Chris Holroyd

Holroyd made his debut for Cambridge in the club's 3–0 away win at Eastbourne Borough, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute and scoring five minutes later to give Cambridge a three-goal lead.

Holroyd also featured in all three of Cambridge's play-off games, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute in Cambridge's 2–0 loss in the final to Torquay United.

He played a total of 43 times for Cambridge during the campaign, scoring ten goals.

Christopher Holroyd (born 24 October 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker.

Holroyd started his football career at Crewe Alexandra, progressing through the club's youth system.

He subsequently joined Chester City for the third year of his scholarship, and signed professional terms in 2006.

Holroyd left Crewe after he was not offered a professional contract entering his third year of scholarship and joined Chester City, signing professional terms in 2006 after scoring 21 goals in 28 stats for Chester's youth team in the Football League Youth Alliance.

He made his first-team debut for Chester at the start of the 2006–07 season, coming on as a 75th-minute substitute in Chester's 2–1 home defeat to Wrexham.

The following season, Holroyd scored his first goal for Chester in a competitive match in October 2007, scoring a consolation goal in a 4–2 Football League Trophy defeat at Carlisle United.

His first Football League goal followed later in the month in Chester's 2–2 draw with Wycombe Wanderers, scoring from eight yards to restore parity in the match.

Holroyd scored his second goal of the season in a 5–3 defeat at Morecambe, as well as twice in a 3–3 draw at Accrington Stanley.

He also made a further two assists towards the latter stages of the 2007–08 campaign in victories against Mansfield Town and Darlington respectively.

Holroyd played 26 games in all competitions for Chester during the season, scoring five times.

In July 2008, Holroyd left Chester by mutual agreement with a year remaining on his contract.

A month later, in August 2008, Holroyd signed for Conference Premier side Cambridge United, scoring ten goals in his first season with the club.

In July 2008, he was transfer-listed by the club in an attempt to reduce the size of their squad.

A day after being transfer-listed, Holroyd left Chester by mutual agreement with a year remaining on his contract, while being linked with a transfer to other clubs.

During his time without a club, Holroyd rejected the option of trialling with AFC Bournemouth.

A month later, Holroyd signed for Conference Premier side Cambridge United on a one-year contract, with the option of a further year.

After scoring on his debut, Holroyd went sixteen games without scoring, ending his goal drought in a 4–0 victory over Salisbury City in December 2008.

The following season, Holroyd's goalscoring form which saw him score 18 goals during the first half of the 2009–10 campaign, culminated into a move to League One side Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee in January 2010.

In February 2009, Holroyd scored in successive away victories for Cambridge, scoring from the penalty spot against Rushden & Diamonds, before scoring twice away at Kidderminster Harriers.

A month later, he scored three goals within the space of three days, scoring two second-half goals in Cambridge's 2–0 win at Barrow, as well as netting against Northwich Victoria.

Holroyd scored his ninth goal of the season from the penalty spot as Cambridge came from a goal behind to beat Eastbourne Borough 2–1.

Two days later, he scored once more, again from the penalty spot, this time away at Kettering Town.

In May 2009, Cambridge United exercised the option to extend the contract of Holroyd for the following season.

Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Holroyd was assigned the number nine shirt following the departure of fellow striker Scott Rendell.

He started the club's first match of the season, playing the whole game in a 2–0 home defeat to Barrow.

Three days later, he scored twice in Cambridge's 3–1 win against Ebbsfleet United, scoring both goals.

Holroyd scored his first professional hat-trick four days later, scoring against his former employers, Chester City, as Cambridge came from two goals down to win the match 4–2.

One of his goals included an audacious over head kick, 15 yards from goal.

Holroyd scored four goals in two games shortly after, netting against Gateshead and Forest Green Rovers respectively.

In September 2010, Holroyd joined Stevenage on a three-month loan deal.

At the end of the 2010–11 season, Holroyd was released by Brighton, and was subsequently signed by Rotherham United in June 2011.

He was loaned out again in March 2011 to Bury, playing a handful of games.

He joined League One side Preston North End for an undisclosed fee in January 2012.

In September 2012, Holroyd joined Macclesfield Town on loan until January 2013.

On returning to his parent club, his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.

He signed for Morecambe of League Two on a free transfer in January 2013, and rejoined Macclesfield at the end of the season.

Holroyd began his career at Crewe Alexandra, spending five years at the club as a schoolboy, as well as a further two years as a scholar at the club's "highly rated youth academy".