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ARTHUR HOLDEN
Born: 23 September 1882
1. Came from: Southend United Went to: Chelsea
1. First game: 02 September 1907 Last game: 13 April 1909
2. Came from: Chelsea Went to: Southend United
2. First game: 03 September 1910 Last game: 06 October 1911
Appearances: 134 (134/0) Goals: 13
Holden was born in Billingshurst, Sussex in 1882. He began his career with Portsmouth before joining Southend United. In 1907 he moved to Home Park and was a fixture in the team at outside-left over the next two years. The club handbook described him as "fast, dashing and noted for accurate centring". In April 1909 he left Argyle to sign for Chelsea, where he made 20 appearances and scored once during his single season with the club.
In September 1910 he returned to Plymouth, immediately regaining his place on the wing and recapturing his previous good form. However, he lost his place in the side during the 1911-12 campaign and left the club at the end of the season, returning to Southend United where he ended his career.
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From Nigel Meek in Gainsford End, Essex on 27/09/2022 ...
I have found a report in the 30th November 1912 edition of The Merthyr Express p3 as follows:
"The success of the Aberdare Club these last few weeks has given unbounded satisfaction to its followers. The Directors have listened to the clamour of public opinion and have quite recently appointed a player-manager in the person of Mr Arthur Holden, late of Plymouth Argyle. Since his appointment to such a responsible position it is apparent that he has pulled the team splendidly together, and success has resulted. Apart from being a first-class player he makes a splendid manager on account of his tact, courtesy and business ability. He has made his name at football, having played for Plymouth Argyle, Portsmouth and Chelsea [no mention of Southend!]. Mr Holden is very popular at Aberdare."
He re-signed for Southend on 4th July 1912, and played for them at OL v Aberdare in SL2 on 14th Sept 1912, as well as the next SL2 match at Mid Rhondda on 16th Sept. After that he doesn't appear in Southend's 1st team as far as I can tell. So it is possible he joined Aberdare sometime around the end of September. I haven't yet discovered when he left Aberdare, but will update when, (if), I find the information.
His Wikipedia entry makes no reference to his managerial career.
APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]
The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.
I'm very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree, the PAFC Media Team and Colin Parsons for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.
The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.
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