Jim Holton

James Allan Holton (11 April 1951 – 4 October 1993) was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre-back.

Holton played for Shrewsbury Town, Manchester United, Miami Toros, Sunderland, Coventry City and Detroit Express.

He played in 15 international matches for Scotland scoring two goals.

At the age of 16 Holton had trials with 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.

Holton was quickly signed by former Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg who was managing 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.

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 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.

In December 1972 Docherty replaced Frank O'Farrell managing struggling 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.

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. This was despite Holton being 6ft 1in and having brown eyes.

One of those goals came in a win against Czechoslovakia that helped Scotland qualify for the 1974 FIFA World Cup.

He played in all three Scotland games at that tournament.

Holton was born in Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire, and trained with Celtic as a youngster but was not offered a contract.

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 on 7 December 1974.

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.

He played in 63 league games for United scoring five goals in those games.

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.

In the summer of 1976 Holton played for the Miami Toros of the North American Soccer League (NASL).

He played 16 games scoring once.

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.

He stayed in England's top flight with a transfer to 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.