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Arthur Holt (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Arthur George Holt was a Hampshire
cricketer
in the 1930s and 1940s, who also played professional football
for Southampton
. After retirement from playing both sports, he became a coach
with Hampshire and established a successful sports shop.
at Taunton on 8 June 1935. He went on to make seven appearances for Hampshire
in the 1935 County Championship
. The following season he made only three appearances, but in 1937
he made sixteen appearances. In the County Championship match against Surrey
at The Oval
in May, he made 78 in the first innings, partnering John Arnold
(who had also been a Southampton
footballer) in a stand of 122 for the third wicket. In the second innings Holt scored 64, partnering Arthur Pothecary
in a stand of 125 for the second wicket, as Hampshire won the match by 71 runs. Holt finished the season on a total of 586 runs at an average of 23.44.
His first game in the following season was at Aylestone Road
, Leicester
in which he scored his first century in county cricket, making 116 and partnering Neil McCorkell
in an opening stand of 101. In the second innings he added a further 41 runs, but the match ended in a draw.
His only other first-class
century came at Edgbaston
in June 1939, where he scored 115 against Warwickshire
, putting on 137 for the fourth wicket (with Arnold
). In this match he also claimed his only wicket as the match again ended in a draw.
He continued to appear for Hampshire after World War II
, making his highest season's total of 850 runs in 1946
at an average of 25.00.
His final match for Hampshire came at the Manor Sports Ground
, Worthing
against Sussex
in July 1948. In his first-class career, he played 79 matches for Hampshire, scoring 2853 runs at an average of 22.46.
, where he coached the Colts and is credited with discovering several fine players.
In 1953, he helped John Arlott
persuade Henry Horton
to take up county cricket as his football career at Southampton was winding down.
John Arlott describes Holt in his memoirs:
stadium was officially named The Arthur Holt Pavilion in memory of a great servant to the club.
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
in the 1930s and 1940s, who also played professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. After retirement from playing both sports, he became a coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
with Hampshire and established a successful sports shop.
Playing career
Holt had won Hampshire County honours at youth level before embarking on his football career, and made his first team debut against SomersetSomerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
at Taunton on 8 June 1935. He went on to make seven appearances for Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
in the 1935 County Championship
1935 English cricket season
The 1935 English cricket season saw England beaten by South Africa who won the Test series 1-0 with four matches drawn.-Honours:*County Championship - Yorkshire*Minor Counties Championship - Middlesex II...
. The following season he made only three appearances, but in 1937
1937 English cricket season
-Honours:*County Championship - Yorkshire*Minor Counties Championship - Lancashire II*Wisden - Tom Goddard, Joe Hardstaff, Leonard Hutton, Jim Parks senior, Eddie Paynter-Test series:England defeated New Zealand 1-0 with two matches drawn....
he made sixteen appearances. In the County Championship match against Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
in May, he made 78 in the first innings, partnering John Arnold
John Arnold (cricketer)
John Arnold was an English cricketer who played in one Test in 1931.-Cricket career:...
(who had also been a Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
footballer) in a stand of 122 for the third wicket. In the second innings Holt scored 64, partnering Arthur Pothecary
Arthur Pothecary
Arthur Ernest Pothecary was an English cricketer. Pothecary was a left-handed batsman who bowled slow left-arm orthodox spin....
in a stand of 125 for the second wicket, as Hampshire won the match by 71 runs. Holt finished the season on a total of 586 runs at an average of 23.44.
His first game in the following season was at Aylestone Road
Aylestone Road
Aylestone Road is a cricket stadium in Leicester, England.It was for many years the home to Leicestershire County Cricket Club. It was first used in 1901 after it was decided that Grace Road was too far from the centre of the city...
, Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
in which he scored his first century in county cricket, making 116 and partnering Neil McCorkell
Neil McCorkell
Neil Thomas McCorkell is a former wicketkeeper for Hampshire County Cricket Club. He played cricket for Hampshire from 1932 to 1951 and scored more runs than any other wicketkeeper for the County....
in an opening stand of 101. In the second innings he added a further 41 runs, but the match ended in a draw.
His only other first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
century came at Edgbaston
Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Edgbaston Cricket Ground, also known as the County Ground or Edgbaston Stadium, is a cricket ground in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England...
in June 1939, where he scored 115 against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
, putting on 137 for the fourth wicket (with Arnold
John Arnold (cricketer)
John Arnold was an English cricketer who played in one Test in 1931.-Cricket career:...
). In this match he also claimed his only wicket as the match again ended in a draw.
He continued to appear for Hampshire after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, making his highest season's total of 850 runs in 1946
1946 English cricket season
The 1946 English cricket season was the first full season of first-class cricket to be played in England after World War II. It featured a three-match Test series between England and India, which was arranged at short notice...
at an average of 25.00.
His final match for Hampshire came at the Manor Sports Ground
Manor Sports Ground
The Manor Sports Ground, is a cricket venue in Worthing, West Sussex, England. It is home to Worthing Cricket Club.-History:One of the earliest recorded cricket matches at the Manor Sports Ground was on 17 July 1902 when Sussex Second XI took on Essex Second XI...
, Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
against Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
in July 1948. In his first-class career, he played 79 matches for Hampshire, scoring 2853 runs at an average of 22.46.
Coaching career
After retiring from playing, he joined Hampshire's coaching staff at the County Ground, SouthamptonCounty Ground, Southampton
The County Ground in Southampton, England was a former cricket and football ground. It was the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club from the 1885 English cricket season until the 2000 English cricket season...
, where he coached the Colts and is credited with discovering several fine players.
In 1953, he helped John Arlott
John Arlott
Leslie Thomas John Arlott OBE was an English journalist, author and cricket commentator for the BBC's Test Match Special. He was also a poet, wine connoisseur and former police officer in Hampshire...
persuade Henry Horton
Henry Horton (sportsman)
Henry Horton was an English sportsman who played cricket for Hampshire in the 1950s and 1960s, having previously played a handful of times for Worcestershire in the 1940s...
to take up county cricket as his football career at Southampton was winding down.
John Arlott describes Holt in his memoirs:
"Go to the County Ground on any day in the cricket season - or, for that matter, on a good many days outside it - and somewhere between the indoor school and the pavilion you are likely to meet a comfortable, well-fed-looking man going in one direction when he obviously wants to go in several. He has a rosy face, a quizzical look in his blue eyes and one eyebrow goes up as he asks you wistfully, out of the side of his mouth, "ave you seen so-and-so?" This is 'The Coach'. Arthur Holt finds that title convenient: it saves him the embarrassment of telling ground staff boys that they must call him Mister Holt and not Arthur."
Business interests
In 1946, Holt established Holt & Haskell Limited, a sports retailers in Shirley, Southampton. The business is still operating today, specialising in the sale of cricket clothing and equipment, and is one of the UK's leading cricket specialists.The Arthur Holt Pavilion
In 2004, the second XI pavilion on the Nursery ground at Hampshire's new Rose BowlRose Bowl, Hampshire
The Rose Bowl is an English cricket ground used for county, One Day International and Test Matches. It is situated at West End, Hampshire, near Southampton, and is home to Hampshire Cricket. The design of the venue is set into an amphitheatre creating a bowl, hence the name...
stadium was officially named The Arthur Holt Pavilion in memory of a great servant to the club.