Andy Holden
Encyclopedia
Andy Holden is a Welsh
former football
player. He had playing careers at Chester City, Wigan and Oldham Athletic and is the long-serving reserve team manager at Everton
. He was a strong and powerful defender and was capped by Wales once at both full and under-21 level in 1984.
at the end of the 1983-84
season was remarkable as a year earlier he had been playing non-league football for Rhyl
and his new Chester City
team had comfortably finished bottom of Division Four
. However, Holden had stood out in a poor side and he would retain his player of the season accolade the following campaign. He had made his Football League
debut on 27 August 1983 for Chester in a 1-1 draw with Northampton Town
.
Unfortunately, club captain Holden became dogged by injuries and he rarely featured in Chester's 1985-86
promotion campaign. He joined Wigan
for £50,000 in October 1986 at a time when Chester were suffering a financial crisis and facing a winding up order. He left Chester after making exactly 100 Football League
appearances for them in three and a half years, when he bagged 16 goals - an impressive strike rate for a central defender thanks to his penalty taking and ability to head in set-pieces.
in January 1989. Despite spending several years at Boundary Park, Holden played just 22 league games due to his ongoing injury problems and had to watch on from the sidelines as his team-mates played in the top-flight from 1991 to 1994 and reached the Littlewoods Cup final
in 1990. However, he did play in both enthralling FA Cup semi-finals
for Oldham against Manchester United
, as the Latics took their illustrious opponents to extra-time in the replay before losing 2-1. His final game was a substitute appearance for Oldham was in a 2-1 defeat by Middlesbrough
in November 1994, shortly before he followed manager Joe Royle
to Everton
as part of the coaching staff.
He has survived several managerial changes to become a trusted part of the backroom team at Goodison Park
, with his matchday role having become more prominent since the departure of assistant manager Alan Irvine to Preston North End
.
Oldham Athletic
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
former football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player. He had playing careers at Chester City, Wigan and Oldham Athletic and is the long-serving reserve team manager at Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. He was a strong and powerful defender and was capped by Wales once at both full and under-21 level in 1984.
From non-league to international
Holden's full appearance for Wales as a substitute against IsraelIsrael national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
at the end of the 1983-84
1983-84 in English football
The 1983–84 season was the 104th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool had a great first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history...
season was remarkable as a year earlier he had been playing non-league football for Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
and his new Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
team had comfortably finished bottom of Division Four
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
. However, Holden had stood out in a poor side and he would retain his player of the season accolade the following campaign. He had made his Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
debut on 27 August 1983 for Chester in a 1-1 draw with Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
.
Unfortunately, club captain Holden became dogged by injuries and he rarely featured in Chester's 1985-86
1985-86 in English football
The 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...
promotion campaign. He joined Wigan
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
for £50,000 in October 1986 at a time when Chester were suffering a financial crisis and facing a winding up order. He left Chester after making exactly 100 Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
appearances for them in three and a half years, when he bagged 16 goals - an impressive strike rate for a central defender thanks to his penalty taking and ability to head in set-pieces.
The Injury Nightmare Continues
Holden continued to impress at Wigan and this led to a transfer to Oldham AthleticOldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in January 1989. Despite spending several years at Boundary Park, Holden played just 22 league games due to his ongoing injury problems and had to watch on from the sidelines as his team-mates played in the top-flight from 1991 to 1994 and reached the Littlewoods Cup final
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
in 1990. However, he did play in both enthralling FA Cup semi-finals
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
for Oldham against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, as the Latics took their illustrious opponents to extra-time in the replay before losing 2-1. His final game was a substitute appearance for Oldham was in a 2-1 defeat by Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in November 1994, shortly before he followed manager Joe Royle
Joe Royle
Joseph "Joe" Royle is an English football manager. In his club career, he played for Everton , Manchester City, Bristol City, Norwich City, and the England national team...
to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
as part of the coaching staff.
He has survived several managerial changes to become a trusted part of the backroom team at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
, with his matchday role having become more prominent since the departure of assistant manager Alan Irvine to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
.
Honours
Chester City- Division FourFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
runners-up: 1985-861985-86 in English footballThe 1985–86 season was the 106th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The championship crown went to Liverpool for the 16th time in their history at the end of their first season under the management of Kenny Dalglish, but they had to fight off some very stiff competition to...
(10 appearances). - Player of the Season: 1983-841983-84 in English footballThe 1983–84 season was the 104th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool had a great first season under the management of Joe Fagan as they wrapped up their third successive league title and the 15th in their history...
& 1984-851984-85 in English footballThe 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May...
.
Oldham Athletic
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-finalist: 1989-901989-90 in English football-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
, Oldham AthleticOldham Athletic A.F.C.Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
.