John Holt Player Profile

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Player Details



Playing History

Season Win % Draw % Loss %
1987-88 8 (1) 0 0 0 33.3% 33.3% 33.3%
1986-87 28 (3) 1 3 0 51.6% 29.0% 19.4%
1985-86 30 (8) 0 9 1 47.4% 31.6% 21.1%
1984-85 36 (5) 0 4 0 58.5% 22.0% 19.5%
1983-84 42 (11) 3 4 0 54.7% 26.4% 18.9%
1982-83 25 (12) 4 4 1 62.2% 18.9% 18.9%
1981-82 49 (3) 5 9 0 48.1% 25.0% 26.9%
1980-81 33 (3) 1 1 0 47.2% 25.0% 27.8%
1979-80 21 (2) 4 3 0 43.5% 30.4% 26.1%
1978-79 30 (2) 2 5 0 40.6% 21.9% 37.5%
1977-78 17 (4) 4 3 0 47.6% 14.3% 38.1%
1976-77 6 (4) 0 0 0 50.0% 0.0% 50.0%
1975-76 15 (3) 0 2 0 22.2% 33.3% 44.4%
1974-75 - - - - - - -
1973-74 4 (1) 0 1 0 40.0% 0.0% 60.0%
Totals: 344 (62) 24


 Apps = First Team Appearances (Sub Appearances) | Gls = Goals
 Cln = Clean Sheets | CtGR = Clean Sheets to Games Ratio | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in
 Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals

 Recent First Team Starts
 12/09/87 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H) 1 - 2
 05/09/87 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H) 0 - 0
 02/09/87 Quarter Final vs. Dundee (A) 1 - 2
 29/08/87 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A) 1 - 1
 25/08/87 3rd Round vs. Raith Rovers (A) 2 - 1

 Recent First Team Goals
 24/03/87 Quarter Final Rep. vs. Forfar Athletic (A) 2 - 0
 30/04/84 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H) 2 - 0
 17/09/83 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A) 2 - 1
 24/08/83 2nd Round 1st Leg vs. Dunfermline (H) 6 - 1
 23/04/83 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (H) 4 - 0

 List of Goals Scored (click to expand)
 24/03/87 Quarter Final Rep. vs. Forfar Athletic (A)  2 - 0
 30/04/84 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  2 - 0
 17/09/83 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A)  2 - 1
 24/08/83 2nd Round 1st Leg vs. Dunfermline (H)  6 - 1
 23/04/83 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (H)  4 - 0
 12/02/83 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (A)  5 - 0
 12/02/83 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (A)  5 - 0
 12/02/83 Premier Division vs. Kilmarnock (A)  5 - 0
 22/02/82 4th Round Replay (2nd) vs. Hibernian (A)  3 - 0
 13/02/82 4th Round vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 1
 02/09/81 Quarter Final 1st Leg vs. Hamilton (A)  4 - 0
 29/08/81 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  4 - 1
 22/08/81 Section 4 vs. Ayr Utd (H)  2 - 1
 24/09/80 3rd Round 2nd Leg vs. Motherwell (H)  4 - 2
 29/04/80 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  1 - 1
 08/04/80 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  3 - 0
 05/04/80 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (A)  2 - 2
 22/12/79 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H)  2 - 0
 11/04/79 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  2 - 1
 14/03/79 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (H)  2 - 1
 26/04/78 Premier Division vs. Ayr Utd (H)  3 - 1
 29/03/78 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 1
 15/03/78 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  2 - 1
 05/10/77 3rd Round 1st Leg vs. Arbroath (A)  4 - 0

 List of Games Played
Sorry, there are too many games to display for this player.


Biography

John signed on an S form from Invergowrie Boys Club in February 1972. By April 1973 he was playing regularly for the reserves at Tannadice and later that year he signed his first professional contract at the club. He was only 17 years old when he made his first team debut in January 1974 – a 1-0 defeat to Motherwell in the league. This led to John being included in the Scotland professional youth squad.

John’s versatility was key to United – his preferred position was full-back but due to fierce competition for the full-back berths at Tannadice he often played in midfield during his early years in a tangerine jersey. He very quickly established himself as a first team regular under the management of Jim McLean and he was very rarely out of the side from 1977 onwards.

In December 1979, John Holt picked up his first winner’s medal as United defeated Aberdeen 3-0 in the League Cup Final replay at Dens Park – the first trophy in the club’s history. A second winner’s medal wasn’t long in coming as the Terrors retained the trophy the following year with a famous 3-0 win over city rivals Dundee with John starting for Jim McLean’s men once again.

His third and final winner’s medal came in 1983 when Dundee United defied all the odds to be crowned Scottish Premier League champions after a dramatic final day showdown against Dundee at Dens Park. John played a crucial role in United’s title win – playing in the majority of the club’s league fixtures. Although he was never a prolific goal-scorer it was during the 1982/83 season that Holt scored his only ever hat-trick for United, coming in a 5-0 win at Rugby Park in February.

After their league championship success, Dundee United embarked on their first ever European Cup campaign the following season. John featured in the earlier ties against Hamrun Spartans and Standard Liege as well as the quarter final clash with Rapid Vienna. He was an unused substitute in the first leg of the semi-final tie against AS Roma and was brought on as a substitute just after half time in Rome as United crashed out of the competition after a controversial 3-2 aggregate defeat.

Having already picked up League Cup and Scottish Cup runners up medals in 1981, John would pick up another one of each in season 1984/85 as United lost the League Cup and Scottish Cup finals to Rangers and Celtic respectively.

Season 1986/87 was John’s last full season at Tannadice and it was a special one for him and for the club. He missed United’s victories against RC Lens and Universitatea Craiova in the early stages of the UEFA Cup but started away to Hajduk Split in the third round. After a 2-0 aggregate win over the Yugoslavians, United were drawn against Barcelona in the quarter finals. He started in the first leg at Tannadice where the Spanish giants were defeated 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Kevin Gallacher but it was his man of the match performance at the Nou Camp that has gone down in Arab folklore. He went onto play in both legs of the semi-final against Borussia Monchengladbach and both legs of the final against IFK Gothenburg where United were unlucky to miss out on European glory – losing 2-1 on aggregate. He also received a Scottish Cup runners-up medal at the end of that season, losing 1-0 to St Mirren at Hampden in extra time.

Early the following season John left the club after almost 14 years of loyal service – joining Dunfermline Athletic for a fee of £50,000. He later had spells with Dundee, Forfar Athletic, Deveronvale and Montrose before retiring from football in 1994. He returned to Tannadice in the mid-90s as a coach but left in 2003 after the appointment of Ian McCall as manager. He then took up a scouting role with Celtic before becoming a youth development coach at Dundee. In 2012 he took up an academy role with United, before joining former team mate Paul Hegarty at Montrose as assistant manager.

Still highly regarded by the fans at Tannadice, his contribution to the club’s successes during the late 70s and early 80s were recognised when he was inducted into the Dundee United Hall of Fame in 2011.

Last updated on Wednesday, April 20th, 2022 by B Orr.





Debut

January 19th, 1974
Dundee United 0 - 1 Motherwell

League (Division One)


Timeline

  • Date of Birth


    John was born on this date in Dundee.

    Wednesday, November 21st, 1956

  • Signed For Dundee United

    Wednesday, December 5th, 1973

  • First Team Debut

    Dundee United 0 - 1 Motherwell
    League (Division One)

    Saturday, January 19th, 1974

  • First Goal

    Arbroath 0 - 4 Dundee United
    League Cup (3rd Round 1st Leg)

    Wednesday, October 5th, 1977

  • First League Goal

    St Mirren 1 - 2 Dundee United
    League (Premier Division)

    Wednesday, March 15th, 1978

  • 50th Appearance

    Dundee United 0 - 1 Rangers
    League (Premier Division)

    Wednesday, April 19th, 1978

  • 50th League Appearance

    Dundee United 3 - 0 Rangers
    League (Premier Division)

    United went into this match sitting proudly at the top of the table and therefore were in confident mood tackling Rangers at Tannadice. A large crowd of over 15,000 were in place for what was expected

    Saturday, December 9th, 1978

  • 100th Appearance

    Dundee 1 - 1 Dundee United
    League (Premier Division)

    Saturday, March 1st, 1980

  • 100th League Appearance

    Dundee United 1 - 0 Morton
    League (Premier Division)

    Both sides made changes at Tannadice, with United relegating Frank Kopel to the bench to allow John Holt to return, and Ralph Milne came in for Graeme Payne. Wilkie and Tolmie were preferred to Hayes

    Saturday, February 21st, 1981

  • 200th Appearance

    Raith Rovers 1 - 3 Dundee United
    League Cup (Group Stage - Section 4)

    United wrapped up their League Cup Section 4 matches with a trip to Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy to face Raith Rovers. A win for United would ensure their 100% record in this seasons competition remained i

    Wednesday, September 1st, 1982

  • 200th League Appearance

    Dundee United 0 - 2 Aberdeen
    League (Premier Division)

    Aberdeen, whose record at Tannadice, is unsurpassed by anyone, succeeded yet again in uplifting both points on offer in the first New Firm meeting of the season. Depleted as they were through

    Saturday, August 25th, 1984

  • 300th Appearance

    Rangers 1 - 0 Dundee United
    League Cup (Final)

    It would be understating the case to say that the outcome of our latest cup demise at the hands of the Ibrox side was a disappointment. The dank dismal weather was in keeping with a match which rarely

    Sunday, October 28th, 1984

  • Last Goal

    Forfar Athletic 0 - 2 Dundee United
    Scottish Cup (Quarter Final Rep.)

    A 2-0 winning scoreline and Forfar penned in their own penalty area for the last quarter of an hour clouded what was episode two of the great escape. Undoubtedly there was no complacency in the Tannad

    Tuesday, March 24th, 1987

  • 400th Appearance

    Dundee United 4 - 1 Partick Th
    League Cup (2nd Round)

    We progressed to a tie at Starks Park in fairly comfortable fashion. Partick posed little threat up front, but it wasn't until the closing stages that the Thistle defence began to creak. The first hal

    Wednesday, August 19th, 1987

  • Last Appearance

    Dundee United 1 - 2 Hibernian
    League (Premier Division)

    Not an afternoon to savour as we slumped to our first home defeat of the season. There was an early warning for us after only three minutes when George McCluskey prodded past from a good position and

    Saturday, September 12th, 1987

  • Left the Club

    Saturday, September 26th, 1987