Michael Arthur Holmes (born 9 September 1965) is an English professional
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...
who played as a
midfielder
In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in t ...
in
the Football League
The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in the world, and was the top-level football league in England from ...
for eight teams during the 1980s and 1990s.
Career
Born in
Bradford
Bradford is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in West Yorkshire, England. It became a municipal borough in 1847, received a city charter in 1897 and, since the Local Government Act 1972, 1974 reform, the city status in the United Kingdo ...
, Holmes began his professional career when he joined
Bradford City his home town team on a non-contract basis, making his league debut during the
1984–85 season.
[ After only a handful of appearances at ]Valley Parade
Valley Parade, currently known as University of Bradford Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is an all-seater association football, football stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The stadium was built in 1886 as the home of Manningham F.C. ...
, he moved on to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club ( ), commonly referred to as Wolves, is a professional association football, football club based in Wolverhampton, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league s ...
in November 1985. He made his Wolves' debut on 30 November 1985 in a 1–1 draw at Cardiff City.
The midfielder became a regular player at Molineux, but could not halt relegation to the fourth tier. The 1986–87 season proved his best with the club as he played in a majority of the games, helping them to the play-offs. He scored eight times during the campaign – all coming in a nine-match hot streak. Several new signings in the close season meant Holmes' second season didn't offer as much playing time, but he still managed 30 appearances in all competitions as the club lifted the Fourth Division championship. He also played in every game in their success in the Football League Trophy
The English Football League Trophy, officially known as the Vertu Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English football knockout competition open to all clubs in EFL League One and EFL League Two and U-21 teams from the Premier Le ...
.Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town Association Football Club is a professional association football club based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. They compete in , the third tier of English football league system, English football.
Huddersfield Town we ...
in a short-lived move. He ended the season with an equally swift stay at Cambridge United
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Cambridge, England. They currently compete in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed the U’s, the club h ...
, before signing for Rochdale
Rochdale ( ) is a town in Greater Manchester, England, and the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale. In the United Kingdom 2021 Census, 2021 Census, the town had a population of 111,261, compared to 223,773 for the wid ...
. His spell there saw the club reach the fifth round of the FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual Single-elimination tournament, knockout association football, football competition in domestic Football in England, English football. First played during ...
for the first time in their history, but after making over 60 appearances, he moved on again, signing for Torquay United
Torquay United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Torquay, Devon, England. The team currently compete in the National League South, the sixth level of the English football league system. They have played their ho ...
, then Carlisle United and Northampton Town, but his professional career was ended at the age of 29 by a back injury sustained in a car crash.[ He then moved into ]non-league football
Non-League football describes association football, football leagues played outside the top leagues of a country. Usually, it describes leagues which are not fully professional. The term is primarily used for football in England, where it is ...
with Wisbech Town.[
After spending several years in the pub trade, as a representative and running a pub-restaurant, Holmes and wife Bernadette run a sandwich shop in ]Leicester
Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a popula ...
. He combines the role with coaching football at Leicester College, and is also co-manager, alongside former Leicester City player Matt Elliott, of Oadby Town in the Midland Alliance.
References
External links
League stats
at Neil Brown's site
Wolves Heroes feature
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, Micky
1965 births
Living people
Footballers from Blackpool
English men's footballers
Men's association football midfielders
Bradford City A.F.C. players
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players
Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players
Cambridge United F.C. players
Rochdale A.F.C. players
Torquay United F.C. players
Carlisle United F.C. players
Northampton Town F.C. players
Wisbech Town F.C. players
English Football League players
English football managers