Holdsworth Eddie Image 1 Preston North End 1910

Description

Halifax, Yorkshire born right half Eddie Holdsworth began his senior football career with Lancashire Combination club Southport Central from where he was signed by First Division club Preston North End for £100 early in 1908, his Football League debut, and only appearance of his debut season, coming against Sheffield United in April 1908. A first team regular from the following September, Holdsworth first suffered relegation with Preston in 1912, but was then an ever present as they won the Second Division Championship in 1912-13.

Relegated again the following season, Holdsworth missed only 3 matches as Preston once again regained top flight status at the first time of asking, finishing runners up in the Second Division in 1914-15, however peacetime football was then suspended in May 1915 due to the onset of the First World War, during which he continued to play for Preston in wartime league football.

After the War he returned to Deepdale and played in 12 matches in their first peacetime campaign before, after scoring 3 goals in 233 appearances for The Lambs,  joining newly elected Third Division club Swansea Town in the 1920 close season, playing in Swansea’s inaugural League fixture at Portsmouth that August. Holdsworth played in 8 matches for The Swans during the first half of 1920-21 before retiring at the end of the season.