*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.
John Hold
Appearances: 53+1 Goals: 19
Date / Year of birth: 28th March 1948
Position: Striker
Season of first appearance: 1973/74
Season of last appearance: 1973/74
Also played for: Fareham Town, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic (98+7,32), Crewe Alexandra (0+2,0), Northampton Town (43+2,11), Ashford Town, London City (Canada) and Toronto Portuguese (Canada)
Stylish Southampton-born centre-forward who started his career with Hampshire club Fareham before being signed by Bournemouth in November 1964.
John went on to score 32 times in 105 first team appearances for them spanning the 1965/66-1970/71 seasons. He also had a spell on loan at Crewe during the 1968/69 season.
In August 1971 John was transferred to Northampton and scored 11 times in 45 senior appearances for the Cobblers during the 1971/72 and 1972/73 seasons.
In the summer of 1973 he joined Margate and manager Les Riggs said "John is a great player and I am confident that he will be one of the Premier Division leading scorers." John scored on his debut in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Romford at Hartsdown Park on 11.8.73, the opening day of the 1973/74 campaign. Two days later he scored with a 25 yard lob in a 2-1 win at Bedford and the impressive start to his Margate career soon led to him being compared to the legendary Alan Blackburn in the local press, particularly because of his heading ability.
As the season progressed John gained many plaudits from the Thanet Times and Isle of Thanet Gazette and he was variously described as being an "aerial ace", "a genuine talent" and "relentless". However in November 1973 it was also reported that he was "often the butt of supporters" but it was felt that was mainly due to John not being provided with enough crosses to feed on.
Despite the perceived lack of service John still managed to score 19 times in 54 appearances (one as sub) and finished the season as the club's joint top scorer along with Barry Brown. John's goals included a solo effort on 15.12.73 when he beat two defenders before firing home during a 3-3 draw with Barnet and a diving header in a 3-3 draw at Folkestone on 1.1.74. On 3.3.74 he found the net with a volley described as "splendid" by the local press as Margate won 3-1 in the Kent Senior Cup semi-final at Canterbury. In the dressing room before the game John had injured himself when he jumped up and hit his head on a wooden beam, suffering a nasty cut that had to be treated before kick off.
He went on to score one of the Margate goals in the Kent Senior Cup Final win over Maidstone on 13.4.74 but at the end of the season John was surprisingly released. Les Riggs felt that John wasn't physical enough for the Southern League although he did say that it was a tough decision to make.
John then joined Ashford for the 1974/75 campaign and scored in their 3-1 win at Margate on 3.4.75. He found the net 16 times in 30 Southern League appearances for the Nuts & Bolts before leaving the club at the end of the season.
In the summer of 1975 he went to Canada to play for London City in Toronto along with several other past / present Margate players including Graham Sawyer, Ray Flannigan, Steve Breach, Barry Brown, Phil Brooman and Paul Smith.
John stayed in Canada for three years, also playing for Toronto Portuguese, before returning to England in 1979 and retiring from football.
He then started working for Asda in Gosport, Hampshire. He later moved to Lincoln via Sheffield and after being made redundant from Asda in 1996 John had a short spell selling cakes before moving on to selling beds and sofas. In 2003 he was working in a 'Golfers World' shop near Lincoln and during his time with Margate John was as a window cleaner.
John completed a questionnaire for this site which you can see here.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KMT | |
|
1973/74 (MFC) |
0 (65) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (17TH OF 22) |
4QR |
2R |
SF |
W |
GR |
| Played and scored in Kent Senior Cup Final (13.04.74 - beat Maidstone United 2-0). | |||||||||