Steve Holmes (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Steven Peter Holmes is a retired English footballer. He played as a defender
in the Football League for Preston North End
, Hartlepool United
and Lincoln City
where, in 2007, he was voted number 37 in their 100 League Legends.
in the summer of 1987. In his second year as a trainee he made the first team squad, being an unused substitute in the 2-2 home Football League draw with Scarborough
on 15 October 1988 before playing a full ninety minutes in the 3-1 home victory over Enfield
four days later which secured the Imps the James Thompson Championship Shield, an annual contest between the winners of the Football Conference
and FA Trophy
. He was an unused substitute in the next two league games before spending the latter half of the season on loan to Boston F.C.
, helping the club secure the Central Midlands League Supreme Division championship. Holmes turned professional with the Sincil Bank
based club in the summer of 1989 and commenced the season on loan with Boston F.C.
. Failing to make an impression with the first team he moved on to join Gainsborough Trinity
and then Guisborough Town
.
attracted attention and, on 14 March 1994, John Beck
paid £10,000 to secure his services for Preston North End
. On 31 March 1994 he joined Bromsgrove Rovers
on loan for a month, debuting in the 1-0 Football Conference
home defeat to Slough Town
on 2 April 1994. His Football League debut came on 29 October 1994 in a 1-0 home defeat to Exeter City
. On 10 March 1995 he joined Hartlepool United
on loan, debuting in the following days' 3-1 home victory over Colchester United
. He marked his final appearance for the club by scoring twice, his first Football League goals, in a 4-0 home victory over Hereford United
on 22 April 1995. One week later he faced Hartlepool United
in Preston
's colours and marked the occasion with his first Preston goal in a 3-0 home victory.
was appointed manager of Lincoln City
and he immediately returned to his former club Preston North End
to sign Barry Richardson
for £20,000 and secure Holmes on a three month loan deal on 20 October 1995. The pair made their debut in the 1-0 home defeat to Cardiff City
the following day. In this, his second spell at Sincil Bank
, he held down a starting position throughout his loan period before returning to Deepdale
. Although he managed to break back into the Preston first team, the signing of Paul Sparrow meant that he was able to sign for Lincoln City
on a permanent basis for a fee of £30,000 on 15 March 1996; his second debut coming in the 2-0 defeat at Leyton Orient
the following day.
Ever-present in the 1997/98 season when the Imps won promotion and player of the seaon the next, Holmes' career was almost ended when he picked up a serious neck injury during the 1-0 home victory over Wrexham on 4 May 1999. The injury kept him out of action for ten months but he returned in spectacular style, scoring less than a minute into his comeback at the Imps defeated Carlisle United
5-0 at Sincil Bank
on 4 March 2000. Holmes appeared in City's remaining games of the 1999/2000 season and on 20 November 2001 he became only the 30th player since the Second World War to record 200 Football League appearances for the Imps when he put in a man of the match performance in the 1-0 home defeat to Kidderminster Harriers
.
In Lincoln City
's penalty shoot-out success in an FA Cup
first round replay against Bury
at Gigg Lane
on 27 November 2001, Holmes hobbled off just before the half-hour mark following an accidental collision with Bury's Jason Jarrett
and was immediately replaced by Paul Mayo
. A strained medial ligament was diagnosed and the injury was expected to keep him on the sidelines for up to two months. However, the injury became infected, causing Holmes to spend five days in hospital over the New Year period and after remaining in pain, he learnt the knee required an operation which would keep him out for the remainder of the season and he underwent surgery on 14 February 2002. With Lincoln on the verge of administration, Holmes along with four other senior players was released at the end of the season bringing an end to his third spell with the club.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
in the Football League for 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...
, Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
and Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
where, in 2007, he was voted number 37 in their 100 League Legends.
Early career
Steve Holmes started his career as a YTS trainee with Lincoln CityLincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
in the summer of 1987. In his second year as a trainee he made the first team squad, being an unused substitute in the 2-2 home Football League draw with Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
on 15 October 1988 before playing a full ninety minutes in the 3-1 home victory over Enfield
Enfield F.C.
Enfield F.C. is a football club, formed in June 2007 after Enfield F.C. ceased to exist....
four days later which secured the Imps the James Thompson Championship Shield, an annual contest between the winners of the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
and FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
. He was an unused substitute in the next two league games before spending the latter half of the season on loan to Boston F.C.
Boston Town F.C.
Boston Town F.C. is an English football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the United Counties League Premier Division and play at Tattershall Road.-History:...
, helping the club secure the Central Midlands League Supreme Division championship. Holmes turned professional with the Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
based club in the summer of 1989 and commenced the season on loan with Boston F.C.
Boston Town F.C.
Boston Town F.C. is an English football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the United Counties League Premier Division and play at Tattershall Road.-History:...
. Failing to make an impression with the first team he moved on to join Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
and then Guisborough Town
Guisborough Town F.C.
Guisborough Town F.C. are an English football club based in Guisborough, Redcar and Cleveland. They were founded in 1973 and currently play in the Northern League Division One. Their home ground is the in Guisborough....
.
Preston North End
His performances for Guisborough TownGuisborough Town F.C.
Guisborough Town F.C. are an English football club based in Guisborough, Redcar and Cleveland. They were founded in 1973 and currently play in the Northern League Division One. Their home ground is the in Guisborough....
attracted attention and, on 14 March 1994, John Beck
John Beck (footballer)
John Alexander Beck is an English former footballer and manager. As a player he made nearly 500 league appearances between 1972 and 1988....
paid £10,000 to secure his services for 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...
. On 31 March 1994 he joined Bromsgrove Rovers
Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.
Bromsgrove Rovers F.C. were a non-League football club from the town of Bromsgrove in Worcestershire. The peak of the club's success was in 1993 when Rovers finished runner-up in the Football Conference...
on loan for a month, debuting in the 1-0 Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
home defeat to Slough Town
Slough Town F.C.
Slough Town F.C. is an English semi-professional football club. The club was officially founded in 1890 after the amalgamation of three local clubs, Swifts, Slough Albion and Young Men's Friendly Society, who between them forged a new club, Slough F.C....
on 2 April 1994. His Football League debut came on 29 October 1994 in a 1-0 home defeat to Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
. On 10 March 1995 he joined Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
on loan, debuting in the following days' 3-1 home victory over Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
. He marked his final appearance for the club by scoring twice, his first Football League goals, in a 4-0 home victory over Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
on 22 April 1995. One week later he faced Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
in Preston
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...
's colours and marked the occasion with his first Preston goal in a 3-0 home victory.
Lincoln City
In October 1995, John BeckJohn Beck (footballer)
John Alexander Beck is an English former footballer and manager. As a player he made nearly 500 league appearances between 1972 and 1988....
was appointed manager of Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
and he immediately returned to his former club 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...
to sign Barry Richardson
Barry Richardson (footballer)
Barry Richardson , is a professional English footballer who has played as a goalkeeper for eleven clubs...
for £20,000 and secure Holmes on a three month loan deal on 20 October 1995. The pair made their debut in the 1-0 home defeat to Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
the following day. In this, his second spell at Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
, he held down a starting position throughout his loan period before returning to Deepdale
Deepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
. Although he managed to break back into the Preston first team, the signing of Paul Sparrow meant that he was able to sign for Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on a permanent basis for a fee of £30,000 on 15 March 1996; his second debut coming in the 2-0 defeat at Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
the following day.
Ever-present in the 1997/98 season when the Imps won promotion and player of the seaon the next, Holmes' career was almost ended when he picked up a serious neck injury during the 1-0 home victory over Wrexham on 4 May 1999. The injury kept him out of action for ten months but he returned in spectacular style, scoring less than a minute into his comeback at the Imps defeated Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
5-0 at Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
on 4 March 2000. Holmes appeared in City's remaining games of the 1999/2000 season and on 20 November 2001 he became only the 30th player since the Second World War to record 200 Football League appearances for the Imps when he put in a man of the match performance in the 1-0 home defeat to Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
.
In Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
's penalty shoot-out success in an 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...
first round replay against Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
at Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane
Gigg Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. Historically within Lancashire, it was built for Bury F.C. in 1885, and has been their home ever since.-History:...
on 27 November 2001, Holmes hobbled off just before the half-hour mark following an accidental collision with Bury's Jason Jarrett
Jason Jarrett (footballer)
Jason Lee Jarrett is an English footballer, who plays in midfield. He is currently a free agent, having last played for Oldham Athletic of League One....
and was immediately replaced by Paul Mayo
Paul Mayo
Paul Mayo is an English footballer, who currently plays for Corby Town. His preferred positions are left-sided full-back role or left wing-back and notably played for his home town team Lincoln City, having two separate spells at the club but despite being a relative success his professional...
. A strained medial ligament was diagnosed and the injury was expected to keep him on the sidelines for up to two months. However, the injury became infected, causing Holmes to spend five days in hospital over the New Year period and after remaining in pain, he learnt the knee required an operation which would keep him out for the remainder of the season and he underwent surgery on 14 February 2002. With Lincoln on the verge of administration, Holmes along with four other senior players was released at the end of the season bringing an end to his third spell with the club.