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{{Short description|Scottish footballer (1951–1993)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
|           name = Jim Holton
| image = File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-N0622-0030, Fußball-WM, Schottland - Jugoslawien 1-1.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Holton (white shirt and shorts, #5) playing for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] in the [[1974 FIFA World Cup]]
|       fullname = James Allan Holton<ref>{{Hugman|9288|accessdate=8 March 2017}}</ref>
|     birth_date = {{birth date|1951|4|11|df=y}}
|    birth_place = [[Lesmahagow]], Scotland
|     death_date = {{death date and age|1993|10|4|1951|4|11|df=y}}
|    death_place = [[Baginton]], England
|         height =
|       position = [[Defender (association football)|Centre-back]]
|    youthyears1 =           |youthclubs1 = [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
|    youthyears2 = 1968–1971 |youthclubs2 = [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]
|         years1 = 1971–1972 |clubs1 = [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]]         |caps1 = 67 |goals1 = 4
|         years2 = 1972–1976 |clubs2 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]     |caps2 = 63 |goals2 = 5
|         years3 = 1976      |clubs3 = [[Miami Toros]]                                  |caps3 = 16 |goals3 = 1
|         years4 = 1976–1977 |clubs4 = [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]                 |caps4 = 15 |goals4 = 0
|         years5 = 1977–1980 |clubs5 = [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]             |caps5 = 91 |goals5 = 0
|         years6 = 1980      |clubs6 = [[Detroit Express]]                              |caps6 = 21 |goals6 = 3
|         years7 = 1980–1981 |clubs7 = [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] |caps7 = 0  |goals7 = 0
| totalcaps = 273 | totalgoals = 13
| nationalyears1 = 1973–1974 | nationalteam1 = [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] |nationalcaps1 = 15 |nationalgoals1 = 2
}}
'''James Allan Holton''' (11 April 1951 – 4 October 1993) was a [[Scottish people|Scottish]] [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Defender (association football)|centre-back]]. Holton played for [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]], [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], [[Miami Toros]], [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]], [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] and [[Detroit Express]].

He played in 15 international matches for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] scoring two goals. One of those goals came in a win against [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]] that helped Scotland qualify for the [[1974 FIFA World Cup]]. He played in all three Scotland games at that tournament.

==Playing career==
===Early years===
Holton was born in [[Lesmahagow]], [[South Lanarkshire]], and trained with [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] as a youngster but was not offered a contract. At the age of 16 Holton had trials with [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] who signed him as an amateur in December 1967. He then signed a professional contract four months later. He progressed steadily through the junior and youth teams over the next three years. However he never made it past playing for their reserve side in the Central League. At the end of the 1970–71 season he was released by the club.<ref name=rep>[http://therepublikofmancunia.com/a-truly-memorable-figure-in-uniteds-history/ "A truly memorable figure in United's history"], 17 July 2013.</ref>

===Shrewsbury Town===

Holton was quickly signed by former [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] goalkeeper [[Harry Gregg]] who was managing [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] in England's third tier. Gregg had been impressed watching Holton in the West Bromwich Albion reserve team. Gregg told Holton when he signed him, "You're going to make it. I'm sure you can make it right to the top too." Holton made his Shrewsbury debut at Bournemouth on the opening day of the 1971–72 season. He quickly became a first-team regular.<ref name=rep/>

Shrewsbury sent a letter to the [[Scottish Football Association]] to notify new Scotland manager [[Tommy Docherty]] that Holton may be of interest for the [[Scotland national under-23 football team|Scotland national under-23 team]]. Docherty watched Holton play at [[Gay Meadow]]. By the end of his spell at Shrewsbury Holton had appeared in 67 league games scoring four goals.<ref name=rep/>

===Manchester United===
In December 1972 Docherty replaced [[Frank O'Farrell]] managing struggling [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] near the bottom of England's top flight. On 10 January 1973 he signed the now 20-year-old Holton for £80,000. Near unbeatable in the air and aggressive in the tackle, he offered a formidable physical presence that compensated for his lack of delicacy in possession of the ball. He was criticised by some opposing fans for his combative ways.<ref name=indobit>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-jim-holton-1508962.html "Obituary: Jim Holton" independent.co.uk 5 October 1993]</ref> At United he was a favourite among fans who taunted opponents with the chant: ''Six foot two, eyes of blue, Big Jim Holton's after you.''<ref name=shropstar>{{cite news|first=Toby|last=Neal|title=Big characters brought to mind with memories of sporting glory. Footballing greats grace county history|work=Shropshire Star|date=24 July 2013|page=27}}</ref> This was despite Holton being {{height|ft=6|in=1}} and having brown eyes.<ref name="rep"/><ref name=covmem>[http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/transfer-news/look-memories-sky-blues-giant-6130812 "Memories of Sky Blues giant Jim Holton"], Coventry Telegraph, 3 October 2014.</ref>

United were relegated in 1974, the season after Holton's arrival. Holton then broke his leg after 15 minutes in the 4–4 draw against [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] on 7 December 1974.<ref name=mufc19741207>[http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/match_data/match_sql.php?my_match_date=1974-12-07 Sheffield Wednesday 4 v Manchester United mufcinfo.com]</ref> He broke his leg a second time when making his comeback in the reserves. Others took advantage of his absence to establish themselves in the first team with United now sweeping all aside in the league. They won promotion straight back up to the top flight at the first attempt.<ref name=indobit/><ref name=shropstar /> He played in 63 league games for United scoring five goals in those games.<ref name=covheroes/> After the leg break he never played for the Manchester United first team again. This was despite being at Old Trafford a further 18 months.<ref name=jhinfo>[http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/a-z_player_archive/a-z_player_archive_pages/holton_jim.html Jim Holton mufcinfo.com]</ref>

===Miami Toros and Sunderland===
In the summer of 1976 Holton played for the [[Miami Toros]] of the [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]] (NASL). He played 16 games scoring once.<ref name=natfoot>[http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/20302/Jim_Holton.html "Holton, Jim" National Football Teams]</ref>

He then moved to Sunderland on loan in September 1976 before transferring to Sunderland permanently the following month for a fee of £40,000. He stayed six months until March 1977 playing 15 league games for the Wearsiders.<ref name=sunheroes>[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/sunderland-fc/jim-holton-7510/league-appearances_a15355/ "Jim HOLTON Sunderland appearances" Sporting Heroes]</ref>

===Coventry City, Detroit Express and Sheffield Wednesday===
He stayed in England's top flight with a transfer to [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]. He debuted on 19 April 1977 in a 1–1 draw at home to his former club, West Brom. Holton featured in eight league games that season as Coventry fought out a relegation battle. Coventry were in a three-way dogfight to stay up that involved their final-day opponents, [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]]. Kick-off was delayed due to the large crowd. Some reports alleged the kick-off was intentionally delayed by Coventry chairman [[Jimmy Hill]]. Holton's former club, Sunderland, lost away to [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]. This meant a draw between Coventry and Bristol City at [[Highfield Road]] would keep both of those sides up and relegate Sunderland. News of Sunderland's defeat was displayed on the Highfield Road scoreboard with the score 2–2 at the time between. Both teams then tamely played out a mutually beneficial draw.<ref name="sund">[http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/fans-revenge-on-fulham-legend-jimmy-hill-1-1054248 "Fans' revenge on Fulham legend Jimmy Hill"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222162637/https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/fans-revenge-on-fulham-legend-jimmy-hill-1-1054248 |date=22 December 2017 }}, Sunderland Echo, 20 October 2008.</ref>

In Holton's first full season with Coventry the Sky Blues finished seventh in the First Division. this was their second-highest ever league finish narrowly missing out on a [[UEFA Cup]] place. In a little over three years with Coventry Holton made 91 league appearances.<ref name=covheroes>[http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/coventry-city-fc/jim-holton-7510/league-appearances-for-the-sky-blues_a15356/ "Jim Holton, Coventry City appearances"], Sporting Heroes.</ref>

He returned to the NASL for a spell with the [[Detroit Express]] in 1980. He played 21 games scoring three goals. This was to be his last time playing first team senior football.<ref name=neil>{{NeilBrownPlayers|player/jimholton}}</ref>

His last senior club was Sheffield Wednesday but due to injury he never played for their first team.<ref name=indobit/>

===International===
Holton collected 15 full international caps scoring twice for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] between May 1973 and October 1974.<ref name=sfa/> He made his full international debut in a 2–0 win against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] in their first match of the [[1972–73 British Home Championship]].<ref name =rsssf>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/scot-intres1975.html |title=Scotland - International Matches 1971-1975 |date=31 January 2019 |accessdate=14 May 2019 |first1=Alan |last1=Brown |first2=Gabriele |website=[[RSSSF]] |last2=Tossani}}</ref> In a [[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification]] match against [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]] at [[Hampden Park]] on 26 September 1973, Holton scored the equalising goal in a 2–1 win for Scotland.<ref name=rsssf/> [[Joe Jordan]] scored the winning goal, as Scotland qualified for their first World Cup finals since [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]].<ref name=sfa>{{SFA Profile|id=113793}}</ref><ref name=rsssf/>

Holton put Scotland ahead in a 1–1 draw against [[West Germany national football team|West Germany]] on 14 November 1973.<ref name=rsssf/> The friendly at Hampden Park was one of three games to mark the centenary of the [[Scottish Football Association]]. Holton played in all three group games for Scotland at the [[1974 FIFA World Cup]] in West Germany. They won 2–0 against [[DR Congo national football team|Zaire]], drew 0–0 with then-reigning champions [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] and 1–1 with [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]].<ref name=rsssf/> Scotland were unbeaten but failed to progress to the second round due to inferior [[goal difference]].<ref name=sfa/><ref name=rsssf/>

Holton played for Scotland on 30 October 1974 in a 3–0 friendly win over [[East Germany national football team|East Germany]] at Hampden Park. Less than six weeks after the East Germany game, Holton suffered his leg break at Manchester United. He never played for Scotland again after that making the East Germany cap his last. Scotland's record with Holton playing was eight wins, three draws and four defeats.<ref name=sfa/><ref name=rsssf/>

==After playing==

Holton stayed in [[Coventry]] after retiring from professional football, working as a pub landlord at The Rising Sun and then The Old Stag in the city centre.<ref name=covtelpics>[http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/gallery/jim-holton-6130723 "Jim Holton" Coventry Telegraph 3 OCT 2013]</ref> He died on 4 October 1993, aged 42. He had been for a run in the countryside around [[Baginton]] and suffered a heart attack shortly afterwards when at the wheel of his car. His funeral was attended by over 1,000 people including [[John Sillett]], [[Steve Ogrizovic]], Tommy Docherty and Joe Jordan.<ref name=covmem/> He was survived by his wife and two children.<ref name=indobit/>

==Career statistics==
===International appearances===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ International statistics
|-
! National team !! Year !! Apps !! Goals
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]<ref name =sfa/>
|-
|1973||7||2
|-
|1974||8||0
|-
! colspan=2 |Total||15||2
|}

===International goals===
:''Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
|1 || 26 September 1973 || [[Hampden Park]], Glasgow || {{fb|TCH}} || 1–1 || 2–1 || [[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#Group 8|WCQG8]]
|-
|2 || 14 November 1973 || [[Hampden Park]], Glasgow || {{fb|FRG}} || 1–0 || 1–1 || [[Friendly match|Friendly]]
|-
|}

== Honours ==
'''Manchester United'''
* [[Football League Second Division]]: [[1974–75 Football League|1974–75]]<ref>{{ cite web | url = https://unitedfactsbook.com/jim-holton-was-a-redoubtable-servant-of-manchester-united/ | title = Jim Holton Profile | access-date = 23 May 2023 | website = United Facts Book | date = February 2018 }}</ref>

'''Scotland'''
* [[British Home Championship]]: [[1973–74 British Home Championship|1973–74]] (shared)<ref>{{ cite web | url = https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=113793&lid=1 | title = A Squad: Jim Holton | publisher = [[Scottish FA]] | access-date = 23 May 2023 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{SFA profile}}
* {{NeilBrownPlayers|player/jimholton}}

{{1976 NASL All-Stars}}
{{Scotland Squad 1974 World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holton, Jim}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:1993 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Lesmahagow]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Scottish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Scotland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1974 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Celtic F.C. players]]
[[Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players]]
[[Category:Shrewsbury Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Coventry City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Miami Toros players]]
[[Category:Detroit Express players]]
[[Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players]]
[[Category:Scottish expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:Footballers from South Lanarkshire]]
[[Category:Scotland men's under-23 international footballers]]
[[Category:Scottish expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish sportsmen]]