Doug Holden
English footballer (born 1930)
About Doug Holden
Lived 1930 – 2021 (aged 90). Doug Holden was a British association football player and association football coach.
Albert Douglas Holden (28 September 1930 – 7 April 2021) was an English professional footballer who played as a winger.
Football career Holden began his professional playing career with Bolton Wanderers in 1951. He made over 400 appearances for Bolton, and was on the losing side in the famous 4–3 loss to Blackpool in the "Matthews Cup Final" and then on the winning side in the 1958 FA Cup Final against Manchester United. He was the last surviving player from the 1953 FA Cup final.
With five international caps to his name, Holden was recognised as one of the top wingers of his generation, with the ability to play on either wing. After Bolton he moved to Preston North End, scoring a goal in their 1964 FA Cup Final defeat against West Ham United.
Holden remained at Deepdale until the summer of 1965, when he emigrated to Australia, where he played for Hakoah of Sydney until 1968. He then became Hakoah's coach, before moving to coach Auburn F.C. He finished his coaching career in Australia with Sydney City Soccer Club, before returning to England in 1970, where he had a spell coaching with Grimsby Town. He was appointed manager of Southern League Dartford in June 1972 but was sacked in August 1973 despite winning the Kent Senior Cup.
Honours Bolton Wanderers FA Cup: 1957–58;
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Important facts
People in Doug Holden's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Doug Holden's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Doug Holden?
English footballer (born 1930)
When was Doug Holden born?
Doug Holden was born on 28 September 1930 in Manchester.
When did Doug Holden die?
Doug Holden died on 7 April 2021.
What was Doug Holden's occupation?
Doug Holden was an association football player and association football coach.
What nationality was Doug Holden?
Doug Holden was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Doug Holden. https://biography.guide/doug-holden/
MLA: "Doug Holden." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/doug-holden/.
Chicago: "Doug Holden." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/doug-holden/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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