|
Bob
Holmes |
Preston
North End FC
7 appearances, 0 goals
P 7 W 6 D 1 L 0 F 11:
A 7
(actual F 9: A 5) 93% successful
1888-95
captain:
three
minutes played: 560 |
|
Timeline |
|
Robert Holmes |
Birth |
Sunday,
23 June 1867 in
Preston, Lancashire |
|
registered in Preston July-September 1867 |
|
According to
the 1871
census, Robert is the oldest of three children to Thomas and Margaret (née
Mayor). His
father is a yachtsman, and they live at 13 Bird Street in Preston.
(His mother died on 10 April 1874) |
|
According to the 1881 census, Robert, a
plumber, is the oldest of four children living with their widowed father
at 7 Kingswood Drive in Preston, along with two of his aunties. His father
is an unemployed sailor. |
|
According to the 1891
census, Robert is stated as being a professional footballer lodging with the Yates
family at the Graper Inn, 42 Church Street in Preston. |
Marriage |
to Sarah Smith, on Thursday, 26 April 1894 at St. Paul's Church, Preston. Bob is stated as
still living at 42 Church Street, and professed himself to be an athlete.
Sarah is a barmaid, living at 9 Grimshaw Street. Her father, John, is a
publican. |
|
registered in Preston April-June 1894 |
Children:
Bob and Sarah Holmes had three daughters together.
Margaret (b.11
November 1894),
Alice Ellison (b.31 May 1901) and Helen (b.5 May 1911). |
According to the 1901
census, Robert is a licensed victualler and is married to Sarah with one
daughter, Margaret. They have two servants. Living at 9 Queen Street in
Preston. |
According to the 1911
census, Robert is a football trainer, still married now with two daughters
(only one on the census), and
three boarders, two of them Scottish footballers, William Robertson and
James Johnston, living at 266 Deepdale Road in Preston. |
According to the 1921
census, Robert is a joiners labourer for EEC, still married and still living at 266 Deepdale
Road in Preston, along with three daughters and a
boarder and a visitor. |
According to the 1939 register, Robert is
a general labourer, still married to Sarah, and still with his three daughters,
although Alice (Askew) is now married. They still live at 266 Deepdale Road.
(Sarah Holmes died 22 March 1949) |
Death |
Wednesday evening, 16 November
1955 at Preston Royal Infirmary, Deepdale Road, Preston, Lancashire |
aged
88 years 146 days |
registered in Preston October-December 1955 |
"HOLMES.―On the 16th inst., in hospital (residence:
266, Deepdale-road, Preston). ROBERT, the dearly-loved husband of the
late SARAH HOLMES and loving father of MARGARET, ALICE and HELEN, and
dear Grandpa of NORMAN, GORDON and KATHLEEN, aged 88 years." - Lancashire Evening Post,
Saturday, 19 November 1955. |
Obituary |
"Last of 'Invincibles,' Bob
Holmes, dies.
"A GREAT footballer of the old
days, Mr. Bob Holmes, died at his native Preston to-day, aged 87. He played as a
full back for England seven times and was the last surviving member of the
famed North End 'Invincibles' team of 1888-89 that accomplished the rare
double of winning both League and Cup honours in one season. Aston Villa
did likewise in 1897 and the feat has not been achieved since. "Mr.
Holmes collapsed in the yard of his home on Tuesday and was admitted to
the Royal Infirmary with a broken leg. An inquest will be held tomorrow.
"Bob Holmes (writes Walter Pilkington) was a marvel of physical fitness
for his age. When well in the 80's, he still had the energy and alive
faculties of many a man 20 years his junior, and until his powers began to
fade some months ago, was not troubled by his advancing years, and still
took as keen an interest in sport as anyone. "He had followed the
fortunes of his beloved North End, man and boy, for over 70 years. He was
a player at Deepdale in his teens, and an assistant groundsman there when
well past his normal retiring age. His love of cricket was hardly less
fervent. "He worked for Preston Cricket Club for a long time after his
playing days had finished as assistant to groundsman Joe Wormald at the
West Cliff ground. Quite recently a match organised by the club was played
for his benefit. "Holmes' pride in Preston North End transcended all
else. He played in one Cup Final and helped to bring the trophy to
Preston. As an old player, he was the club's guest at four other finals.
"His greatest disappointment was that he did not see Tom Finney on the
winning side at Wembley two years ago. He felt it as keenly as if he had
been one of the losers himself. "He was the proud possessor of a
special cap awarded by England for playing against Scotland in three
successive matches, yet he was hardly less proud of playing at full back
for both England and Preston, alongside another Prestonian, the late Mr.
Bob Howarth." -
Lancashire Evening Post, Thursday, 17 November 1955. |
|
"'Accidental death' verdict.
"A verdict of 'Accidental death' was recorded at a Preston inquest,
to-day, on 88-year-old Mr. Bob Holmes, who died in Preston Royal Infirmary
on Wednesday night. Miss Helen Holmes said she lived with her father, a
widower, at 266, Deepdale-road, Preston. On Tuesday, he went into the yard
at the back of the house and shortly afterwards she heard a bang and her
father calling to her. He was lying on the ground and said his legs had
given way. He was taken to Preston Royal Infirmary with a fractured right
thigh. Dr. Charles S. Fowler, senior house officer, said Mr. Holmes'
condition deteriorated rapidly. The cause of death was inter-cranial
haemorrhage accelerated by shock. The Coroner (Mr. W. Blackhurst), said Mr.
Holmes probably had a dizzy spell which caused him to fall."
- Lancashire Evening Post, Saturday, 19
November 1955 |
Funeral
Tuesday, 22 November 1955
Preston New Cemetery.
He is buried with his wife, Sarah, and nearby
Bob Howarth |
|
"Service and Interment Preston Cemetery. Tuesday, November 22nd, at
2.30p,m." - Lancashire Evening Post,
Saturday, 19 November 1955. |
"HOLMES.―The DAUGHTERS of the late ROBERT HOLMES desire to express
sincere Thanks and Appreciation to all Relatives, Friends, Neighbours, the
Rev. J. C. H. A. Fordham, M.B.E., Doctors and nursing Staff of Preston
Royal Infirmary, Directors, Players and Staff of Preston North End
Football Club, Committee and Players and Staff, Preston Cricket Club, and
Messrs. R. Moorcroft for all kind expressions of sympathy, letters of
condolence, prayers and beautiful floral tributes received during their
sad loss of a very dear one.―266 Deepdale-road, Preston." -
Lancashire Evening Post, Wednesday, 23 November 1955 |
Probate |
"HOLMES
Robert of 266 Deepdale-road
Preston Lancashire died 16 November 1955 at The Royal
Infirmary Preston Administration (with Will)
Lancaster 10
February to Margaret Holmes and Helen Holmes spinsters and Alice Ellison
Askew (wife of Gilbert Wilson Askew).
Effects £1616 1s." |
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & |
Playing Career |
Club(s) |
Began his
playing career with Preston Olympic FC, and joined Preston
North End FC in 1884, Holmes retired from professional football in May
1900 and was reinstated as an amateur
and played his final league game in Division Two on 26th December 1902 against
Manchester City FC after a two year absence.
City won 2-0.
He was also placed on the Football League referees' list and remained with
North End as a trainer. |
League History 300 appearances, 1 goal |
Preston
North End FC 1888-1902 300 appearances, one goal debut: 8
September 1888 Preston North End FC 5 Burnley FC 2. only goal: 19
October 1895 Preston North End FC 1 Burnley FC 1.
last (second division): 26 December 1902 Preston North End FC 0
Manchester City FC 2. |
Club honours |
FA Cup
runners-up 1887-88, winners 1888-89
(5ᵃ 1ᵍ);
Football League Champions
1888-89
(22ᵃ), 1889-90 (18ᵃ), runners-up 1890-91 (22ᵃ), 1891-92 (25ᵃ),
Division One runners-up 1892-93 (28ᵃ); |
Individual honours |
Football League
(three appearances); Lancashire FA (1886); |
Distinctions |
Holmes
was the last of the players who performed in the first League season of
1888-89 to retire, when he did so in 1900. He was the last 'Invincible'
to die, and the sole survivor for over eleven years, after Sam Thompson
died on 23 December 1943. |
Height/Weight |
5' 8½",
11st 7lbs [1888], 5' 8" [1889] |
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA. |
Management
Career |
Club(s) |
Holmes
worked as a trainer for
Preston North End FC after he gave
up playing, and was then appointed by Bradford City AFC in the same
capacity
from 18 May 1904 up until becoming trainer/manager of
Blackburn Rovers
FC from April 1905 until he announced his retirement on 30 October 1913. Also coached at several public
schools. |
Club honours |
Football League Champions 1911-12; |
England Career |
Player number |
One of
five who became the 147th player
(148) to appear
for England. |
Position(s) |
Right-half, right/left-back; |
First match |
No. 34, 7 April 1888, Ireland 1 England 5, a
British Championship match at Ulster
Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh Park, Belfast, aged 20 years
289 days. |
Last match |
No. 53, 9 March 1895, England 9 Ireland 0, a
British Championship match at
Derbyshire County Cricket
Ground, Nottingham Road, Derby, aged 27 years 259 days. |
Major tournaments |
British Championship 1887-88, 1890-91, 1891-92, 1892-93, 1893-94,
1894-95; |
Team honours |
British Championship winners 1887-88, 1890-91, 1891-92, 1892-93, 1894-95; |
Individual honours |
The
Whites (two appearances, March 1891-February 1892,
withdrew in March 1894); The Professionals (one
appearance, March 1893) He was
the designated trainer for
England against Ireland in 1906 and also the 1908 Continental Tour. |
Distinctions |
Holmes worked as a football coach and in April 1908, he was appointed
trainer to the English amateur international team. |
Beyond England |
Holmes worked on the railways whilst
playing his football with Preston North End FC. In December 1900, Holmes opened a business
in Preston town centre. Also played a significant part in the foundation
of the Association Footballer's Union, on 22 December 1897, it lasted two
years. He returned to Deepdale
and acted as an assistant groundsman, well into his sixties, as well as at
the West Cliff ground, home of the Preston Cricket Club. -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming
(1990). Hatton Press, p.135-6./Spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk. |
The Numbers |
parties |
Appearances |
comp. apps |
minutes |
|
captain |
9 |
7 |
7 |
560 |
0 |
three |
The minutes here given
can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an
approximation. |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
7 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
11 |
7 |
+4 |
0 |
2 |
1.571 |
1 |
92.9 |
+6 |
All of his matches were played in the British Championship
competition |
Venue Record
Venue |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
Home |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
22 |
3 |
+19 |
0 |
2 |
5.50 |
0.75 |
100.0 |
+4 |
Away |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
11 |
4 |
+7 |
0 |
0 |
3.667 |
1.333 |
83.3 |
+2 |
Captain Record
Venue |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
Home |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
+15 |
0 |
2 |
7.50 |
0.00 |
100.0 |
+2 |
Away |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
=0 |
0 |
0 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
50.0 |
=0 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
17 |
2 |
+15 |
0 |
2 |
5.667 |
0.667 |
83.3 |
+2 |
Tournament Record
British Championship Competition |
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
BC 1887-88 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
+4 |
0 |
0 |
5.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
BC 1888-89 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
=0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
00.0 |
=0 |
BC 1890-91 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
+1 |
0 |
0 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
BC 1891-92 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
+3 |
0 |
0 |
4.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
BC 1892-93 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
2 |
+9 |
0 |
1 |
5.50 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+2 |
BC 1893-94 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
=0 |
0 |
0 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
50.0 |
=0 |
BC 1894-95 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
+9 |
0 |
1 |
9.00 |
0.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
BC All |
7 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
11 |
7 |
+4 |
0 |
2 |
1.571 |
1.00 |
92.9 |
+6 |
All Competition |
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
BC |
7 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
11 |
7 |
+4 |
0 |
2 |
1.571 |
1.00 |
92.9 |
+6 |
7 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
11 |
7 |
+4 |
0 |
2 |
1.571 |
1 |
92.9 |
+6 |
Match History
apps |
match |
match details |
comp |
res. |
rundown |
pos |
|
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