Robert Holmes (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Bob Holmes was a professional footballer, who was a member of the famous 'invincibles' of Preston North End
.
winning side which also completed the League and cup double
that year. Holmes went on to become known as the 'last of the invincibles' when he was the only surviving member of the 1889 cup final team by the time Preston reached the 1954 cup final
. He was not however the last surviving member of the double winning side as bit part player Jack Edwards
, who made four league appearances but did not feature in the cup final was also still alive in 1954.
Holmes died the following year, aged 88, leaving Edwards to outlive him by six years, thus ending the last living link with the first ever league champions.
Preston 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...
.
Career
Holmes played in the victorious 1889 F A Cup1889 FA Cup Final
The 1889 FA Cup Final was contested by Preston North End and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Kennington Oval. Preston won 3–0, with goals by Fred Dewhurst, Jimmy Ross and Sam Thomson...
winning side which also completed the League and cup double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
that year. Holmes went on to become known as the 'last of the invincibles' when he was the only surviving member of the 1889 cup final team by the time Preston reached the 1954 cup final
1954 FA Cup Final
The 1954 FA Cup Final was a football match between West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End, played on 1 May 1954 at the original Wembley Stadium in London. It was the final match of the 1953–54 staging of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup...
. He was not however the last surviving member of the double winning side as bit part player Jack Edwards
Jack Edwards (early footballer)
Jack Edwards was a footballer who played in The Football League for Preston North End.-References:...
, who made four league appearances but did not feature in the cup final was also still alive in 1954.
Holmes died the following year, aged 88, leaving Edwards to outlive him by six years, thus ending the last living link with the first ever league champions.