ARTICLE: Jimmy Holland’s night at the Turf

[ClaretTony]

Back to 1991 and it was Jimmy Holland's testimonial

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/jimmy-holl ... t-the-turf

[bobinho]

“Jimmy, Jimmy give us a wave” was the chant as he entered the pitch to tend an injured player.

[ClaretTony]

Although he'd been physio from the mid 60s it was only when Brian Miller became manager in 1979 that he started doing the match day duties and went on to become a cult figure.

[mill hill claret]

Remember watching a highlights video when he had come on to tend to an injured player at halifax ..he was on his way back to dug out when we scored from the resulting free kick and he celebrated by swinging his physio bag around and around

[bfcjg]

Physios of Jimmy's era would be blown away with what the modern physios have at their disposal, in his day it was a spray,bandage,cold water and very little else. Real cult hero.

[djemba-djemba]

Although he'd been physio from the mid 60s it was only when Brian Miller became manager in 1979 that he started doing the match day duties and went on to become a cult figure.

Did not realise that.

[djemba-djemba]

Remember watching a highlights video when he had come on to tend to an injured player at halifax ..he was on his way back to dug out when we scored from the resulting free kick and he celebrated by swinging his physio bag around and around

Do you know which season it was?
Would be interested to dig the old videos out and have a look at that.

[burnmark]

I’d guess at 91/92 season. Vaguely remember him having an argument with the linesman who wouldn’t let him in to treat Lancashire who’d just been brought down when clear on goal.

[djemba-djemba]

I’d guess at 91/92 season. Vaguely remember him having an argument with the linesman who wouldn’t let him in to treat Lancashire who’d just been brought down when clear on goal.

Thanks burnmark. I get the impression we started going to games around the same time.

[ClaretTony]

I can’t remember where it was but he once jumped up and hit his head on the top of the dug out leaving him requiring treatment. He had a big cut on the top of his head.

[djemba-djemba]

I can’t remember where it was but he once jumped up and hit his head on the top of the dug out leaving him requiring treatment. He had a big cut on the top of his head.

I remember seeing that story in the souvenir brochure thing they did for the testimonial.
Something makes me think it was in Brian Miller's reign (the first spell, not the second).

[Herts Clarets]

I can’t remember where it was but he once jumped up and hit his head on the top of the dug out leaving him requiring treatment. He had a big cut on the top of his head.

Wasn't it the 4-1 win at White Hart Lane in 1983?

[ClaretTony]

Wasn't it the 4-1 win at White Hart Lane in 1983?

I had that game in my head but wasn’t sure

[chekhov]

Although he'd been physio from the mid 60s it was only when Brian Miller became manager in 1979 that he started doing the match day duties and went on to become a cult figure.

Wasn’t it Brian Miller that was the bucket and sponge man before him?

[ClaretTony]

Wasn’t it Brian Miller that was the bucket and sponge man before him?

It was, Brian did the job for a number of years having replaced George Bray but handed over when he became manager. It was always a trainer (coach) who did the job back then and I'm sure I read once that Jimmy Holland was the first physio in the league to do it.

[XDS]

Paul Fletcher and Jim Thomson tell some funny stories about Jimmy, how the players used to move the position of the heat lamps on to Jimmy's head whilst receiving treatment resulting in sunburn for Jimmy is one of the stories that can be told on here, Phil Malley also tells a tale about taking the mick out of Jimmy during the final game of the season (think it was against Mansfield but couldn't swear on it) where players took in turn to go down injured, they waited for Jimmy to just about get to them then they'd jump up and run off which worked a treat as Jimmy could be a grumpy sod. Some of the wind ups/arguments between Arthur Bellamy, George Bray and Jimmy wouldn't be out of place on t.v.pure comedy gold.

[Quickenthetempo]

Was Jimmy the one who used to sprint on to the pitch all the time?

[ClaretTony]

Paul Fletcher and Jim Thomson tell some funny stories about Jimmy, how the players used to move the position of the heat lamps on to Jimmy's head whilst receiving treatment resulting in sunburn for Jimmy is one of the stories that can be told on here, Phil Malley also tells a tale about taking the mick out of Jimmy during the final game of the season (think it was against Mansfield but couldn't swear on it) where players took in turn to go down injured, they waited for Jimmy to just about get to them then they'd jump up and run off which worked a treat as Jimmy could be a grumpy sod. Some of the wind ups/arguments between Arthur Bellamy, George Bray and Jimmy wouldn't be out of place on t.v.pure comedy gold.

Fletch would be involved in any such goings on.

Jimmy was grumpy. I knew Arthur & George well and they were always winding him up.

[welsbyswife]

Some good players in that Oldham side. Remember playing cricket against Rick Holden. He was a decent bowler.

[ClaretTony]

Some good players in that Oldham side. Remember playing cricket against Rick Holden. He was a decent bowler.

Played the one game for us as a substitute and went on to have a good career did Rick Holden.

That was the Oldham side about to embark on a top flight season - some very good players.

[welsbyswife]

Great crosser of the ball. Chris Wood would love some of those swinging crosses!

[ClaretTony]

Great crosser of the ball. Chris Wood would love some of those swinging crosses!

Brian Miller wanted to sign him but he wouldn't go full time because of his studies so signed part time for Halifax who later sold him to Watford.

[welsbyswife]

Didn't know that. I seem to remember he had to stop playing cricket when he signed for City because they wouldn't allow it due to risk of injury. Given how easy it was to do your ankle on Craven League outfields it was probably wise!

[groove]

I can’t remember where it was but he once jumped up and hit his head on the top of the dug out leaving him requiring treatment. He had a big cut on the top of his head.

I may be wrong but I think that may have been Arthur Bellamy who hit his head at Deepdale in the Sherpa van semi. Seem to remember he was also the coach driver at the time. Apologies if incorrect.

[Im_not_Robbie_Blake]

Played the one game for us as a substitute and went on to have a good career did Rick Holden.

That was the Oldham side about to embark on a top flight season - some very good players.

Rick Holden - Embsay legend!

[claptrappers_union]

I don’t even know who our physio is… They used to be a recognisable part of the team in 1990’s, Jimmy Holland, Mark ‘Juda$’ Leather, that Jones fella who eat all the pies who used to run on to the pitch like Fred Flintstone.

I don’t even notice them now.

[ClaretTony]

I don’t even know who our physio is… They used to be a recognisable part of the team in 1990’s, Jimmy Holland, Mark ‘Juda$’ Leather, that Jones fella who eat all the pies who used to run on to the pitch like Fred Flintstone.

I don’t even notice them now.

They used to be unknowns, then became well known and are now unknowns again although Ally Beattie has been our physio since summer 2010.

[welsbyswife]

Interesting point that. I wonder why that is? Maybe to do with the fact that players go down much more easily and the assumption when the physio comes on is that it's probably gamesmanship rather than a serious injury so noone bats an eyelid.

[Quickenthetempo]

https://twitter.com/FootyArchives1/stat ... 83274?s=19
Looks like this game could be on here tonight.

[elwaclaret]

I used to love watching Jimmy run onto the field. It was like a cartoon, legs going like the clappers but but from the waist up looking like he was waiting for a bus.

Met him a few times really lovely man and if you were lucky on a good day you got a little chuckle out of him, but rarely over a dozen words before he was darting off usually on the hunt for whoever had just pranked him