4 = 0

|fieldgoals4 = 0

|points4 = 0

|new = yes

|retired = yes

|source = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/dave-highton/summary.html RLP]

|updated = 5 March 2021

}}

Dave Highton (born 31 January 1980) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a {{rlp|hk}} for the Warrington Wolves, Salford City Reds and the London Broncos in the European Super League. He signed for Halifax to play in National League One, but injury forced him to retire aged just 25.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/4573072.stm|title=Injury forces Highton to retire|publisher=BBC|date=1 January 2006|accessdate=5 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://leagueunlimited.com/news/dave-highton-announces-retirement|title=Dave Highton announces retirement|publisher=League Unlimited|date=|accessdate=5 March 2021}}

Whilst at Warrington he was given a 10 month ban for steroid use{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/1375712.stm|title=(David) Highton accepts drugs ban|publisher=BBC|date=7 June 2001|accessdate=5 March 2021}} for which he was sacked by the Wolves.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/3007312/Drug-ban-Highton-is-sacked.html|title=Drug-ban Highton is sacked|publisher=Daily Telegraph|date=14 June 2001|accessdate=5 March 2021}} He was later given a chance to resurrect his career at Salford.{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/other-sport/rl-reds-give-highton-lifeline-1192623|title=RL: Reds give Highton lifeline|date=17 February 2007 |publisher=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=5 March 2021}}

His elder brothers Paul Highton and Chris Highton also played professional rugby league, with Paul playing for Wales at international level and Chris featuring for Warrington and the Swinton Lions.{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/chris-highton/summary.html|title=Chris Highton Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=|accessdate=5 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/paul-highton/summary.html|title=Paul Highton Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=|accessdate=5 March 2021}}