| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Paul Holmes[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 11 November 1953 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| St John Bosco | |||
| 1970–1971 | Coventry City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1970–1977 | Coventry City | 128 | (6) |
| 1977–1981 | Tottenham Hotspur | 81 | (2) |
| 1981–1982 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 17 | (0) |
| 1982–1983 | Leicester City | 2 | (0) |
| 1983 | Brentford | 4 | (0) |
| 1983 | Torquay United | 25 | (3) |
| 1983–1986 | Peterborough United | 49 | (7) |
| 1985–1987 | Nuneaton Borough | 39 | (4) |
| 1987 | Leicester United | ||
| 1987–1989 | Hitchin Town | ||
| 1989–1990 | Bedworth United | ||
| 1990 | Nuneaton Borough | ||
| International career | |||
| 1971–1981 | Republic of Ireland | 30 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1985–1987 | Nuneaton Borough (player-manager) | ||
| 1987–1989 | Hitchin Town (player-manager) | ||
| 1989–1990 | Bedworth United (player-manager) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
James Paul Holmes (born 11 November 1953) is an Irish former professional footballer. Hailing from Meath Square in The Liberties,[2] he won 30 full international caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring once.[3]
Holmes, a left-back, began his career with St. John Bosco.[4] He joined Coventry City as apprentice and was a member of the FA Youth Cup Final side in 1970.[5] He turned professional in November 1970 and became the Republic of Ireland's youngest ever full international at 17 years, 200 days when he came on as a 74th-minute substitute for Don Givens in the 4–1 defeat in the European Championship Qualifier against Austria at Dalymount Park on 30 May 1971.[6]
He made his league debut later that year in the home game against Leicester City on 4 December and gradually established himself in the Coventry first team. In March 1977, after 8 goals in 143 games for Coventry,[7] he moved to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £120,000.[2] A broken leg ended his career at White Hart Lane after 92 games, in which he scored twice.[7] While on international duty, Jimmy broke his leg and complications arose in the setting of the leg.[5]
In February 1981, the Vancouver Whitecaps of the North American Soccer League purchased his contract for £100,000. However, he played only seventeen games over two seasons.[8] During this time he made one final appearance in the Irish national side. In October 1982 he returned to the UK, joining Leicester City on a free transfer, but played only twice before a free transfer took him to Brentford in February 1983.[1][7] A month later, another free transfer took him to Torquay United, Holmes playing 25 games (3 goals) for Bruce Rioch's side.[1] In November 1983 he moved to Peterborough United, scoring 7 times in 60 games before ending his league career.[9]
He enjoyed a testimonial match in 1985 at Dalymount Park, when an Irish XI beat a Glenn Hoddle XI.[10]
He later became a police officer in the Midlands and currently works as a chauffeur.[5] As a police officer, he was once called into duty again while on police duty at Coventry City's Highfield Road. When one of the players for a testimonial did not show, Jimmy stepped into the fray. In August 2007 he was formally commended for his bravery in July 2006.[11]