Derek Holmes

Derek Holmes (born 18 October 1978) is a Scottish former professional footballer, who played for Heart of Midlothian, Cowdenbeath, Raith Rovers, Ross County, Bournemouth, Carlisle United, Rotherham United, St Johnstone, Queen of the South, Airdrie United, Arbroath and East Fife. He is currently manager of Larkhall Thistle in the Scottish Junior Football Association, West Region.

For the Canadian, see Derek Holmes (ice hockey).
Derek Holmes
Personal information
Full name Derek Holmes[1]
Date of birth (1978-10-11) 11 October 1978
Place of birth Lanark, Scotland
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Larkhall Thistle (manager)
Youth career
1995–1997 Heart of Midlothian
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 Heart of Midlothian 8 (1)
1997–1998 → Cowdenbeath (loan) 13 (5)
1999 → Raith Rovers (loan) 14 (6)
1999–2001 Ross County 58 (14)
2001 → Bournemouth (loan) 15 (2)
2001–2005 Bournemouth 101 (14)
2005–2007 Carlisle United 92 (15)
2007–2008 Rotherham United 37 (11)
2008–2009 St Johnstone 35 (5)
2009–2011 Queen of the South 66 (14)
2011–2012 Airdrie United 32 (4)
2012–2013 Arbroath 33 (8)
2013 East Fife 1 (0)
Total 505 (99)
Teams managed
2018 Wishaw Juniors
2018– Larkhall Thistle
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of ˜˜˜˜˜

Playing career

Hearts

Holmes who was born in Lanark,[2] started his career in 1995 when he signed for Scottish outfit Hearts. Holmes made his first team debut on 10 May 1997. This was when he started in the 3–1 home win against champions Rangers in the last game of the league season. Holmes spent three months of the following season on loan at Cowdenbeath.[3]

After the Cowdenbeath loan, Holmes started the following season in the Hearts first team squad. Among the games he played in were the home and away ties against Real Mallorca in the European Cup Winners' Cup and a 2–1 win against Celtic. After New Year, now aged 21, he was loaned out to Raith Rovers for the rest of the season.[3]

Ross County

In 1999, Holmes left Hearts and joined Ross County where he spent two seasons, achieving some success by consistently getting on the scoresheet. At the end of his first season in Dingwall, Holmes and his teammates earned a promotion spot from the Scottish Second Division. County cemented their first division status in Holmes' second season by finishing comfortably in mid table.[4]

Bournemouth

After a brief loan spell with Bournemouth making his debut on 15 September 2001, he joined them on a permanent deal. Holmes enjoyed another promotion campaign when in his second season on the South coast – promotion was achieved to the third tier of English football. Bournemouth stayed at this level for the remainder of Holmes spell there. During his four-year spell with Bournemouth, Holmes was occasionally used as a midfielder. In 2005, he made his 100th and last league appearance for the club.[3]

Carlisle United

Holmes joined Carlisle United shortly afterwards. He debuted on 26 February 2005. Holmes added to his list of promotion successes with two in his three campaigns in Cumbria, the first of which was as divisional champions.[3]

Rotherham United

After the end of the 2006–07 season, he joined Football League Two side Rotherham United. Holmes made an immediate impression for his new club by scoring a double against Peterborough. He scored the first league hat-trick of his career against Lincoln City in January 2008.[3]

St Johnstone

In July 2008, Holmes completed a free transfer move to Scottish First Division side St Johnstone on a one-year deal.[5] Holmes helped Saints to the First Division championship and promotion to the Scottish Premier League in his only season at the club.[6] Holmes was offered a new one-year contract by Saints but declined the offer in preference to a two-year offer from Queen of the South.

Queen of the South

Holmes signed a two-year contract with Dumfries club Queen of the South.[6] In the 4–1 win away to Dunfermline on 26 September 2009 that put Queens top of the table, Holmes took on the role of penalty taker in the absence of the injured Steve Tosh.[7] Holmes' three goals away against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 10 October 2009 added up to a 'perfect hat trick' – a goal from each of his head, his left foot and his right foot.[8] This made Holmes the top scorer in the division at this point in the season with seven goals in nine league games. This is an unusual achievement for Holmes whose game is based more on linking forward play and creating chances for teammates as opposed to being a goal grabbing striker. On 7 November 2009, Holmes added another vital goal to his tally, the only score a 1–0 away win to Ayr United to keep Queens top of the table.[9]

In David Lilley's absence through suspension, Holmes deputised as captain for Queens on 6 April 2010 against Ross County, one of his former clubs, at Victoria Park, Dingwall in a 1–1 draw.[10] He did so again on 10 April 2010 at Palmerston Park against Inverness Caley Thistle in a 3–1 defeat.[11]

Holmes ended his first season at Palmerston Park with a league scoring record averaging one goal in every three of his 36 league games.

Among his goals in 2010/11 was his side's second in the Challenge Cup semi final 2–1 win away at Peterhead on 9 October 2010.[12] On 19 May 2011 it was announced that Holmes had been released by the club.[13]

Later career

Holmes signed for Airdrie United in July 2011, and left after one year, having scored 4 goals in 32 league appearances. [14] Holmes signed for Arbroath on 3 July 2012.[15]

Management

Holmes entered football management for the first time with hometown club, Wishaw Juniors, in February 2018.[16] Despite steering the club to the semi-finals of the 2017–18 Scottish Junior Cup, Holmes was sacked by Wishaw in May 2018,[17] but re-entered management the following month with Larkhall Thistle.[18]

Honours
Ross County
Bournemouth
Carlisle United
St Johnstone

References
  1. "Derek Holmes". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  2. "Derek Holmes". Sky Sports. BSkyB. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  3. Derek Holmes SoccerBase
  4. 1999/2000 Scottish Second Division end of season table Archived 2 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine Scottish Football Archive
  5. "Holmes clinches Saints contract". BBC Sport. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  6. Queens secure Holmes from Saints Queens secure Holmes from Saints, BBC Sport, 14 May 2009
  7. Queen of the South FC Archived 29 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Queen of the South FC
  9. Queen of the South FC Archived 10 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  10. Queen of the South FC
  11. Queen of the South FC
  12. "Peterhead 1 – 2 Queen of the South" Archived 14 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine Queen of the South FC, 9 October 2010
  13. "Three players released" www.qosfc.com 19 May 2011
  14. http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=429&fid=206&sty=3&act=1&mid=2116953437
  15. http://www.arbroathherald.co.uk/sport/holmes-signs-for-lichties-1-2389142%5B%5D
  16. Ramage, Ben (20 February 2018). "Former Hearts striker Derek Holmes confirmed as new boss of Wishaw Juniors". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  17. Ramage, Ben (22 May 2018). "Wishaw Juniors search for new manager after shock sacking of Derek Holmes". Daily Record. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  18. "Former Wishaw boss Derek Holmes set to ring the changes after being handed second chance in the dugout by Larkhall Thistle". Evening Times. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
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