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Players Index Page Last Updated
9 July 2023
 
 

Johnny Holt

Everton FC, Reading FC

 10 appearances, 0 goals

P 10 W 8 D 2 L 0 F 29: A 10
90% successful
1889-1900

captain: none
minutes played: 900

Timeline
  John Holt
Birth Tuesday, 16 October 1866 at 3 Hope Street in Blackburn, Lancashire
  registered in Blackburn October-December 1866
Education Attended Commercial School in Duke's Brow
 

According to the 1871 census, John is the second of four children to Thomas and Susan (née Ditchfield) and they live at 32 Park Road in Blackburn, His father is a stone mason.
  According to the 1881 census, John is now also a stone mason like his father, still at home with his parents, now at 7 Alexandra Road in Blackburn. He now has three younger brothers.
    According to the 1891 census, John, still a stone-cutter, now lives at 17 Mill Hall Lane in Church with four of his brothers, his widowed mother and his widowed grandmother.
However, on the night of this census, John was visiting next door, number 19, the home of Henry and Elizabeth Green, along with his cousin, William Ditchfield.
(His father had died in July 1888).
 

According to passenger lists, John Holt is a footballer, leaving Liverpool on the 'Yorkshire' bound for Quebec and Montreal on 21 April 1898.. his intention is to emigrate, He returned before the end of that summer.
According to the 1901 census, John is boarding with the family of his wife-to-be, the Bodles's. William & Emily live at The White Eagle, 344 Oxford Road in Reading with Thomasine. Blackburn-born John is stated as being a pawnbroker & jeweller, and he gives an age of 30.
Marriage: to Thomasine Agnes Elizabeth Bodle, on Monday, 22 April 1901 at St. George's Church in Tilehurst, Reading.
registered in Reading April-June 1901
"HOLT—BODLE.—On the 22nd inst., at St. George's Church, Tilehurst, Reading, by the Rev. W. H. Harper, Vicar, John Holt, eldest son of the late Thomas Holt, of Blackburn, to Thomasine A. E. Bodle, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Bodle, of 344, Oxford-road, Reading'" - Reading Mercury, Oxford Gazette, Newbury Herald, and Berks County Paper, Saturday, 27 April 1901
 
"The marriage was solemnized on Monday at St. George's Church, Reading, of Mr. John Holt (the well known International half-back) and Miss Thomasine A. E. Bodle, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Bodle, of Oxford Road, Reading. The wedding was a quiet one, owing to the absence of the bride's brother at the front. The Rev. W. H. Harper, Vicar, officiated, and the bride, who was given away by her father, was attended by her cousin, Miss Minnie Wix, as bridesmaid. Mr. Edgar Wix (cousin) was 'best man.; The honeymoon is being spent in London." - The Berkshire Chronicle, Saturday, 27 April 1901.
Children Johnny and Thomasine Holt had one son together. Douglas William (b.9 May 1903)

According to the Berkshire Electoral Registers for 1905, John was living at 7 The Grove in Reading, by 1910, he was living at 309 London Road, both with a qualifying property at St. John's Hill (the business address for Humphries & Holt).

According to the 1911 census, John is married to Thomasine Agnes, with one son, Douglas William. John is a mineral water manufacturer, and they live at 309 London Road in Reading.
(John Humphries, Holt's business partner, dies 27 January 1916)

According to the 1921 census, John is still a mineral water manufacturer, and is still married to Thomasine Agnes, with their son, they live at 142 London Road in Reading.

According to the Berkshire Electoral Registers, in 1920-30, John was now living at 142 London Road, still with a property at 7-9 St. John's Hill.
By 1935, John and Thomasine were living at 228 Tilehurst Road in Reading.
Death Saturday, 18 December 1937, at Brighton County Mental Hospital, Haywards Heath, Sussex, as a result of pneumonia-linked myocardial degeneration.
aged 71 years 63 days registered in Cuckfield October-December 1937
"The death of Johnny Holt, a former Reading international centre-half, will be received with deep regret by the older generation of Elm Park supporters. Holt, one of the cleverest pivots of his time, appeared for England on 15 occasions, being first capped in 1890. He came to Reading from Everton." - The Reading Standard, Thursday, 23 December 1937
  According to the 1939 register, Thomasine A., now a widow, lives with her married son, Douglas W., who is a telegraphic cable installer. They live at Ebor, Leatherhead Road in the Ashtead area of Leatherhead, Surrey.
Probate "HOLT John of the Brighton County Borough Mental Hospital Haywards Heath Sussex died 18 December 1937 Probate London 8 February to Thomasine Agnes Elizabeth Holt  widow.
 Effects £547 4s."
  Thomasine Holt died in 7 June 1942

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], Duncan Pierce, Rob Sawyer (EFCHS) &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Started his football playing in Blackburn for King's Own FC, and from there, assisted Church FC in Accrington. He then spent two seasons with Blackpool St. John's FC, from 1884, and another two seasons with Bootle FC. After playing a benefit match on the Anfield ground (between Mr. Sudell's team and a combined Everton, Bootle & Stanley FC's) on 26 May 1888, he signed for Everton FC in a Wrexham hostelry, on 18 October 1889. Holt was then appointed as the club captain. Then after nine seasons, Holt wanted to leave Everton FC, and in April 1898, he emigrated to Canada, but was forced to return within months, but the Goodison Park club retained his registration and would not allow him to leave...
"JOHN HOLT AND THE EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB.—A few days ago it was announced that the renowned half-back had been secured by Glasgow [Rangers] club, Holt's renumeration being £6 10s. weekly, all the year round. Holt has not yet signed for any club, and is unwilling to do so, unless Everton reduce his transfer fee to £50. The Goodison Park officials want £350 before they release Holt, a prohibitive sum altogether. Holt says it makes him recoil to think that he would be sold at the price named by Everton to any club." - Sporting Life, Saturday, 20 August 1898
 
"John Holt, of Everton, applied for his transfer to New Brighton, but the [Football League Management] committee decided that they would not consider any transfers to New Brighton until they had completed those of McEleny and Milward." - Nottingham Daily Express/Edinburgh Evening News, Saturday, 10 September 1898
"It cost Everton nothing to secure my services. I played for them for nine years, and then when I wished to make a change they asked £300 for my transfer. This practically barred me from playing in the north, for naturally a man could not be worth that to any club after having played so long. I may state that New Brighton offered Everton £135 for my transfer, and Burnley were prepared to pay £200, but neither offer came to anything. Consequently I had to come south out of the reach of transfer fees. Directly I had signed for Reading I received a telegram from Everton to come and meet the secretary of the Clyde Football Club. The two clubs had agreed about my transfer, It had been arranged without my consent, and then it was also too late.." - The Sphere, 2 March 1901.
"John Holt, the International centre half-back, who has been chiefly identified with Everton, has finally severed his connection with the Goodison Park eleven by signing for Reading, a Southern League club." - Sunderland Daily Echo, Wednesday, 5 October 1898
"On Saturday the Reading executive signed on Holt, of Everton, the well-known international. Holt, who is, by the way, 31 years of age, has been residing at his home at Bolton since the close of the last football season, so that he will require about a fortnight or so to get fit. The advisability of signing on such an 'old hand' is extremely doubtful." - The Berkshire Chronicle, Saturday, 8 October 1898.
"Holt joins the Reading Club, which being only a Southern League club, pays no transfer fee, and Everton loses its £300." - Sporting Life, Saturday, 15 October 1898
  Holt retired in 1901. He wanted to be reinstated as an amateur on 23 August 1902. His was the only unsuccessful application, the reason for him being turned down was because of him being a prosperous mineral water manufacturer (Messrs. Humphries & Holt, which would dissolve in 1910).
  "At Elm Park this afternoon Reading Reserves played a friendly game with Reading Victoria. Mr. John Holt, who was the referee, got a fine reception from the small number of spectators." - Reading Observer, 8 October 1910
League History
225 appearances, 3 goals		 Everton FC 1888-98 225 appearances, three goals.
debut: 8 September 1888 Everton FC 2 Accrington FC 1.
last:11 April 1898 Everton FC 2 Sunderland AFC 0.
Club honours Football League runners-up 1889-90 (21ᵃ 1ᵍ), Champions 1890-91 (21ᵃ 1ᵍ); Division One runners-up 1894-95 (27ᵃ);
FA Cup runners-up 1892-93 (7ᵃ), 1896-97 (5ᵃ 1ᵍ);
Individual honours Football League (two appearances)
Distinctions None
Height/Weight barely 5', under 8st. 0lbs [1886]. 5' 4½", 10st. 2lbs [1893].
"[Holt] is a small man, not more than 5ft. 3in. in height, but he is a little wonder." - 1893

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA.

England Career
Player number One of three who became the 171st players (171) to appear for England.
Position(s) Centre-half
First match No. 38, 15 March 1890, Wales 1 England 3, a British Championship match at The Racecourse, Mold Road, Wrexham, aged 23 years 150 days
Last match
10 years 2 days		 No. 68, 17 March 1900, Ireland 0 England 2, a British Championship match at Lansdowne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin, aged 33 years 152 days
Major tournaments British Championship 1889-90, 1890-91, 1891-92, 1892-93, 1893-94, 1894-95, 1899-1900;
Team honours British Championship shared 1889-90, winners 1890-91, 1891-92, 1892-93, 1894-95;

Individual honours		 The North (one appearance, January 1890, withdrew in January 1891)
The Blues (withdrew in March 1890)
The Whites (two appearances, March1891-March 1894)
The Professionals (one appearance, March 1895, withdrew in March 1893 & March 1897)
FA Tour of Germany 1899
Distinctions The second Evertonian to represent England, 35 minutes after Fred Geary.
Died just three days after Reg Macaulay.

Beyond England
After retiring, he was elected a director of Reading FC, from August 1910. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.136.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
12 10 10 900 0 none
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
10 8 2 0 29 10 +19 0 3 2.9 1 90 +8
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 14 4 +10 0 1 3.50 1.00 100.0 +4
Away 6 4 2 0 15 6 +9 0 2 2.50 1.00 66.7 +4

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1888-89 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 =0
BC 1889-90 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 0 0 3.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC 1890-91 2 2 0 0 6 2 +4 0 0 3.00 1.00 100.0 +2
BC 1891-92 2 2 0 0 6 1 +5 0 1 3.00 0.50 100.0 +2
BC 1892-93 1 1 0 0 5 2 +3 0 0 5.00 2.00 100.0 +1
BC 1893-94 2 0 2 0 4 4 =0 0 0 2.00 2.00 0.50 =0
BC 1894-95 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC 1899-1900 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 0 1 2.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC All 10 8 2 0 29 10 +19 0 3 2.90 1.00 90.0 +8

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 10 8 2 0 29 10 +19 0 3 2.90 1.00 90.0 +8
10 8 2 0 29 10 +19 0 3 2.9 1 90 +8

Match History

 Club: Everton F.C. - nine full appearances (810 min) F.A. International Select Committee - ten full appearances (900 min)x

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 22
36 2 March 1889 - England 6 Ireland 1, Anfield Road, Liverpool (home ground) BC HW reserve
  

Age 23 trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, 13 January 1890;

1 39 15 March 1890 - Wales 1 England 3
 The Racecourse, Wrexham		 BC AW   ch
  

one of four who became the 171st player (171) to appear for England
the second player from Everton FC to represent England

trial  
withdrew - The Whites vs. The Blues, 24 March 1890;
Age 24    
withdrew - The North vs. The South, 12 January 1891;

2 42 7 March 1891 - England 4 Wales 1
 Newcastle Road Football Ground, Sunderland		 BC HW   ch

trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 24 March 1891;

3 43 4 April 1891 - England 2 Scotland 1
Ewood Park, Blackburn		 BC HW   ch

Age 25
4 44 5 March 1892 - Ireland 0 England 2
Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast		 BC AW   ch
5 46 2 April 1892 - Scotland 1 England 4
Ibrox Park, Glasgow		 BC AW ko ch
  

Age 26 trial  
withdrew - The Professionals vs. The Amateurs, 22 March 1893;

6 49 1 April 1893 - England 5 Scotland 2
Athletic Ground, Richmond		 BC HW   ch

Age 27
7 50 3 March 1894 - Ireland 2 England 2
Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast		 BC AD   ch
  

trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 15 March 1894;

8 52 7 April 1894 - Scotland 2 England 2
Celtic Park, Glasgow		 BC AD   ch

Age 28
53 9 March 1895 - England 9 Ireland 0, Derbyshire County Cricket Ground, Derby BC HW withdrawn
  

trial  
one appearance - The Professionals vs. The Amateurs, 23 March 1895;

9 55 6 April 1895 - England 3 Scotland 0
Goodison Park, Liverpool (home ground)		 BC HW 25 ch
  

Age 30 trial  
withdrew - The Amateurs vs. The Professionals, 15 March 1897;

 Club: Reading F.C. - one full appearances (90 min)  

Age 33
FA Tour of Germany 23 November 1899 - Germany 2 England 13, Athletik-Sportsplatz, Berlin
tour		 AW  
ch
24 November 1899 - Germany 2 England 10, Athletik-Sportsplatz, Berlin AW  
25 November 1899 - Austria 0 England 8, Stadión Letná, Praha AW  
28 November 1899 - Germany 0 England 7, Military Exercise Ground, Karlsruhe AW  
10 68 17 March 1900 - Ireland 0 England 2
Lansdowne Road, Dublin		 BC AW   ch
  

the second player from Reading FC to represent England

     

 
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