Chris Holland

Christopher James Holland (born 11 September 1975) is an English footballer who played as a midfielder. He played in the Premier League for Newcastle United and made 279 appearances in the Football League playing for Preston North End, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town and Boston United. He is a former England under-21 international.

For the musician and brother of Jools Holland, see Christopher Holland.

Chris Holland
Personal information
Full name Christopher James Holland[1]
Date of birth (1975-09-11) 11 September 1975[1]
Place of birth Whalley, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Preston North End
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1994 Preston North End 1 (0)
1994–1996 Newcastle United 3 (0)
1996 → Birmingham City (loan) 9 (0)
1996–2000 Birmingham City 61 (0)
2000–2004 Huddersfield Town 120 (2)
2004–2007 Boston United 85 (0)
2007–2008 Southport 17 (0)
2008 Leigh Genesis 15 (1)
2008–2009 Fleetwood Town 3 (0)
2009 Burscough
2009 Guiseley 29 (2)
National team
1995–1997 England U21 10 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He later played non-league football for Boston United, Southport, Leigh Genesis, Fleetwood Town, Burscough and Guiseley.

Club career

Holland was born in Whalley, Lancashire, started his football career as a trainee at Preston North End in 1993. He made just one league appearance as a substitute before signing for Premier League club Newcastle United on 20 January 1994 for a fee of £100,000. However, an eye injury sustained during an ammonia attack hindered his progress[3] and he joined Birmingham City on loan on 3 September 1996.[4] The loan was made permanent in October 1996 for a fee of £600,000. He helped Birmingham reach the Division One play offs in 1999, however he missed a crucial penalty as they lost to Watford in a shoot out.[5] He made 88 appearances in all competitions for Birmingham, of which 70 were in the league.[6]

On 3 February 2000, Holland joined Huddersfield Town for a fee of £100,000. He scored the first goal of his professional career, a winner against Nottingham Forest, on 21 March.[7]

He played regularly for three seasons, but when told by manager Peter Jackson that a new contract would not be offered at the end of the 2003–04 season, he chose to join League Two club Boston United in March 2004.[8]

After two years playing regularly, during which he made 85 league appearances, he moved nearer to his Lancashire home when he signed an 18-month contract with Conference National club Southport on 31 January 2007 on a free transfer.[9][10] Despite Southport's relegation to the Conference North at the end of the season, Holland agreed a new contract and was appointed club captain.[11] Holland was a vital part of the Southport side in the 2007–08 season. He scored his first goal for the club at Hyde United. His next goal came three weeks later in Southport's 3–1 victory at his old club Boston United.

In July 2008 Holland signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Leigh Genesis on a free transfer. He made his debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 season, in a 2–0 defeat to Eastwood Town. He scored his first goal in his tenth game for the club on 20 September in a 4–2 defeat to Whitby Town.[12]

On 14 November 2008 he joined Conference North club Fleetwood Town,[13] making his debut the next day in a 2–1 away victory over Stafford Rangers.[14] In March 2009, Holland joined another Conference North outfit, Burscough.[15] He remained at Burscough until the end of the season, then joined Guiseley of the Northern Premier League. He helped that club win the title in his first season, but was appointed assistant manager in September 2010, and thereafter his appearances were restricted to the substitutes' bench or cup matches.[16][17]

International career

Holland is a former England youth and under-21 international. He won the first of his ten under-21 caps while at Newcastle.[18]

References
  1. "Chris Holland". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  2. Rollin, Glenda, ed. (1997). Playfair Football Annual 1997–98. Headline. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-7472-5644-1.
  3. Kenward, Tony (23 February 2007). "Big Interview: Chris Holland". Lancashire Evening Post. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  4. "Football". The Independent. London. 4 September 1996. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  5. "Hornets sting the Blues". BBC News. 20 May 1999. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  6. Matthews, Tony (2010). Birmingham City: The Complete Record. Derby: DB Books. pp. 428–435. ISBN 978-1-85983-853-2.
  7. Reynolds, Lee (22 March 2000). "Chris strike fells Forest". The Mirror. Retrieved 15 September 2009 – via Questia.
  8. "Holland Bound For Boston". Huddersfield Town F.C. 19 March 2004. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
  9. Oliver, Pete (27 February 2007). "Holland up for fight at Southport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  10. "Boston manager snaps up new trio". BBC Sport. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  11. "Holland agrees new Southport deal". BBC Sport. 9 May 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
  12. Lawton, Matt (16 July 2008). "Chris Holland". Leigh Genesis Supporters Association. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  13. "Comings and goings". Fleetwood Town F.C. 14 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
  14. "Mellon's switch sparks victory". Blackpool Gazette. 17 November 2008. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
  15. "Burscough FC boss Andy Mutch says it was his best week as manager". Ormskirk Advertiser. 5 March 2009. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
  16. Wake, Andrew (11 January 2011). "Holland relishes new management role". Guiseley A.F.C. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  17. "Players: First team: Midfielders". Guiseley A.F.C. Archived from the original on 20 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  18. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011. Headline. p. 972. ISBN 978-0-7553-6107-6.
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