Chris Holland

For the musician and brother of Jools Holland, see Christopher Holland.

Chris Holland

Personal information
Full name	Christopher James Holland
Date of birth	(1975-09-11) 11 September 1975
Place of birth	Whalley, England
Height
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
–	Preston North End
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1993–1994	Preston North End	1	(0)
1994–1996	Newcastle United	3	(0)
1996	→ Birmingham City (loan)	9	(0)
1996–2000	Birmingham City	59	(0)
2000–2004	Huddersfield Town	120	(2)
2004–2007	Boston United	85	(0)
2007–2008	Southport	17	(0)
2008	Leigh Genesis	15	(1)
2008–2009	Fleetwood Town	3	(0)
2009	Burscough	?	(?)
2009	Guiseley	29	(2)
International career
1995–1997	England U21	10	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 July 2012

Christopher James "Chris" Holland (born 11 September 1975) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder. He played in the Premier League for Newcastle United and made 276 appearances in the Football League playing for Preston North End, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town and Boston United. He is a former England under-21 international.

Since 2009, he has played for Burscough, and was appointed assistant manager in 2010.

Playing career

Club career

Holland was born in Whalley, Lancashire, started his football career as a trainee at Preston North End in 1993. He made 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. He scored the first goal of his professional career, a winner against Nottingham Forest, on 21 March.

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.

After two years playing regularly, making 85 league appearances, 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. He remained at Burscough until the end of the season, then joined Guiseley. He helped that club to the Northern Premier League title in his first season, but was appointed assistant manager in September 2010, and thereafter his appearances were restricted to the substitutes' bench or cup matches.

Guiseley AFC

Since 2009, Holland has played for Guiseley AFC and is now Player-Assistant Manager.

International career

Holland is a former England youth and under-21 international. He won the first of his ten under-21 caps while at Newcastle.

External links

• Chris Holland career statistics at Soccerbase