Fred Hollands
Encyclopedia
Frederick George "Fred" Hollands (born 1870) was an English professional footballer who played as an outside-forward for Millwall Athletic and Southampton St Mary's
in the 1890s.
in the East End of London
and started his football career with local club, Millwall Rovers, when the club were restricted to friendlies and appearances in the early rounds of the FA Cup
. During Hollands' time with the club, Millwall reached the third qualifying round in 1892 where they were defeated 3–4 by local rivals, Woolwich Arsenal. The following year, (now known as Millwall Athletic) they again reached the third qualifying round against Woolwich Arsenal, with the "Gunners" running out 2–0 winners.
In the 1894 close-season, Hollands moved to Hampshire
to join Southampton St Mary's
. In 1894, Southampton St Mary's, together with Millwall Athletic, were one of the nine founder members of the Southern League
, which had been created to enable clubs in southern England who were not admitted to the Football League
, to play competitive football on a regular basis. For the start of their League career, Saints signed several new players on professional contracts, including Charles Baker
, Lachie Thomson
and Alf Littlehales
from Stoke and Hollands from Millwall.
Hollands made his debut for the "Saints" in their inaugural Southern League match, a 3–1 victory over Chatham played at the Antelope Ground
on 6 October 1894, when he scored the second goal. Described as "a small, fair-haired left-winger", Hollands was a "smart, nimble dribbler". Hollands retained his place at outside-left, playing in every League and FA Cup
match, except the final match of the season. Southampton finished the league season in third place, eight points behind the champions, Hollands' former club, Millwall Athletic.
In the FA Cup, Southampton met Newbury
in the first qualifying round on 13 October 1894. The Saints were "in particularly rampant mood" and won 14–0, with Hollands scoring twice; this is still Southampton's biggest victory in a competitive match. The Saints went on to reach the First Round proper for the first time, going out 1–4 to Football League First Division
opponents Nottingham Forest
.
In July 1895, Hollands returned to London to re-join Millwall Athletic, helping them to retain their Southern League title in 1895–96
before being re-instated as an amateur
in 1896.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the 1890s.
Football career
Hollands was born in PoplarPoplar, London
Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was...
in the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
and started his football career with local club, Millwall Rovers, when the club were restricted to friendlies and appearances in the early rounds of the FA Cup
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...
. During Hollands' time with the club, Millwall reached the third qualifying round in 1892 where they were defeated 3–4 by local rivals, Woolwich Arsenal. The following year, (now known as Millwall Athletic) they again reached the third qualifying round against Woolwich Arsenal, with the "Gunners" running out 2–0 winners.
In the 1894 close-season, Hollands moved to Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
to join Southampton St Mary's
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. In 1894, Southampton St Mary's, together with Millwall Athletic, were one of the nine founder members of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
, which had been created to enable clubs in southern England who were not admitted to the 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...
, to play competitive football on a regular basis. For the start of their League career, Saints signed several new players on professional contracts, including Charles Baker
Charles Baker (footballer)
Charles Baker was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward in Southampton's inaugural season in the Southern League.-Playing career:...
, Lachie Thomson
Lachie Thomson
W.J.G. "Lachie" Thomson was an English professional footballer who played as a defender for Stoke in the Football League before joining Southampton St Mary's for the inaugural Southern League season in 1894.-Stoke:...
and Alf Littlehales
Alf Littlehales
Alfred "Alf" Littlehales was an English professional footballer who played at centre-half for Southampton in the 1890s.-Football career:...
from Stoke and Hollands from Millwall.
Hollands made his debut for the "Saints" in their inaugural Southern League match, a 3–1 victory over Chatham played at the Antelope Ground
Antelope Ground
The Antelope Ground, Southampton was a sports ground that was the first home of both Hampshire County Cricket Club, who played there prior to 1884, and of Southampton Football Club, who played there from 1887 to 1896 as "Southampton St...
on 6 October 1894, when he scored the second goal. Described as "a small, fair-haired left-winger", Hollands was a "smart, nimble dribbler". Hollands retained his place at outside-left, playing in every League and FA Cup
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...
match, except the final match of the season. Southampton finished the league season in third place, eight points behind the champions, Hollands' former club, Millwall Athletic.
In the FA Cup, Southampton met Newbury
Newbury Town F.C.
Newbury Town F.C. is a now-defunct football club based in Newbury, England. They won the Hellenic League title two times in their history. They also won the Isthmian League Division Two in 1994, but ceased to exist just before the start of the 1995–96 season...
in the first qualifying round on 13 October 1894. The Saints were "in particularly rampant mood" and won 14–0, with Hollands scoring twice; this is still Southampton's biggest victory in a competitive match. The Saints went on to reach the First Round proper for the first time, going out 1–4 to Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
opponents Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
.
In July 1895, Hollands returned to London to re-join Millwall Athletic, helping them to retain their Southern League title in 1895–96
Southern Football League 1895-96
The 1895-96 season was the second in the history of the Southern League. Millwall Athletic won Division One for the second successive season.-Division One:...
before being re-instated as an amateur
Amateur sports
Amateur sports are sports in which participants engage largely or entirely without remuneration. Sporting amateurism was a zealously guarded ideal in the 19th century, especially among the upper classes, but faced steady erosion throughout the 20th century with the continuing growth of pro sports...
in 1896.
Honours
Millwall Athletic- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
champions: 1895–96Southern Football League 1895-96The 1895-96 season was the second in the history of the Southern League. Millwall Athletic won Division One for the second successive season.-Division One:...