Coventry City Former Players Association is delighted to welcome CCFPA member and former Sky Blue star Jimmy Holmes as our special guest for the Oldham home game at the Ricoh on Saturday (17th September 2016). Jim is a not infrequent visitor to Sky Blues and regularly supports CCFPA functions.
Fellow countryman Noel Cantwell brought Jimmy as a promising youngster to Highfield Road in 1970 from St John Bosco. Jimmy debuted at left-back in 1971-2 and over six seasons with the Sky Blues he made 150 first team games scoring six times and appeared regularly for the Republic of Ireland eventually winning 30 caps. Jim proved such a versatile and dynamic defender (with attacking flair) that Spurs took him to White Hart Lane in 1977 for a big fee but after a bad leg fracture his playing career wound down between 1981-84 at the likes of Vancouver Whitecaps, Leicester City, Brentford, Torquay and Peterborough before dropping into non-league football.
Alan Green, Ron Farmer & Jim at the Ricoh
Jim has subsequently managed both Bedworth and Nuneaton Borough and built a career with West Midlands Constabulary. The Coventry Telegraph reported in 2007 that Jim had been formally commended for his bravery, with a fellow pc, in arresting an armed man in July the previous year. Jim is one of several ex-CCFC players over the years who have worked in the police force either before or after their Sky Blue days including Don Nardiello, Keith Waugh and, of course, CCFPA members Greg Downs and Steve Ogrizovic!
16th: Ken’s Sky Blues with Jim Holmes
Jim regularly supports Association functions and turns up for both our Golf Days and Legends days. Jim tells us that he is bringing out his biography (written by CCFPA Associate member Mike Malyon) which he hopes to get published before our Legends Day in April. It should be a good read!
Look out for Jim on Saturday in the CCFC Family Zone meeting the JSBs pre-match, around the Ricoh supporters’ lounges before and during the game and on the stage of Lady Gs in the G-Casino after the game when Association vice-chairman Billy Bell will get Jim to preview his book and talk about his time at the Club.