Rick Holden
Encyclopedia
Richard William "Dick" Holden (born 9 September 1964 in Skipton
, North Yorkshire
) is an English
former professional footballer. He played for six clubs in a decade-long career. He moved into management after retiring.
and the final of the League Cup
. Holden appeared in 64 of the clubs 65 games and the disappointing end to the season only spurred him on as he helped the club to the 2nd Division Championship the following season. Holden was ever present in the clubs first season in the top flight for 68 years but towards the end of the season following a disagreement with the manager Joe Royle
he transferred to Manchester City in July 1992.
Following a season at City and the clubs change in management early in 1993/94, new manager Brian Horton
wasn't favourable of Holden and he chose to return to Boundary Park
where again he was ever present as the club reached the semi-final of the FA Cup, only for the club to get relegated in the league. He opted to stay with the club despite the decline but further problems were to come when Joe Royle left the club to manage Everton
, and new manager Graeme Sharp
favouring Mark Brennan
on the left leaving Holden in the reserves, much to the fans dismay as the club struggled to avoid relegation.
He finished his career with Blackpool
in 1995/96 and became manager of Manx
club Peel
.
Prior to, and during, his professional football career he gained a degree in Human Movement at Leeds Carnegie College and a degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Salford
Following retirement from professional football he worked at Nobles Isle of Man hospital and became head of outpatient physiotherapy department. He then went into private practice at the Mount Murray Hotel.
He subsequently became assistant manager and head physio at Barnsley
in 2004 to managers Paul Hart and Andy Ritchie. With Andy Ritchie he helped Barnsley gain promotion to the Championship in 2006.
In 2007 he returned to the Isle of Man and opened Island Physiotherapy based at the football club, Peel AFC, where he was once again manager of the team until August 2010.
He has three children - William, Alexander and Ellen.
Skipton
Skipton is a market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is located along the course of both the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Aire, on the south side of the Yorkshire Dales, northwest of Bradford and west of York...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer. He played for six clubs in a decade-long career. He moved into management after retiring.
Oldham Athletic
Perhaps Holden's best years were at Lancashire outfit Oldham Athletic. He joined the club at the right time in 1989, just as the club was about to embark on one of its most famous seasons in its history better known as the "pinch-me season" when the club go to the semi-final of the FA CupFA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
and the final of the League Cup
League Cup
In association football, a League Cup or Secondary Cup generally signifies a cup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946/47 and was entitled the Scottish...
. Holden appeared in 64 of the clubs 65 games and the disappointing end to the season only spurred him on as he helped the club to the 2nd Division Championship the following season. Holden was ever present in the clubs first season in the top flight for 68 years but towards the end of the season following a disagreement with the manager Joe Royle
Joe Royle
Joseph "Joe" Royle is an English football manager. In his club career, he played for Everton , Manchester City, Bristol City, Norwich City, and the England national team...
he transferred to Manchester City in July 1992.
Following a season at City and the clubs change in management early in 1993/94, new manager Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
wasn't favourable of Holden and he chose to return to Boundary Park
Boundary Park
Boundary Park is the main sports stadium of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the northwestern extremity of Oldham, with the towns of Royton and Chadderton lying immediately north and west respectively, giving rise to the name Boundary Park....
where again he was ever present as the club reached the semi-final of the FA Cup, only for the club to get relegated in the league. He opted to stay with the club despite the decline but further problems were to come when Joe Royle left the club to manage Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, and new manager Graeme Sharp
Graeme Sharp
Graeme Marshall Sharp is a former footballer. He started his playing career at Dumbarton before signing for Everton for £120,000 in 1980....
favouring Mark Brennan
Mark Brennan
Mark Robert Brennan is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough and Manchester City, in the Premier League for Oldham Athletic, in the Chinese Jia-A League for Guangdong Hongyuan, and in the Australian National Soccer League for...
on the left leaving Holden in the reserves, much to the fans dismay as the club struggled to avoid relegation.
He finished his career with Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in 1995/96 and became manager of Manx
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
club Peel
Peel F.C.
Peel Association Football Club are a football club from Peel on the Isle of Man. They compete in the Isle of Man Football League and they wear red, white and black kit. They play their home games at the Peel A.F.C...
.
Prior to, and during, his professional football career he gained a degree in Human Movement at Leeds Carnegie College and a degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Salford
University of Salford
The University of Salford is a campus university based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England with approximately 20,000 registered students. The main campus is about west of Manchester city centre, on the A6, opposite the former home of the physicist, James Prescott Joule and the Working Class...
Following retirement from professional football he worked at Nobles Isle of Man hospital and became head of outpatient physiotherapy department. He then went into private practice at the Mount Murray Hotel.
He subsequently became assistant manager and head physio at Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
in 2004 to managers Paul Hart and Andy Ritchie. With Andy Ritchie he helped Barnsley gain promotion to the Championship in 2006.
In 2007 he returned to the Isle of Man and opened Island Physiotherapy based at the football club, Peel AFC, where he was once again manager of the team until August 2010.
He has three children - William, Alexander and Ellen.