Jim Holton: Difference between revisions
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In Holton's first full season with Coventry, the Sky Blues finished seventh in the First Division, their second-highest ever league finish, narrowly missing out on a [[UEFA Cup]] place. In a little over three years with Coventry, Holton made 91 league appearances.<ref name=covheroes>[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/coventry-city-fc/jim-holton-7510/league-appearances-for-the-sky-blues_a15356/ "Jim Holton, Coventry City appearances"], Sporting Heroes.</ref> |
In Holton's first full season with Coventry, the Sky Blues finished seventh in the First Division, their second-highest ever league finish, narrowly missing out on a [[UEFA Cup]] place. In a little over three years with Coventry, Holton made 91 league appearances.<ref name=covheroes>[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/coventry-city-fc/jim-holton-7510/league-appearances-for-the-sky-blues_a15356/ "Jim Holton, Coventry City appearances"], Sporting Heroes.</ref> |
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He returned to the NASL for a spell with the [[Detroit Express]] in 1980. He played 21 games scoring three goals. This was to be his last time playing first team senior football.<ref name=neil/> |
He returned to the NASL for a spell with the [[Detroit Express]] in 1980. He played 21 games scoring three goals. This was to be his last time playing first team senior football.<ref name=neil>[http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/jimholton.html Jim Holton on Neil Brown's player database]</ref> |
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His last senior club was Sheffield Wednesday, but due to injury he never played for their first team.<ref name=indobit/> |
His last senior club was Sheffield Wednesday, but due to injury he never played for their first team.<ref name=indobit/> |
Revision as of 22:15, 2 July 2017
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | James Allan Holton[1] | ||
Date of birth | 11 April 1951 | ||
Place of birth | Lesmahagow, Scotland | ||
Date of death | 4 October 1993 | (aged 42)||
Place of death | Baginton, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
Youth career | |||
Celtic | |||
1968–1971 | West Bromwich Albion | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1971–1972 | Shrewsbury Town | 67 | (4) |
1972–1976 | Manchester United | 63 | (5) |
1976 | Miami Toros | 16 | (1) |
1976–1977 | Sunderland | 15 | (0) |
1977–1980 | Coventry City | 91 | (0) |
1980 | Detroit Express | 21 | (3) |
1980–1981 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | (0) |
International career | |||
1973–1974 | Scotland | 15 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
James Allan Holton (11 April 1951 – 4 October 1993) was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre-back. He played in 15 international matches for Scotland, scoring two goals; one of those goals came in a win against Czechoslovakia that helped Scotland qualify for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, at which he played in all three of Scotland's matches.
During his club career, Holton played for Shrewsbury Town, Manchester United, Miami Toros, Sunderland, Coventry City and Detroit Express.
Playing career
Early years
Holton was born in Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire, and trained with Celtic as a youngster but was not offered a contract. At the age of 16, Holton had trials with West Bromwich Albion, who signed him as an amateur in December 1967; he then signed a professional contract four months later. He progressed steadily through the junior and youth teams over the next three years; however, he never made it past playing for their reserve side in the Central League. At the end of the 1970–71 season, he was released by the club.[2]
Shrewsbury Town
Holton was quickly signed by former Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg who was managing Shrewsbury Town in England's third tier. Gregg had been impressed watching Holton in the West Bromwich Albion reserve team. Gregg told Holton when he signed him, "You're going to make it. I'm sure you can make it right to the top too." Holton made his debut for Shrewsbury at Bournemouth on the opening day of the 1971–72 season, and quickly became a first-team regular.[2]
Shrewsbury sent a letter to the Scottish Football Association to notify new Scotland manager Tommy Docherty that Holton may be of interest for the Scotland national under-23 team, and Docherty went to watch Holton play at Gay Meadow. By the end of his spell at Shrewsbury, Holton had appeared in 67 league games, scoring four goals.[2]
Manchester United
In December 1972, Docherty replaced Frank O'Farrell as manager of a struggling Manchester United, who were in difficulties near the bottom of England's top flight. On 10 January 1973, they signed the now 20-year-old Holton for £80,000. Near unbeatable in the air and aggressive in the tackle, he offered a formidable physical presence that compensated for his lack of delicacy in possession of the ball. He was criticised by some opposing fans for his combative ways.[3] At United, he was a favourite among fans who taunted opponents with the chant: Six foot two, eyes of blue, Big Jim Holton's after you.[4] This was despite Holton being 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and having brown eyes.[2][5]
United were relegated in 1974, the season after Holton's arrival. Holton broke his leg after 15 minutes in the 4–4 draw against Sheffield Wednesday on 7 December 1974.[6]. He broke his leg a second time when making his comeback in the reserves. Others took advantage of his absence to establish themselves in the first team, with United now sweeping all aside in the league. They won promotion straight back up to the top flight at the first attempt.[3][4] He played in 63 league games for United scoring five goals in those games.[7] After the leg break, he never played for the Manchester United first team again, despite being at Old Trafford a further 18 months.[8]
Miami Toros and Sunderland
In the summer of 1976 Holton played for the Miami Toros of the North American Soccer League (NASL). He played 16 games scoring once.[9]
He then moved to Sunderland on loan in September 1976 before transferring to Sunderland permanently the following month for a fee of £40,000. He stayed six months until March 1977, playing 15 league games for the Wearsiders.[10]
Coventry City, Detriot Express and Sheffield Wednesday
He stayed in England's top flight with a transfer to Coventry City, making his debut on 19 April 1977 in a 1–1 draw at home to his former club, West Brom. Holton featured in eight league games that season as Coventry fought out a relegation battle. Coventry were in a three-way dogfight to stay up that involved their final-day opponents, Bristol City. Kick-off was delayed due to the large crowd, with some reports alleging the kick-off was intentionally delayed by Coventry chairman Jimmy Hill. Holton's former club, Sunderland, lost away to Everton, which meant a draw between Coventry and Bristol City at Highfield Road would keep both of those sides up and relegate Sunderland. News of Sunderland's defeat was displayed on the Highfield Road scoreboard, with the score at the time between the two sides at 2–2. Both teams then tamely played out a mutually beneficial draw.[11]
In Holton's first full season with Coventry, the Sky Blues finished seventh in the First Division, their second-highest ever league finish, narrowly missing out on a UEFA Cup place. In a little over three years with Coventry, Holton made 91 league appearances.[7]
He returned to the NASL for a spell with the Detroit Express in 1980. He played 21 games scoring three goals. This was to be his last time playing first team senior football.[12]
His last senior club was Sheffield Wednesday, but due to injury he never played for their first team.[3]
International
Holton collected 15 full international caps, scoring twice for Scotland between May 1973 and October 1974. He made his full international debut in Scotland's first match of the 1972–73 British Home Championship; they lost 2–0 to Wales in Wrexham. In a 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Czechoslovakia at Hampden Park on 26 September 1973, Holton scored the equaliser in a 2–1 win; Joe Jordan also scored, helping Scotland qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1958.[13][14]
Holton put Scotland ahead in a 1–1 draw against West Germany on 14 November 1973. The friendly at Hampden Park was one of three games to mark the centenary of the Scottish Football Association. Holton played in all three group games for Scotland at the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany. They won 2–0 against Zaire, drew 0–0 with then-reigning champions Brazil and 1–1 with Yugoslavia. Scotland were unbeaten, but failed to progress to the second round due to inferior goal difference.[13][14]
Holton played for Scotland on 30 October 1974 in a 3–0 friendly win over East Germany at Hampden Park. Less than six weeks after the East Germany game, Holton suffered his leg break at Manchester United. He never played for Scotland again after that making the East Germany cap his last. Scotland's record with Holton playing was eight wins, three draws and four defeats.[13][14]
After playing
Holton stayed in Coventry after retiring from professional football, working as a pub landlord at the The Rising Sun and then The Old Stag in the city centre.[15] He died on 4 October 1993, aged 42. He had been for a run in the countryside around Baginton and suffered a heart attack shortly afterwards when at the wheel of his car. His funeral was attended by over 1,000 people, including John Sillett, Steve Ogrizovic, Tommy Docherty and Joe Jordan.[5] He was survived by his wife and two children.[3]
References
- ^ "Jim Holton". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d "A truly memorable figure in United's history", 17 July 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Obituary: Jim Holton" independent.co.uk 5 October 1993
- ^ a b Neal, Toby (24 July 2013). "Big characters brought to mind with memories of sporting glory. Footballing greats grace county history". Shropshire Star. p. 27.
- ^ a b "Memories of Sky Blues giant Jim Holton", Coventry Telegraph, 3 October 2014.
- ^ Sheffield Wednesday 4 v Manchester United mufcinfo.com
- ^ a b "Jim Holton, Coventry City appearances", Sporting Heroes.
- ^ Jim Holton mufcinfo.com
- ^ "Holton, Jim" National Football Teams
- ^ "Jim HOLTON Sunderland appearances" Sporting Heroes
- ^ "Fans' revenge on Fulham legend Jimmy Hill", Sunderland Echo, 20 October 2008.
- ^ Jim Holton on Neil Brown's player database
- ^ a b c Jim Holton profile on the Scottish Football Association website
- ^ a b c Scotland - International Matches 1971-1975, RSSSF
- ^ "Jim Holton" Coventry Telegraph 3 OCT 2013
External links
- Jim Holton at the Scottish Football Association
- Jim Holton, Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
- Use dmy dates from July 2011
- 1951 births
- 1993 deaths
- People from Lesmahagow
- Association football defenders
- Scottish footballers
- Scotland international footballers
- 1974 FIFA World Cup players
- Celtic F.C. players
- West Bromwich Albion F.C. players
- Shrewsbury Town F.C. players
- Manchester United F.C. players
- Sunderland A.F.C. players
- Coventry City F.C. players
- Miami Toros players
- Detroit Express players
- Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players
- English Football League players
- North American Soccer League (1968–84) players
- Scottish expatriate footballers
- Expatriate soccer players in the United States
- Sportspeople from South Lanarkshire
- Scotland under-23 international footballers