Peter Holmes

Peter James Holmes (born 18 November 1980) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played in the Football League for Luton Town, Chesterfield, Lincoln City and Rotherham United. He is the assistant manager at club Hayes & Yeading United.

Holmes started his career with Sheffield Wednesday and after failing to make any first-team appearances he joined Luton Town. He was released by the club due to financial reasons in the summer of 2003, but was eventually handed a new contract in November. After being loaned out to Chesterfield and Lincoln City during the 2006–07 season, Holmes left Luton, having made over 100 appearances for the club. He was signed by Rotherham United, who loaned him out to Conference Premier club York City in 2008. He was released by Rotherham in 2009 and was signed by Harrogate Town, before joining Ebbsfleet United. Following Ebbsfleet's relegation, he signed for Hayes & Yeading United.

Club career

Sheffield Wednesday and Luton Town Peter Holmes was Born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, Holmes graduated through The Football Association's School of Excellence. He started his career with Premier League club Sheffield Wednesday as a trainee in their youth system before signing a professional contract on 2 December 1997, and was promoted to the first team for the 1999–2000 season. After failing to appear for the team, Luton manager Ricky Hill had been impressed by the player while working as a coach at Wednesday.

Holmes suffered from soreness in his leg after collapsing in a match against Rushden & Diamonds in December 2001. this goal secured Luton's promotion to the Second Division at the first attempt. Holmes' 2001–02 season was ended with 10 appearances and one goal after suffering a knee ligament injury during Luton's 4–0 victory at Hull City on 6 April 2002. He suffered a groin strain during the 2–1 home defeat to Cambridge United in the Football League Trophy on 10 December 2002. He made his return to Luton's first team in a 3–2 away defeat to Mansfield Town on 4 March 2003 after coming on as a 74th-minute substitute. He finished 2002–03 with 23 appearances and two goals,

Holmes was released by Luton in July 2003 after the offer of a new contract was withdrawn because of financial difficulties at the club, but he continued to train with the team and eventually signed a contract in November. Holmes was the oldest central midfielder in the team after starting in the FA Cup match against Tranmere Rovers, due to other players being injured, during which he gave away the possession for Micky Mellon to score the winner for Tranmere in the 81st minute. He finished 2003–04 with 20 appearances and scored three goals. while Holmes made 20 appearances and scored three goals.

The winning goal for Luton in a 2–1 victory over Cardiff City in October was scored by Holmes from close range, which brought an end to the opposition' eight match unbeaten run. He suffered from a twisted knee during a match against Derby County on 26 December 2005, eventually returning to action from a hamstring injury in February 2006 by playing in a reserve match against Southend United. His competitive return was in a 3–3 draw against Cardiff, where he came on as a substitute for Dean Morgan on 82 minutes. He joined League One club Chesterfield on a one-month loan on 12 January 2007, making his debut the following day in a 1–0 away victory over Rotherham United, in which he forced goalkeeper Neil Cutler into making a good save. Chesterfield were given the lead by Holmes in a match away to Huddersfield Town with a header from a Kyle Critchell cross, which eventually finished a 1–1 draw. The loan was extended for a second month on 8 February 2007, and Holmes said he would consider signing for the club permanently when the loan expired. He eventually finished his spell at Chesterfield with 10 appearances and scored one goal. His debut came in a 3–2 home defeat to Swindon Town and he completed the loan spell with five appearances. He eventually signed for Rotherham United of League Two on a two-year contract on 14 June 2007. His debut for Rotherham was in a 0–0 draw against Hereford United on 10 August 2007 and he scored his first goal for the team against Notts County on 22 September with a 25-yard shot into the far corner. Holmes finished 2007–08 with 27 appearances and two goals. His final match for York was a 2–0 victory against Rushden & Diamonds and he finished the loan spell with five appearances and one goal, Weeks after returning to Rotherham, it was suggested that Holmes might be loaned out again after failing to break back into the team. It was over a month before Holmes eventually made his first appearance for Rotherham since returning, after starting in the 2–0 defeat at home to Bradford City on 21 November 2008. and he was signed by Conference North club Harrogate Town on 25 September 2009. Holmes made his first and only appearance for Harrogate in a 4–0 away defeat to Bradford Park Avenue in the FA Cup second qualifying round on 26 September 2009. making his debut a day later in a 4–0 defeat to Cambridge United. He made 29 appearances and scored two goals for Ebbsfleet during the 2009–10 as they were relegated to the Conference South. He made his debut in the opening match of 2010–11, a 2–1 home victory over Bath City on 14 August 2010. Holmes finished the season with 47 appearances and five goals. He spent 2011–12 with Dunstable before signing for Southern League Premier Division club Hemel Hempstead Town in May 2012. He made 26 appearances in 2012–13 He joined newly relegated Southern League East Division club Hayes & Yeading United as assistant manager on 22 June 2017.

International career Holmes made his debut for the England national under-16 team in a 1–0 home defeat to France on 28 September 1996. His final appearance came in a 5–1 away defeat to Scotland on 6 March 1997, meaning he finished his England under-16 career with four caps. He preferred to play as a central midfielder, although was able to play on the left side of midfield and was equally comfortable playing with either foot. Second Division

2001–02 Third Division

2002–03 Second Division

2003–04 Second Division

2004–05 League One

2005–06 Championship

2006–07 Championship

Chesterfield (loan) 2006–07 League Two

2008–09 League Two

York City (loan) 2008–09 Conference Premier

Harrogate Town 2009–10 Conference North

Ebbsfleet United 2009–10 Conference Premier

Hayes & Yeading United 2010–11 Conference Premier

Dunstable Town 2011–12 Southern League East Division

Honours Luton Town Football League One: 2004–05