Buckley&District Reds

Andy Holt

 

Left-sided wing-back Andy Holt was a tower of strength for Wrexham FC on the field during the club’s darkest days off it. A reassuring presence for Wrexham fans who drew comfort from Holty’s character, dedication, consistency, and of course his long throw-ins.

Holt was one of a clutch of signings made by Denis Smith in the summer of 2004 as Alex Hamilton began to make his presence felt in the town. To say funds were tight is an understatement. The very future of the club was up in the air, many worried the club wouldn’t survive the year.

Most Wrexham fans hadn’t heard of Holt prior to his signing. He had begun his career with Oldham Athletic as a trainee in the mid-1990’s and by the turn of the millennium had fully established himself in the first-team at Boundary Park.

In 2001 he made a £150,000 move to Hull City but just over a year later was out on loan to the likes of Barnsley and Shrewsbury Town. He was released at the end of his contract with the Tigers in 2004 and Denis Smith did exceptionally well to bring him to the Racecourse during a summer of turmoil.

Though many fans minds were pre-occupied with the worrying off-field context, few could have failed to be impressed with Holt’s displays in the friendly games. Physically intimidating, strong in the challenge, prepared to bomb forward as well as take care of his defensive duties, he made an immediate impression.
He began the season encouragingly as did the rest of the team in spite of what was going on around them, and netted his first goal with the equaliser at home to Port Vale. As the club fought off liquidation and was plunged into administration instead, the team struggled to cope with a cruel 10-point deduction from the Football League, and such a threadbare squad.

Holt’s second Wrexham goal was a consolation at Blackpool in November 2004, a game which at the time could have been Wrexham’s last League game. He then netted at Hayes in the FA Cup in what could have been the club’s last-ever game. Holt’s performances were of a consistently high standard in a side that suffered indifferent form heading towards the turn of the year, and he established himself as a firm fans’ favourite.

One of the most striking features of Holty’s game was his ridiculously long, and high, throw. Winning a throw-in halfway into the opposition half was as good as winning a corner for Wrexham fans. Holty would launch it toward the area and create panic at the heart of the opponent’s defence, if not a goal.
By Christmas, having scored at Huddersfield and against Stockport he’d contributed 5 goals in the battle against relegation and created more. By early 2005 Wrexham fans were starting to dream of a trip to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, courtesy of progress in the LDV Vans Trophy.

Though Juan Ugarte’s goal-scoring exploits away from home and on that cup run grabbed the headlines, the contribution of the likes of Holt and his uncompromising never-say-die style of play were just as important.

Having won the LDV Area Final 1st leg away at Oldham 5-3 in Holty’s rare absence he returned for the 2nd leg at home, powering forward and providing the cross for Chris Llewellyn to score the goal that sealed our place in the final.

On that wonderful day at the Millenium in Cardiff where Wrexham beat Southend United 2-0 in extra-time to lift the trophy Holty played his part again. With another impressive performance he helped earn the prize money that would give the administrators the chance to fight Hamilton, and grant the club a lifeline.

Goals in consecutive games against Luton and Port Vale failed to prevent Wrexham suffering an undeserved demotion from League, but took Holty’s personal goal tally that season to 7. He subsequently swept the board at the ‘Player of the Year’ awards winning everything there was to win.
With that recognition, Holty was left in no doubt as to the esteem in which the fans held him. It was his growing love for the club which prevented him from taking the easy option of jumping ship when offers were made for him during Wrexham’s time in administration.

Andy Holt’s 2004-05 season was exceptional by any newcomer’s standard so it was little surprise that he didn’t quite live up to it in 2005-06, though he far from disappointed. Still in administration and operating on a skeleton squad put together by Denis Smith as best he could, injuries hit hard.
Holt was one of those players struck by niggling injuries throughout the season which disrupted his rhythm and consistency. Often you suspected he was one of many playing whilst not fully fit, and playing through the pain barrier.

His goal total was down on the previous season as well, though he struck against Cheltenham, Peterborough and Macclesfield. He also started to face competition from the emerging Mike Williams, though slower and seemingly more suited to the left-side of central defence, not unlike Holty in many ways.
Holty still had his moments and his spirit was epitomised during a difficult and uncomfortable televised FAW Premier Cup tie at home to TNS. He took a knock to the head and went off for treatment. Despite a growing golf ball sized lump starting to form on his forehead, Holty had it taped up ‘Rambo’ style and carried on as if nothing had happened. Wrexham squeezd through on penalties after the game had finished 3-3.

Come the end of the season and summer 2006, Holty’s contract was up. With the club still yet to come out of administration Holt opted to leave Wrexham for League 1 Northampton Town. A great number of Wrexham fans were disappointed to hear the news, though couldn’t begrudge him the move. Holty had given Wrexham absolutely everything in his 2 years at the club.

He left the fans with a number of happy memories created during the gloomiest years in the club’s history, not least as a part of that triumphant LDV Vans Trophy winning team of 2005.

Had Holty stayed it would have been unlikely he could have done much to prevent the nightmare years on the field Wrexham have suffered since exiting administration, so its futile to imagine that he might have made the difference.
At the time he admitted it was a wrench for him to leave, and though he had to go to further his career, he’s probably just as sad as anyone to see our decline into non-league football. He was a positive character that helped lift the fans and his team-mates alike during very difficult times.

However Wrexham’s loss has definitely been Northampton’s gain. Countless times over the last couple of years Wrexham fans must have yearned to see players as professional, committed and more importantly, as competent as Andy Holt, who take pride in wearing the shirt.
How the club could use a few more players like that now…