*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Colin Holder
Appearances: 86 Goals: 25
Date / Year of birth: 6th January 1944
Position: Striker
Season of first appearance: 1964/65
Season of last appearance: 1965/66
Also played for: Coventry City (9,4), Lockheed-Leamington, Chelmsford City, Weymouth, Nuneaton Borough, Stourbridge, Deal Town, Cheltenham Town, Banbury United, Rugby Town, Gloucester City, Salisbury City, Kidderminster Harriers, Burton Albion, Hednesford, Coleshill Town and Armitage
Talented, hard-shooting forward born in Cheltenham who started his career at Coventry, joining the club's ground staff for the 1959/60 season. During the 1960/61 campaign Colin scored on his first team debut in a 3-3 draw at Newport aged only 16 and at the time he'd only played nine reserve team games.
During 1961/62 Colin had a spell on loan at Lockheed-Leamington before returning to Highfield Road. He went on to score four times in just nine first team appearances before leaving Coventry in the summer of 1963.
Colin then joined Chelmsford who were the only full-time non-league club in the country at the time. However he couldn't settle there and he left City by mutual consent in December 1963 after scoring twice from seven appearances.
Colin then signed for Weymouth but the move didn't work out and after only six weeks he joined Nuneaton on loan. He then had a further loan spell, this time at Stourbridge.
Disillusioned with football after playing for four clubs during the 1963/64 season, Colin left the game for a period and began working at Butlins as a full-time football coach and Redcoat. However Deal player-manager Larry Baxter talked Colin out of quitting football and he signed for the club in time for the start of the 1964/65 season.
After only three months with Deal Colin moved to Margate in November 1964. A three figure fee was involved and Dennis Foster also joined Deal in part-exchange. Colin had made 27 appearances in all competitions and left Deal as he wanted full-time football which Deal couldn't offer. The club was actually £1572 in debt at the time of his sale. Colin was Deal's joint leading scorer at the time of his transfer and his ten goals matched the tally of former Margate player Ivan Green.
Colin made his debut for Margate in a 3-3 draw at Guildford on 5.12.64 and two days later scored his first goal in a 4-1 defeat at Romford. He went on to score a total of 13 goals in 40 appearances during the remainder of the 1964/65 season. His tally included several excellent strikes, most notably a scorching shot to clinch a 1-0 win at Bath on 12.12.64 and a goal direct from a corner in a 4-0 win over Folkestone on 1.3.65. Colin impressed throughout the season with his shrewd passing and thoughtful play.
He continued to be a regular in the Margate side during the 1965/66 campaign and made a further 46 appearances, scoring 12 goals. However Colin struggled to find his best form during the early part of the season and it was only after Christmas that his performances picked up. This was partly due to him losing weight after training in a rubber suit. On 7.2.66 he scored a superb goal as Margate beat King's Lynn 7-6 in an amazing game at Hartsdown Park. Colin flicked the ball over his head with his right foot, then swivelled to score with his left. He also fired home a 30 yard effort in a 4-0 win at Ashford on 8.3.66 but on 12.3.66 Colin was sent off for fighting in a game at Cheltenham. He was given a two week ban and the fact that he was dismissed at Cheltenham was somewhat ironic as his father had played for them in the Southern League during the 1930's. Shortly before that Colin had been transfer-listed but Margate received no suitable offers for him. However at the end of the season he was released by the club, shortly after relegation from the Southern League Premier Division had been confirmed.
In the summer of 1966 Colin was given the opportunity to play in Australia but didn't take up the offer and he joined Cheltenham instead. He scored four goals in 24 appearances for them. He then joined Banbury in 1968 and on 9.11.68 he scored twice for them in a game against Ramsgate. In December 1968 more than 400 Banbury fans signed a petition to protest about his being transfer listed by the club. Colin was a very popular player there and built up a great rapport with the supporters.
However in 1969 he joined Rugby and then went on to have spells with Gloucester, Salisbury, Kidderminster, Burton and Hednesford before moving into management.
In the mid 1970's Colin became player-manager of Coleshill Town of the Midland Combination League and after tasting success there he moved on to Armitage, again as player-manager.
Colin then returned to Banbury as player-manager for the 1990/91 season but due to the club's poor financial state he had to leave in March 1991. However the fact that Colin was still playing aged 46 was a testament to his ability and fitness.
After leaving Banbury he had a spell in charge of Willenhall Town before being sacked in March 1992.
In 2003 Colin was living in Staffordshire and still involved in football, taking coaching schools around the country. He was also coaching in the USA and Australia for a few months each year. In addition he was Barnet's Midland scout, a role he'd filled for the past seven years, and was playing in charity games for an Aston Villa veterans side on a regular basis.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KFL |
| |
|
1964/65 (MFC) |
40 (71) |
N/A |
13 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (6TH OF 22) |
4QR |
2R |
3R |
GR |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC |
KSS |
|
1965/66 (MFC) |
46 (67) |
N/A |
12 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (22ND OF 22) |
1QR |
2R |
SF |
RU |
SF |
| Margate relegated to
Division One. Played in Kent Floodlight Cup Final 1st Leg (12.05.66 - lost 3-1 at Dartford). Played in Kent Floodlight Cup Final 2nd Leg (18.05.66 - lost 5-2 at home to Dartford). | |||||||||