Holt Johnny Image 1 Everton 1893

Description

Bootle born centre half Johnny Holt played junior football for King’s Own in Blackburn and then Blackpool St John’s in 1886, and Bootle in 1887 before joining Everton, making his Football League debut in their opening League match against Accrington in September 1888. He soon made a name for himself as a fine centre half despite only standing at a mere five foot five and played in 21 of Everton’s 22 games in their League Championship winning side of 1890-91 after a runners up finish the previous season, and was also soon appointed as Everton’s club captain.

Having been first selected for an England squad in March 1889, he made his England debut against Wales in Wrexham in March 1890, and went on to make 10 appearances, including his final cap when a Reading player against Ireland in Dublin in March 1900. He also made 4 unofficial appearances on the FA Tour of Austria and Germany in November 1899, and represented The Football League twice.

He was twice a losing FA Cup Finalist playing in the 1893 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Fallowfield by 1 goal to nil, and 4 years later the 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa at The Crystal Palace that won The Villains the Double of League and Cup. In October 1898, after 4 goals in 253 appearances for The Toffees, he joined Southern League Reading, where he played until his retirement in 1902. He later became a director of Reading.