Bill Holmes

Biographical information

RolesNon-starter
SexMale
Full nameWilliam "Bill"•Holmes
Used nameBill•Holmes
Born29 October 1926 in Hunslet, England (GBR)
Died2020
AffiliationsBlackburn Rovers, Blackburn (GBR)
NOC Great Britain

Biography

Up to 1950 Bill Holmes was on the books of Wolverhampton Wanderers before he joined Doncaster Rovers, playing just two games in the 1950-51 season before a move to Blackburn Rovers. He also had a spell with non-league Morecambe. Shortly after helping Blackburn to the semi-final of the FA Cup against Newcastle United in 1952, the four times England amateur international centre-forward was selected for the Great Britain Olympic squad in Helsinki but never got selected for what was Britain’s only match, against Luxembourg. He turned professional with Bradford City in September 1953 shortly after obtaining a BSc from Leeds University. He played just 22 matches before moving to Southport the following season and spent two seasons with the Sandgrounders before his last game in March 1956 when he retired after a career that saw him make over 100 Football League appearances and score 42 goals. Billy has the rare distinction of being one of two men to score a Football League hat-trick on the day they got married. On the morning of 30 October 1954 Bill got married, and on that afternoon scored three goals in Southport’s 4-1 win over Carlisle United.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1952 Summer Olympics Football (Football) GBR Bill Holmes
Football, Men (Olympic) Great Britain DNS