Cliff Holton

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Clifford Charles "Cliff" Holton (April 29, 1929 – June 4, 1996) was an English footballer.

Born in Oxford, Holton played as a full back for non-league Oxford City, before joining Arsenal in October 1947. He spent three seasons in the Gunners' reserve team, eventually converting to a centre forward. He made his debut against Stoke City on December 26, 1950, and became a regular in the side for the next three seasons. He scored 53 goals in 81 League games, which helped Arsenal to a First Division title in 1952-53. Holton lost his place in the Arsenal side in 1954-55, before returning the following season, having now become a utility man - playing in defence, midfield or up front. On October 6, 1956, he scored four goals in a home match against Manchester City, becoming the first player to ever score more than three in a game at Highbury. In all he scored 88 goals in 217 matches for the Gunners, and although he was often tipped for an England place, he never won a cap for his country.

Holton was sold to Watford in October 1958 for £10,000, a somewhat surprising move, considering Watford were in the newly-formed Fourth Division at the time. Holton spent three seasons with the Hornets, mostly at centre forward, and became a club legend, scoring a club record 48 goals in 1959-60, which also saw the club promoted to the Third Division. He was controversially sold to Northampton Town in 1961 where he scored a club record 36 goals in 1961-62, thus achieving the rare feat of holding the all-time goals in a season record at two different clubs. He later played for Crystal Palace, Watford (for a second time), Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient. He finally retired in 1968, and left the game completely to take up a career in engineering. He died suddenly while on holiday in 1996, at the age of 67.