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12 August 2025
 
 

George Holley

Sunderland AFC

 10 appearances, 8 goals

P 10 W 9 D 1 L 0 F 35: A 7
 95% successful
1909-14

captain: none
minutes played: 900

Timeline
  George Holley
Birth Friday, 20 November 1885 in Candlish [Terrace], Dawdon, Seaham Harbour, County Durham
  "born there on September 25th, 1885." - Football Echo in 1909 - but his birth certificate states the correct date
  registered in Easington January-March 1886
 

According to the 1891 census, George is the youngest of five children to cockney George Alexander and Scotswoman, Catherine (née Grainger). His father is a fireman at the bottle works. They live at 2 Fenwick Row, Dawdon in Seaham Harbour.
 

According to the 1901 census, George is the youngest of four children still living at home with their parents at 1 Stewart Street in Dawdon. George is a locomotive boilersmith, his father is a glass bottle finisher.
 

According to the 1911 census, George still lives at home with his parents and two of his older brothers, who are both widows. Along with a nephew and a servant, they all live at 2 Stewart Street in Dawdon. George is a boilersmith journeyman, his father is now a glass bottle maker.
Marriage to Ethel May Lightfoot, on Thursday, 1 June 1911, at Seaham Parish Church, County Durham
  registered in Easington April-June 1911
"MARRIAGE  HOLLEY—LIGHTFOOT.—At the Parish Church, 1st inst., Mr George Holley to Miss May Lightfoot." - Seaham Weekly News, Friday, 2 June 1911.
Children George and Mary Holley have five children together. George (b.1912), Tom (b.15 November 1913), Ronald (b.1916), Joyce Winifred (b.12 July 1918), Catherine (b.1921), and George S. (b.1926).
"George Holley Exempted  George Holley, the Sunderland forward, has been granted exemption by the Jarrow Tribunal on the production of documentary evidence showing that he was as he had described himself, a plater. The appeal, made by the firm employing him, had been adjourned for inquiries to be made." - The Green 'un, Saturday, 24 June 1916.
  His mother, Kate, died in late-1918.
According to the 1921 census, George a football coach at Sunderland AFC, is now married to May, and with three children, Tom, Ronald and Joyce, they live at 10 Primrose Crescent in the Fulwell area of Sunderland.
His father died on 1 February 1930.
  According to the 1939 register, George, a retired footballer, and May are still married, and living at 447 Cannock Road in Wolverhampton.
Death Thursday night, 27 August 1942 in New Cross Hospital, 376 Wolverhampton Road, Heath Town, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, living at 447 Cannock Road, Fallings Park. He had been ill for six years.
aged 56 years 280 days registered in Wolverhampton July-September 1942
"DEATH  HOLLEY.—At 447 Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, on Aug. 27, George, beloved husband of Mary Holley (nee Lightfoot)..."
Obituary
"GEO. HOLLEY DEAD PASSING OF FAMOUS ROKER FORWARD
 "George Holley, one of the greatest inside lefts the game has produced, died at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, late last night. He was 56. George had been in failing health for the past six years, and more recently his physical condition had rapidly deteriorated. Probably no other Sunderland player of his day is still remembered by football enthusiasts of Roker Park with such feelings of attachment as the name of George Holley. He was a product of Seaham White Star, and he and Arthur Bridgett became one of the most famed and most dangerous left wings in the country. He had amazing dribbling powers and a two-way body swerve which made him a most difficult player to tackle. When Bridgett went Harry Martin became Holley's partner. This pair helped in Sunderland's first Cup Final at Crystal Palace. That day against Aston Villa, George Holley was actually unfit through a damaged ankle. The inner history of why he was played cannot perhaps, be revealed, but Holley was tried out behind the dressing-rooms, and it was decided to play him.
"Holley appeared for England against Scotland in 1909-12-13; against Wales in 1909-10-12; and against Ireland in 1912. He also played for England against Hungary twice and against Austria in 1909, and against South Africa three times in the 1910 tour. On two occasions—in 1910 and 1912—he played for the Football League against the Scottish League. After the Great War Holley became a coach at Roker Park, and in 1921-22 season became trainer at Wolverhampton Wanderers, leaving ten years later for Barnsley. His son, Tom, the Leeds United centre half, is a sergeant-instructor in the Army, and Ronald holds a commission. There are also a younger son and daughter. The funeral is to take place on Tuesday." - The Sunderland Echo & Shipping Gazette, Friday, 28 August 1942.
"GEORGE HOLLEY DEAD
 "George Holley, the Sunderland and England International footballer, and father of Tom Holley, the Leeds United captain, died to-day in hospital at Wolverhampton. He was 56 and had been ill for several years. Holley was one of the cleverest inside forwards of his day, and after a distinguished playing career, he was trainer for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Barnsley."
 - Yorkshire Evening Post, Friday, 28 August 1942
Funeral
Tuesday, 1 September 1942
"...Internment on Tuesday at Wolverhampton Cemetery." - The Sunderland Echo & Shipping Gazette, Saturday, 29 August 1942.
Probate "HOLLEY George of 447 Cannock-road Fallings Park Wolverhampton died 27 August 1942 at 376 Wolverhampton-road Heath Town Wolverhampton Administration Birmingham 2 November to May Holley widow. Effects £936 5s." [2025 equivalent: £38,211].
  His wife, May, died mid-1973
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 "At the age of 14 Seaham Young Villa claimed his attentions. After a season he joined the Athletic, and stayed with them for two years. His next club was Seaham Villa, and after his necessary probationary course of training the then Seaham White Star signed him. He played twelve matches and scored 16 goals for the premier team of his native town. It was not long before Sunderland were after him, and he could have signed for them three weeks before he did, but refused, as he thought he was not good enough to play in class football". - The Football Echo, Saturday, 18 December 1909
He signed for the Wearsiders on 16 November 1904. Following the war, Sunderland decided against retaining Holley's registration at the end of the 1918-19 season, and so, he joined Brighton & Hove Albion FC on 16 July 1919. He retired in 1920, despite Chester-le-Street FC's efforts to make him their player manager in August 1920.
League honours
280 appearances, 151 goals		 Sunderland AFC 1904-15 280 appearances, 151  goals
debut: 27 December 1904 The Wednesday FC 1 Sunderland AFC 1.
last: 6 April 1915 Sunderland AFC 0 Everton FC 3.

Club honours		 Wearside League Champions 1903-04;
Football League Division One third place 1908-09 (30ᵃ 19ᵍ), 1910-11 (25ᵃ 14ᵍ), Champions 1912-13 (30ᵃ 12ᵍ);
FA Cup runners-up 1912-13 (9ᵃ 5ᵍ);
FA Charity Shield winner 1913 (2ᵍ);
Individual honours Football League (five appearances);
Goalscoring records Football League Division One Top Goalscorer =1911-12 (25);
Distinctions Father of Tom Holley (Barnsley FC, 1932-36 & Leeds United AFC, 1936-48);
Height/Weight 5' 6", 10st. 0lbs [1904], 5' 9½", 12st. 2lbs [1909].
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career
Player number One of three who became the 338th players (340) to appear for England.
Position(s) Inside/outside-left; Inside-left at club level
First match No. 100, 15 March 1909, England 2 Wales 0, a British Championship match at the City Ground, Pavilion Road, Nottingham, aged 23 years 115 days.
Last match No. 116, 5 April 1913, England 1 Scotland 0, a British Championship match at Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, Fulham, London, aged 27 years 136 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1908-09, 1909-10, 1911-12, 1912-13;
Team honours British Championship winners 1908-09, 1910-11, 1912-13, shared 1911-12;

Individual honours		 The North (one appearance, January 1909);
The Whites (withdrew in January 1910);
FA Tour of South Africa summer 1910 (including the three tests 3ᵍ);
The Stripes (one appearance, January 1912);
The Professionals (one appearance, 2ᵍ October 1913);
England Trial (two appearances, 1ᵍ November 1913-January 1914);
Goalscoring honours England's Joint-Top Goalscorer 1912 (three);
Distinctions The tenth Durhamer to represent England
Died eleven days after George Hedley.

Beyond England
Once worked as a plater at Messrs. Dickinson's Engine Works in Sunderland. Holley became a very experienced coach/trainer, took up training of players after he hung up his boots. He was appointed trainer to the Sunderland AFC players on 8 January 1921. Wolverhampton Wanderers FC from 21 July 1922 and Barnsley FC from August 1932 until July 1936. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.134/5.


The Numbers
parties Apps comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
14 10 7 900 8 113 min 4 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
10 9 1 0 35 7 +29 0 5 3.5 0.7 95 +9

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 3 3 0 0 5 0 +5 0 3 1.667 0.00 100.0 +3 1
Away 7 6 1 0 30 7 +23 0 2 4.286 1.00 92.9 +6 7

Competition Record

Competition P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
British Championship 7 6 1 0 15 2 +13 0 5 2.143 0.286 92.9 +6 4
Friendly 3 3 0 0 20 5 +15 0 0 6.667 1.667 100.0 +3 4

Opposition Record

Opposition P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Scotland 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 0 2 1.333 0.333 83.3 +2 1
Wales 3 3 0 0 5 0 +5 0 3 1.667 0.00 100.0 +3 2
Ireland 1 1 0 0 6 1 +5 0 0 6.00 1.00 100.0 +1 1
Hungary 2 2 0 0 12 4 +8 0 0 6.00 6.00 100.0 +2 2
Austria 1 1 0 0 8 1 +7 0 0 8.00 1.00 100.0 +1 2

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1908-09 2 2 0 0 4 0 +4 0 2 2.00 0.00 100.0 +2
BC 1909-10 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 0 1 1.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC 1911-12 3 2 1 0 9 2 +7 0 1 3.00 0.667 83.3 +2
BC 1912-13 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 0 1 1.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC All 7 6 1 0 15 2 +13 0 5 2.143 0.286 92.9 +6

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 7 6 1 0 15 2 +13 0 5 2.143 0.286 92.9 +6
7 6 1 0 15 2 +13 0 5 2.143 0.286 92.9 +6

Match History
 Club: Sunderland A.F.C. - ten full appearances (900 min) 8ᵍ F.A. International Select Committee - ten full appearances (900 min) 8ᵍx

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 23 trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, 25 January 1909;

1 100 15 March 1909 - England 2 Wales 0
City Ground, Nottingham		 BC HW  15 il

one of three who became the 338th player (340) to appear for England
the fifth Sunderland FC player to represent England
the 59th player to score on his England debut

2 101 3 April 1909 - England 2 Scotland 0
Sports Arena, Crystal Palace		 BC HW   il
3 102 29 May 1909 - Hungary 2 England 4
Millenáris Sportpálya, Buda-Pesth
tour		 AW   il
4 103 31 May 1909 - Hungary 2 England 8
Millenáris Sportpálya, Buda-Pesth		 AW   il
5 104 1 June 1909 - Austria 1 England 8
Hohe Warte Stadion, Wien		 AW   il
 

Age 24 trial  
withdrew - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 31 January 1910;

6 106 14 March 1910 - Wales 0 England 1
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff		 BC AW   il
 

FA Tour of South Africa		 29 June 1910 - South Africa 0 England 3, Durban, Natal Province
tour		 AW   il
23 July 1910 - South Africa 2 England 6, Wanderers Ground, Johannesburg AW  65 il
30 July 1910 - South Africa 3 England 6, Cape Town, Cape Province AW  2082 il

Age 25
109 13 March 1911 - England 3 Wales 0, The Den, New Cross BC HW reserve
110 1 April 1911 - England 1 Scotland 1, Goodison Park, Liverpool BC HD reserve

Age 26 trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 22 January 1912;

7 111 10 February 1912 - Ireland 1 England 6
Dalymount Park, Dublin		 BC AW  70 il
8 112 11 March 1912 - Wales 0 England 2
The Racecourse, Wrexham		 BC AW  2 il
9 113 23 March 1912 - Scotland 1 England 1
Hampden Park, Glasgow		 BC AD  13 il
 

Age 27
115 17 March 1913 - England 4 Wales 3, Ashton Gate. Bedminster BC HW withdrew
10 116 5 April 1913 England 1 Scotland 0
Stamford Bridge, Fulham 		BC HW   il

trial  
one appearance - The Professionals vs. The Amateurs, 6 October 1913;

Age 28    
two appearances - The South vs. England, 24 November 1913; The North vs. England, 21 January 1914;

117 14 February 1914 - England 0 Ireland 3, Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough BC HL reserve
 


     

 
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