Herbert Holdstock

Herbert Frederick Holdstock Date of Birth: Oct 29, 1879

Born in St Albans in 1879, Herbert and his family moved to Luton when he was young following the hat-trade. He turned out for Luton Star before signing professional for the Town in September 1896.

The tall defender played for the reserve side initially but was called up to the first team in December 1899. He became a regular until a fluke accident in 1901, when he badly wrenched his knee slipping on stairs at home, was thought to have brought a premature end to his career just as top flight clubs were beginning to take notice.

He only played six games over the next two seasons but Nottingham Forest took a punt on his services in 1904 which did not work out. With the Town declining to take him back he decided to concentrate on his cricket.

A member of Luton Town cricket club for many years and a regular for Bedfordshire, he even found time to train the reserves at Kenilworth Road for a period.

Herbert passed away in Bedford in 1965.