B O B H O L M E S
Holmes was born in Preston on 23rd June 1867 and became a footballer almost by accident. As a teenager he was a fireman with the North-Western Railway operating out of Preston and played Rugby for the local side, Croft Street. On a day off, the Croft St. team went to watch Preston play Blackburn. The home side were defeated, so Croft St decided they could play better and changed from rugby to football. Holmes joined North End in 1883 and played his last game for them on Boxing Day 1902. He was then placed on the Football League referees list. However, he became trainer at Bradford City (1904-5) and Blackburn Rovers (1909-13) and later coached the Budapest side, Magyar Klub to a League Championship and a Cup win. He ended his football career with the Irish Club, Cliftonville. He played for England on seven occasions and was, on at least one occasion, Captain. Holmes died in November 1955.
The following lot was awarded to
BOB HOLMES
(See also lots 131-136 and 207)
A 22ct gold medal, the obverse cast with a raised football enclosed by a laurel wreath, the reverse inscribed, The Football Association Challenge Cup
Details
A 22ct gold medal, the obverse cast with a raised football enclosed by a laurel wreath, the reverse inscribed, The Football Association Challenge Cup
Further details
Although uninscribed this medal represents the 1888-89 Cup Final when the mighty Preston North End defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 in front of a then record 22,000 spectators at Kennington Oval.
The "Invincibles" are remembered as one the greatest teams in the history of Association Football. They gained the first ever 'Double'
in season 1888-89, winning the Cup without conceding a goal and the League Championship without losing a game.
An interview with Holmes that appeared in The Times on 28th April 1954 recorded that ".....he is proud of the gold medal the F.A. gave him after Preston North End beat Wolverhampton Wanderers by 3-0 in the 1888-89 Final. It is the size of a shilling and of plain design, with a raised emblem of a football and laurel leaves on one side, and the inscription "The Football Association Challenge Cup" on the other. "The losers," said Holmes slipping into the vernacular, "got nowt!"
The "Invincibles" are remembered as one the greatest teams in the history of Association Football. They gained the first ever 'Double'
in season 1888-89, winning the Cup without conceding a goal and the League Championship without losing a game.
An interview with Holmes that appeared in The Times on 28th April 1954 recorded that ".....he is proud of the gold medal the F.A. gave him after Preston North End beat Wolverhampton Wanderers by 3-0 in the 1888-89 Final. It is the size of a shilling and of plain design, with a raised emblem of a football and laurel leaves on one side, and the inscription "The Football Association Challenge Cup" on the other. "The losers," said Holmes slipping into the vernacular, "got nowt!"