| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | George Henry Holdcroft | ||
| Date of birth | 23 January 1909 | ||
| Place of birth | Norton-in-the-Moors, England | ||
| Date of death | 17 April 1983 (aged 74) | ||
| Place of death | Penwortham, England | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Biddulph | |||
| Norton Druids | |||
| Whitfield Colliery | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1926–1928 | Port Vale | 10 | (0) |
| 1928–1931 | Darlington | 83 | (0) |
| 1931–1932 | Everton | 0 | (0) |
| 1932–1939 | Preston North End | 266 | (0) |
| 1945–1946 | Barnsley | 0 | (0) |
| Morecambe | |||
| Chorley | |||
| Leyland Motors | |||
| Total | 359 | (0) | |
| National team | |||
| 1936 | England | 2 | (0) |
| The Football League | 1 | (0) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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George Henry Holdcroft (23 January 1909 - 17 April 1983), also known as Harry Holdcroft, was an FA Cup-winning, England international football goalkeeper.
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Born in Norton-in-the-Moors, Holdcroft played for local clubs, Biddulph, Norton Druids and Whitfield Colliery before joining Port Vale as an amateur in August 1926, signing professional forms the following month. He only played ten games for Vale before being handed a free transfer to Third Division (North) Darlington in May 1928.[1] He was the firm first choice for the club and played more than 83 games in his three years at Feethams.
In 1931, he was signed by Everton, however failing to get into the first team in 1932 moved to Preston North End. He went on to play in 172 consecutive league and FA Cup matches. In the 1933–34 season he helped Preston win promotion to the First Division. He also played in the 1938 FA Cup Final victory over Huddersfield Town.[2]
After leaving Preston he played for Barnsley, Leyland Motors, Morecambe and Chorley.[1]
During the war he guested for Accrington Stanley, Barnsley, Burnley, Bury, Oldham Athletic, Manchester United and Southport.[1]
Holdcroft was selected to play for England against Wales on 17 October 1936.[2] The following month he won a second international cap against Northern Ireland.[3]