Holmes: Norman Arnold

1909-1909 (Leeds City Player Details)

Right Back

Born: Darley Hillside, Derbyshire: 21-09-1890

Debut: None (-): None

5’ 10” 12st 3lb (1917)

He was born in Darley Hillside, Matlock, Derbyshire, the youngest of nine children of William and Margaret Holmes, the publicans of Holly Tree Inn in Darley Dale for thirty-two years between 1881 and 1913. He was born in the Matlock area of Derbyshire and it was with the local Matlock side that he initially played, but in his late teens he joined Leeds City, where he figured at Right-Back in the Central League Reserve team for one season, before he moved South to Second Division Clapton Orient. His elder brother, Billy Holmes, formerly with Chesterfield and Manchester City was an established first team player with the club until 1911 when he became the Manager. Norman was with Orient for the 1910-11 season, making four appearance for them in the Second Division before the end of the season. During his time with Clapton Orient he lived in Powercross Road, Hackney, sharing lodgings with Orient forward, John Lee. He joined the army and was a Lance-Corporal when he he was wounded in WW1 serving with the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex) regiment, the 17th (Service) Battalion (1st Football), the 21st Battalion (Islington) and the 5th Reserve Battalion. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant on 25th June 1918. After making just four appearances, he moved north to Huddersfield Town on 16th June 1913. He made his debut for the Leeds Road club in a 1-2 away defeat at Grimsby Town on 18th October 1913. However, he played on only three occasions for the Terriers before moving to Midland League club, York City, in July 1914. His other games for Town were in a 0-3 away defeat by Notts County on 13th December 1913 and a 1-2 home defeat by Grimsby Town in the reverse fixture at Leeds Road on 21st February 1914. At Bootham Crescent he made just three Midland League appearances, before he received injuries in the First World War which meant he could no longer play football. Norman Holmes died in Liverpool during July 1965, aged seventy-four.