Biography
Striker Philip Charles “Phil” Holme was born at Briton Ferry, a small industrial town between Swansea and Neath, and played for Bridgend Town as an amateur in his formative footballing years during the late 1960s. A Welsh amateur international, Holme’s reputation grew at the start of the 1970s and in March 1971 he joined Division Three side Swansea City on amateur terms, scoring his first senior goal in May 1971 against Halifax Town. Holme turned professional for the 1971/72 season and scored five goals for the Swans including a New Year’s Day 1972 hattrick against Torquay United. By the 1972 close season Holme had scored six goals in 27 senior appearances for Swansea.
In July 1972 he transferred to Terry Neill’s Hull City to support the Tigers front line that was shorn of Chris Chilton, still had Ken Wagstaff and had Stuart Pearson emerging from the youth setup. An early season injury to Wagstaff saw Holme introduced to the first team and between late August and mid October he scored seven goals in nine games for the Tigers, including goals in three successive games coming off the bench. He remained in the City first team until an injury in April 1973 ended his season. Holme was used sporadically during the 1973/74 season though he did score a brace in a November 1973 League Cup tie against Stockport. In the 1974 close season Holme decided to hang up his boots due to his injuries.
Holme joined the youth team coaching setup at Hull City when he gave up playing and in August 1976 he was appointed the Tigers’ first team coach. Managerial turmoil during the 1976/77 relegation season meant Holme lost his job and by June 1977 he had returned to South Wales and was appointed coach, and occasional player, at Welsh League side Afan Lido. He continued to serve local football throughout the 1980s and 1990s while also working as an electrician, becoming first team coach at Port Talbot AFC in 1985 and later having a spell in 1999 managing Inter Cardiff.
During his early 20s Holme was a regular Welsh amateur international. He made his debut in January 1969 against Northern Ireland and went on to win eight amateur international caps between January 1969 and April 1971, the last of which came just after he had switched from Bridgend Town to Swansea City. He scored three international goals, one against Scotland in April 1969 and a brace against the same opponents in February 1971.
Details
Nationality: Wales
Date/Place of Birth: 21 June 1947, Briton Ferry
Hull City First Game: 12 August 1972, Millwall A (Division Two), 25 years, 52 days old
Hull City Final Game: 2 February 1974, Notts County H (Division Two), 26 years, 226 days old
Clubs
Bridgend Town (1967-1971), Swansea City (1971-1972), Hull City (1972-1974)
Hull City Record
Career: 49 apps, 14 goals
Phil Holme| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972/73 | 26 (6) | 11 | 2 (2) | 0 | 0 (1) | 1 | - | - | 3 (0) | 0 |
| 1973/74 | 3 (3) | 0 | 2 (0) | 0 | 1 (0) | 2 | - | - | - | - |