Jim Holton

Who was Jim Holton?

James Alan "Jim" Holton was a Scottish football player.

Born in Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire, and trained with Celtic, Holton began his playing career with West Bromwich Albion in 1968, but left three years later without having played a first-team game. He spent a season at Shrewsbury Town before making the big move to Manchester United. At United he was a favourite among fans who taunted opponents with the chant: Six foot two[sic], eyes of blue, Big Jim Holton's after you. Despite two leg breaks during that time, he played helpfully in their Second Division championship winning side in 1975 but was sold to Sunderland a year later.

In 1976, he played for the Miami Toros of the North American Soccer League. He returned to the NASL with the Detroit Express in 1980. He finished his career with Coventry City, enjoying a four-year spell at the club before injury brought his career to an end at the age of 30 at the end of the 1980-1981 season.

Holton played in all three initial group games for Scotland in the 1974 World Cup competition in Germany, in which the team did not lose, winning 2-0 against Zaire and drawing twice, including a memorable 0-0 draw with then reigning champions Brazil, yet still failing to progress to the second round due to goal difference. Scotland's third game resulted in a 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia.