Chris Holland
Encyclopedia
Christopher James "Chris" Holland (born 11 September 1975 in Whalley
, Lancashire
) is an English
professional footballer who plays as a midfielder
for Burscough F.C.
and is a former England Under-21
international.
in 1993, making just one league appearance as a substitute before signing for Premier League club Newcastle United
on 20 January 1994 for a fee of £100,000. However, an eye injury sustained during an ammonia attack hindered his progress and he joined Birmingham City
on loan on 3 September 1996. The loan was made permanent in October 1996 for a fee of £600,000. He played over 70 games during his three years at the club.
On 3 February 2000 Holland joined Huddersfield Town
for a fee of £100,000, where he scored the first goal of his professional career, a winner against Nottingham Forest
on 21 March 2000.
He played regularly for three seasons, but when told by manager Peter Jackson that a new contract would not be offered at the end of the 2003-04 season
, he chose to join League Two
club Boston United
in March 2004 where he made 85 league appearances.
After two years playing regularly, he signed an 18 month contract with Conference National
club Southport
on 31 January 2007 on a free transfer, nearer his Lancashire home. Despite Southport's relegation to the Conference North
at the end of the 2006–07 season, Holland agreed a new contract and was appointed club captain. Holland was a vital part of the Southport side in the 2007–08 season. He scored his first goal for the club at Hyde United. His next goal came three weeks later in Southport's 3–1 victory at his old club Boston United.
In July 2008 Holland signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division
club Leigh Genesis on a free transfer. He made his debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 season
, in a 2–0 defeat to Eastwood Town
. He scored his first goal in his tenth game for the club on 20 September in a 4–2 defeat to Whitby Town
.
On 14 November 2008 he joined Conference North club Fleetwood Town
, making his debut the next day in a 2–1 away victory over Stafford Rangers
. In March 2009, Holland joined another Conference North outfit, Burscough
.
youth and Under 21
international. He won the first of his under-21 caps while at Newcastle.
Whalley, Lancashire
Whalley is a large village in the Ribble Valley on the banks of the River Calder in Lancashire, England. It is overlooked by Whalley Nab, a large picturesque wooded hill over the river from the village....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
) 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...
professional footballer who plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Burscough F.C.
Burscough F.C.
Burscough F.C. is an English football club based in Burscough, Lancashire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and groundshare with Skelmersdale United...
and is a former England Under-21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
international.
Club career
Holland started his career as a trainee at Preston North EndPreston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in 1993, making just one league appearance as a substitute before signing for Premier League club Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
on 20 January 1994 for a fee of £100,000. However, an eye injury sustained during an ammonia attack hindered his progress and he joined Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
on loan on 3 September 1996. The loan was made permanent in October 1996 for a fee of £600,000. He played over 70 games during his three years at the club.
On 3 February 2000 Holland joined Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
for a fee of £100,000, where he scored the first goal of his professional career, a winner against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on 21 March 2000.
He played regularly for three seasons, but when told by manager Peter Jackson that a new contract would not be offered at the end of the 2003-04 season
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
, he chose to join League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
in March 2004 where he made 85 league appearances.
After two years playing regularly, he signed an 18 month contract with Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
club Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
on 31 January 2007 on a free transfer, nearer his Lancashire home. Despite Southport's relegation to the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
at the end of the 2006–07 season, Holland agreed a new contract and was appointed club captain. Holland was a vital part of the Southport side in the 2007–08 season. He scored his first goal for the club at Hyde United. His next goal came three weeks later in Southport's 3–1 victory at his old club Boston United.
In July 2008 Holland signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division
Northern Premier League Premier Division
The Premier Division is the top division of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 3 of the National League System, placing it six divisions below the Premier League...
club Leigh Genesis on a free transfer. He made his debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 season
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
, in a 2–0 defeat to Eastwood Town
Eastwood Town F.C.
Eastwood Town F.C. is a football club from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire formed in 1953, currently playing in the Conference North.-History:Although there was a football club named Eastwood Town operating in the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1921, its was only in existence for two years. It was not until...
. He scored his first goal in his tenth game for the club on 20 September in a 4–2 defeat to Whitby Town
Whitby Town F.C.
Whitby Town Football Club is an English football club based in Whitby, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Northern Premier League, the seventh tier of English football...
.
On 14 November 2008 he joined Conference North club Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood Town F.C.
Fleetwood Town F.C. is an English football club based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. They currently play in the Conference National having been defeated in the Conference National play-off semi-final by AFC Wimbledon in the 2010–11 season.-History:...
, making his debut the next day in a 2–1 away victory over Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
. In March 2009, Holland joined another Conference North outfit, Burscough
Burscough F.C.
Burscough F.C. is an English football club based in Burscough, Lancashire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and groundshare with Skelmersdale United...
.
International career
Holland is a former EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
youth and Under 21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
international. He won the first of his under-21 caps while at Newcastle.