Jim Holton
Encyclopedia
James Alan "Jim" Holton (11 April 1951 – 5 October 1993) was a Scottish
football player.
Born in Lesmahagow
, South Lanarkshire
, Holton began his playing career with West Bromwich Albion
in 1968, but left three years later without having played a first-team game. He spent a season at Shrewsbury Town
before making the big move to Manchester United
. He played in their Second Division
championship winning side in 1975 but was sold to Sunderland
a year later.
In 1976, he played for the Miami Toros
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL). He returned to the NASL with the Detroit Express
in 1980. He finished his career with Coventry City
, enjoying a four-year spell at the club before injury brought his career to an end at the age of 30 at the end of the 1980-1981 season.
Holton played in all three initial group games for Scotland
in the 1974 World Cup competition in Germany, in which the team did not lose, winning 2-0 against Zaire
and drawing twice, including a memorable 0-0 draw with then reigning champions Brazil
, yet still failing to progress to the second round due to goal difference. Scotland's third game resulted in a 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia
.
Holton stayed in Coventry
after retiring from professional football, working as a pub landlord. He died on 5 October 1993, aged 42, after suffering a heart attack at the wheel of his car.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football player.
Born in Lesmahagow
Lesmahagow
Lesmahagow is a small town on the edge of moorland, near Lanark in the central belt of Scotland. It is also known as Abbey Green.-Etymology:The name is possibly a corruption of "Church of St Machutus"...
, South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
, Holton began his playing career with West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in 1968, but left three years later without having played a first-team game. He spent a season at Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
before making the big move to 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...
. He played in their Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
championship winning side in 1975 but was sold to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
a year later.
In 1976, he played for the Miami Toros
Miami Toros
The Miami Gatos were a soccer team based out of Miami that played in the North American Soccer League. The club was previously known as the Washington Darts. After the 1972 season, the team was renamed the Miami Toros...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL). He returned to the NASL with the Detroit Express
Detroit Express
The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit that played in the now defunct North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome. The Express were co-owned and directed by famous English soccer pundit Jimmy Hill who was also the managing...
in 1980. He finished his career with Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, enjoying a four-year spell at the club before injury brought his career to an end at the age of 30 at the end of the 1980-1981 season.
Holton played in all three initial group games for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in the 1974 World Cup competition in Germany, in which the team did not lose, winning 2-0 against Zaire
Congo DR national football team
The Congo DR national football team is the national team of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is controlled by the Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association , and are nicknamed The Leopards.Congo have been ranked as high as 51 in the FIFA Rankings...
and drawing twice, including a memorable 0-0 draw with then reigning champions Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
, yet still failing to progress to the second round due to goal difference. Scotland's third game resulted in a 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia
Serbia national football team
The Serbia national football team represents Serbia in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia, the governing body for football in Serbia. Serbia's home ground is Stadion Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade and their last head coach was Vladimir Petrović...
.
Holton stayed in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
after retiring from professional football, working as a pub landlord. He died on 5 October 1993, aged 42, after suffering a heart attack at the wheel of his car.
External links
- Jim Holton, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database