:Ian Wolstenholme

{{Short description|English football player and manager (born 1943)}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ian Wolstenholme

| image =

| upright =

| caption =

| full_name = Ian Arthur Wolstenholme

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|1|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England

| height =

| position = Goalkeeper

| youthyears1 = 1962–1963

| youthclubs1 = St John's College (York)

| years1 = 1963–1965

| clubs1 = York City

| caps1 = 2

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1965–1966

| clubs2 = Sheffield

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 1966–1970

| clubs3 = Enfield

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 1970–1973

| clubs4 = Slough Town

| caps4 = 82

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 1974

| clubs5 = St Albans City

| caps5 = 12

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 1975–1976

| clubs6 = Bishop's Stortford

| caps6 =

| goals6 =

| years7 = 1977

| clubs7 = Harlow Town

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| years8 = 1983

| clubs8 = Hitchin Town

| caps8 = 2

| goals8 = 0

| totalcaps = 98+

| totalgoals = 0+

| nationalyears1 = 1971

| nationalteam1 = England amateur

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 1975–1976

| managerclubs1 = Bishop's Stortford

| manageryears2 = 1976–1982

| managerclubs2 = Harlow Town

| manageryears3 = 1982–1983

| managerclubs3 = Hitchin Town

}}

Ian Arthur Wolstenholme (born 12 January 1943) is an English former football player and manager who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for York City.

Wolstenholme started his playing career in 1962 in non-League football with St John's College (York), before signing Football League club York City the following year. He made three appearances before dropping back into non-League with Sheffield in 1965, to help combine playing with his career as a teacher. He signed for Enfield a year later, and with the club won multiple honours, including two Isthmian League titles and two FA Amateur Cups. Wolstenholme joined Slough Town in 1970 and won two Athenian League Premier Division titles with the club before having a short spell with St Albans City in 1974. He was capped twice by the England national amateur team in 1971.

His first managerial role came with Bishop's Stortford in 1975 before being appointed by Harlow Town the following year. Wolstenholme's team won the 1978–79 Isthmian League Division One title and reached the 1979–80 FA Cup fourth round before he resigned in 1982. He then had a short spell as manager of Hitchin Town before taking on a coaching role with St Margaretsbury.

Life and career

= Early life =

Ian Arthur Wolstenholme was born on 12 January 1943 in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire,{{Hugman|21533|access-date=19 January 2025}} the son of Arthur.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0001916%2F19800112&page=6 |title=Harlow boss Ian should be manager of the month |first=Tony |last=Pritchett |newspaper=The Star Green 'Un |location=Sheffield |page=6 |date=12 January 1980 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} Wolstenholme was raised in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, where he attended Abbeydale Boys' Grammar School.{{cite web |url=https://www.sloughtownfc.net/profile/818/Ian-Wolstenholme |title=Ian Wolstenholme |publisher=Slough Town F.C. |access-date=19 January 2025}} He started playing for the school football team as an outside left before changing position to play as a goalkeeper, going on to represent Yorkshire Grammar Schools in the 1961–62 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1137409075/ |title=Connell banned: Swain back? |newspaper=Bucks Free Press |location=High Wycombe |page=5 |date=20 November 1970 |access-date=20 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com}}

= Playing career =

Wolstenholme attended St John's College in York, where he started his playing career in 1962 in non-League football with the college team, St John's College (York), which he captained.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0005430%2F19700311&page=1 |title=Enfield have 'new' team |newspaper=Skelmersdale & Holland Reporter |page=14 |date=11 March 1970 |access-date=8 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} After finishing his studies, Wolstenholme signed for Football League club York City in October 1963, and during his time at the club served as third-choice goalkeeper behind Tommy Forgan and Tony Moor.{{cite book |first1=Dave |last1=Windross |first2=Martin |last2=Jarred |title=Citizens and Minstermen: A Who's Who of York City FC 1922–1997 |date=1997 |publisher=Citizen Publications |location=Selby |isbn=978-0-9531005-0-7 |page=114}} He made his first-team debut on 6 April 1964 in a 3–1 home win over Darlington in a Fourth Division fixture. He finished the 1963–64 season, in which York finished 22nd of 24 teams in the Fourth Division, with two appearances.{{cite web |url=https://fchd.info/lghist/fl1964.htm |title=1963–64: Football League |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=22 January 2025}} Wolstenholme did not make any appearances in the 1964–65 season, which saw York promoted to the Third Division after finishing third in the Fourth Division.{{cite web |url=https://fchd.info/lghist/fl1965.htm |title=1964–65: Football League |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=22 January 2025}} His third and final appearance for York came on 22 September 1965 in a 4–1 defeat away to Millwall in the 1965–66 League Cup.

Wolstenholme started working as a physical education (PE) teacher at Hurlfield School in Sheffield, which led to him returning to non-League football with Sheffield in September 1965, as it was difficult for him to attend matches for York in an afternoon after refereeing school matches in the morning in Sheffield. He saved three penalty kicks in Sheffield's 1–1 draw away to Retford Town in a Yorkshire League Division Two match in January 1966.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0001916%2F19660129&page=2 |title=Saved three penalties out of four! |first=Reg |last=Whittaker |newspaper=The Star Green 'Un |location=Sheffield |page=2 |date=29 January 1966 |access-date=12 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} Reg Whittaker, writing for The Star Green 'Un, speculated that this "must be a record". Wolstenholme was part of the Sheffield team that finished third in the 1965–66 Yorkshire League Division Two and were promoted to Division One.{{cite web |url=https://www.fchd.info/SHEFFIEL.HTM |title=Sheffield |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=12 January 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0005246%2F19651211&page=8 |title=United keep up running |first=Bob |last=Tomlinson |newspaper=South Yorkshire Times |location=Mexborough |page=8 |date=11 December 1965 |access-date=12 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} While a Sheffield player, he also represented the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA XI against a West Riding County FA XI in the Northern Counties Amateur Championship in February 1966,{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0001916%2F19660212&page=3 |title=W. Riding v. & S. & H. |newspaper=The Star Green 'Un |location=Sheffield |page=3 |date=12 February 1966 |access-date=12 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} an FA Colts XI against a South Yorkshire Amateur League XI in March,{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0001916%2F19660312&page=10 |title=Two local amateurs honoured |newspaper=The Star Green 'Un |location=Sheffield |page=10 |date=12 March 1966 |access-date=12 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} and an England amateur XI in April in a trial match against a Combined Northern & Wearside Leagues XI.{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslAm3.html |title=England Amateurs Match Results: 1962–1974 |website=England Football Online |date=2 September 2024 |access-date=12 January 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0005246%2F19651211&page=8 |title=Mason in amateur party |newspaper=Coventry Evening Telegraph |page=1 |date=29 March 1966 |access-date=12 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} Wolstenholme's work at Hurlfield School in this time also drew praise, with Peter Markie of The Star Green 'Un writing in August that "Wolstenholme played a leading role in Hurlfield's development as one of the top soccer schools at all age levels in the city".{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0001916%2F19660827&page=7 |title=Hurlfield teacher pays the penalty in debut for Enfield side |first=Peter |last=Markie |newspaper=The Star Green 'Un |location=Sheffield |page=7 |date=27 August 1966 |access-date=12 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}}

He started a new job as head of PE at Edmonton County School in London in 1966, which led to him signing for a local club in the form of Enfield. That year, Wolstenholme married. Wolstenholme had attracted interest from clubs in the Football League, but decided on Enfield to remaining playing as an amateur.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0001916%2F19670225&page=1 |title=Sheffield link |newspaper=The Star Green 'Un |location=Sheffield |page=1 |date=25 February 1967 |access-date=18 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} He made his debut in August in a 4–1 away win over Maidstone United. He saved a penalty kick late into extra time against Skelmersdale United at Wembley Stadium in the final of the 1966–67 FA Amateur Cup on 22 April 1967, the match ending a 0–0 draw.{{cite web |url=https://www.fchd.info/cups/amcup1966-67.htm |title=1966–67: F.A. Amateur Cup |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=5 January 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/sport/14662891.enfield-town-win-commemorative-friendly-over-skelmersdale-united/ |title=Enfield Town win commemorative friendly over Skelmersdale United |first=Shona |last=Duthie |website=Enfield Independent |publisher=Newsquest Media Group |date=4 August 2016 |access-date=5 January 2025}} The replay was held a week later at Maine Road, which Enfield won 3–0, with Wolstenholme again in goal.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002192%2F19670429&page=18 |title=Hill's 2 for Enfield |newspaper=Sports Argus |location=Birmingham |page=10 |date=29 April 1967 |access-date=18 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} He also helped Enfield win the London Senior Cup in the same season. He had surgery to remove a cartilage during the 1967–68 season but returned to help Enfield win the Isthmian League title and finish as runners-up in the London Senior Cup. He won another Isthmian League title in the 1968–69 season, as well as the Middlesex Senior Cup. Wolstenholme helped Enfield win the Amateur Cup again in the 1969–70 season, when they beat Dagenham 5–1 in the final at Wembley on 4 April 1970.{{cite web |url=https://www.fchd.info/cups/amcup1969-70.htm |title=1969–70: F.A. Amateur Cup |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=5 January 2025}}

Wolstenholme signed for Slough Town in 1970, and made his debut on 15 August in a 2–2 draw away to Tilbury in an Athenian League Premier Division match. He was a regular starter in the Slough team, and finished the 1970–71 season with 63 appearances. He was in the team that won the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup that season, beating Wycombe Wanderers 1–0 on 10 May in a replayed final after the first match ended 0–0.{{cite web |url=http://www.chairboys.co.uk/results/70_71.htm |title=First Team Results 1970/71 |website=Chairboys on the Net |access-date=12 January 2025}} Shortly before the 1971–72 season started, Wolstenholme was capped twice by the England national amateur team in matches against Denmark and Iceland in August 1971. He again played regularly for Slough in the 1971–72 season, making 51 appearances as the team went on to win four trophies.{{cite web |url=https://www.sloughtownfc.net/honours |title=Slough Town FC Club Honours |publisher=Slough Town F.C. |access-date=12 January 2025}} These included the Athenian League Premier Division title, the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup, the Athenian League Cup, and the Premier Midweek Floodlight League.{{cite web |url=http://www.chairboys.co.uk/results/71_72.htm |title=First Team Results 1971/72 |website=Chairboys on the Net |access-date=12 January 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000560%2F19720513&page=31 |title=Sport summary |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |page=31 |date=13 May 1972 |access-date=12 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} Wolstenholme made 56 appearances in the 1972–73 season, which proved to be his final with Slough, and again won the Athenian League Premier Division title and the Athenian League Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002167%2F19730516&page=54 |title=Worthing shake Slough, but miss goal chances |newspaper=Worthing Gazette |page=54 |date=16 May 1973 |access-date=12 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} He was part of the team that finished as runners-up in the Amateur Cup, losing 1–0 to Walton & Hersham in the final at Wembley on 14 April 1973.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003619%2F19730419&page=28 |title=Connell's killer goal brings cup to Walton |first1=John |last1=Comfort |first2=Don |last2=Henning |newspaper=Esher News and Advertiser |page=28 |date=19 April 1973 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} Despite playing as a goalkeeper, Wolstenholme was described in the Bracknell Times in January 1973 as an "onfield tactician" and was noted for his ability to organise teammates when marking opposition players.{{cite web |date=1 March 1973 |title=Men from Slough |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003584%2F19730301&page=36 |url-access=subscription |access-date=18 January 2025 |page=36 |via=Findmypast |newspaper=Bracknell Times}} He later played for St Albans City, making his debut on 26 January 1974 in a 2–1 defeat away to Clapton in the Isthmian League Division One, and finished the 1973–74 season with 13 appearances.{{cite web |url=https://www.saintsstatistics.co.uk/index.php/pictures-video/video/player2/playerlisa/776/?season=76 |title=Ian Wolstenholme appearances: Season 1973–74 appearances |website=St Albans City Statistics |access-date=6 January 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.saintsstatistics.co.uk/index.php/city-statistics/fixturesandresults/matcheslist/3599 |title=Clapton 2–1 St Albans City |website=St Albans City Statistics |access-date=6 January 2025}}

= Managerial and coaching career =

After retiring from playing, Wolstenholme was appointed manager of Bishop's Stortford in February 1975, with the team having been on a poor run of form in the Isthmian League Division One.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003122%2F19750214&page=28 |title=Cup win is first task |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=44 |date=14 February 1975 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} His first win in charge came when Stortford beat Kingstonian 4–2 away on 8 March, which was the team's first victory in the Isthmian League Division One in nearly three months.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003122%2F19750313&page=17 |title=Injury-hit Blues end long bleak spell |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=41 |date=13 March 1975 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}}{{cite web |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/1974-1975/isthmian-football-league-north-division/kingstonian/bishops-stortford/464507 |title=Isthmian League – North Division – Kingstonian 2–4 Bishop's Stortford – 1974–1975 |website=Football Web Pages |access-date=19 January 2025}} Stortford fell to their largest margin of defeat of the season in its last match with a 5–1 home loss to Tooting & Mitcham United on 22 May, although they were praised in the Herts and Essex Observer for giving "their usual full-blooded performance" under Wolstenholme.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003122%2F19750529&page=12 |title=Stortford crash to classy Tooting |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=24 |date=29 May 1975 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} The team finished the 1974–75 Isthmian League Division One 11th of 22 teams,{{cite web |url=https://fchd.info/lghist/isth1975.htm |title=1974–75: Isthmian League |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=19 January 2025}} which was followed by a 12th-place finish the following season.{{cite web |url=https://fchd.info/lghist/isth1976.htm |title=1975–76: Isthmian League |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=19 January 2025}} He made occasional playing appearances for Stortford between and 1975 and 1976.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003122%2F19750821&page=13 |title=Home debuts for Blues late signings |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=33 |date=21 August 1975 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}}{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003122%2F19760212&page=16 |title=Supermac settles it |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=36 |date=12 February 1976 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} He resigned as manager on 21 October 1976, and was succeeded by Terry Woodrow, who was part of Wolstenholme's coaching staff.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003122%2F19761028&page=16 |title=Wolstenholme quits and Woodrow takes over |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=44 |date=28 October 1976 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} It was reported in the Herts and Essex Observer that his departure was "apparently over money for players".{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003122%2F19761111&page=24 |title=Go to it, Ian! |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=52 |date=11 November 1976 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}}

Wolstenholme took over as manager of Harlow Town in late October 1976, with the team near the bottom of the Isthmian League Division Two table.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003122%2F19761104&page=16 |title=Wolstenholme takes over |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=40 |date=4 November 1976 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} Harlow finished the 1976–77 Isthmian League Division Two 17th of 22 teams, and were placed in the new Division One the following season after the league was reorganised from two divisions to three.{{cite web |url=https://fchd.info/lghist/isth1977.htm |title=1976–77: Isthmian League |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=19 January 2025}} Wolstenholme played himself in goal in a match in September 1977 when goalkeeper Paul Kitson was unavailable through injury.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003122%2F19770929&page=21 |title=Manager took over in goal |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=53 |date=29 September 1977 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} Harlow were in a midtable position around halfway through the season in January 1978 having struggled with injuries,{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003122%2F19780126&page=16 |title=The promotion race |first=Roy |last=Jones |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=48 |date=26 January 1978 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} and went on to finish the 1977–78 Isthmian League Division One in eighth place.{{cite web |url=https://fchd.info/lghist/isth1978.htm |title=1977–78: Isthmian League |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=19 January 2025}} Wolstenholme led Harlow to the 1978–79 Isthmian League Division One championship, with the team securing the title with five matches left to play.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003122%2F19790426&page=20 |title=Champions! |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=52 |date=26 April 1979 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} By winning the title, the club was promoted to the Premier Division. Harlow also won the Essex Senior Cup for the first time in the 1978–79 season, beating Tilbury 1–0 in the final on 5 May 1979 at Roots Hall.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003122%2F19790510&page=15 |title=Double cup triumph |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=47 |date=10 May 1979 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} Wolstenholme's Harlow team reached the fourth round of the 1979–80 FA Cup, which is the furthest the club have progressed in the competition.{{cite web |url=https://fchd.info/HARLOWT.HTM |title=Harlow Town |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=11 January 2025}} Harlow twice beat opponents from higher divisions, with 1–0 home wins in replays against Third Division team Southend United in the second round and Leicester City of the Second Division in the third round.{{cite news |url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/history/harlow-towns-stunning-1980-victory-6455069 |title=Harlow Town's stunning 1980 victory against Leicester City ranks in greatest FA Cup Third-Round giant killings |first=Luke |last=Weir |website=Essex Live |publisher=Local World |date=5 February 2022 |access-date=11 January 2025}} The win over Leicester was described by Terry Smith in the Daily Mirror as the "FA Cup sensation of the season".{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000560%2F19800109&page=28 |title=Harlow bombshell |first=Terry |last=Smith |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |page=28 |date=9 January 1980 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} Harlow's run came to an end when being beaten 4–3 away by Watford in the fourth round.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/harlow-town-1979-80/ |title=Harlow Town 1979–80 |first=Jon |last=Spurling |website=When Saturday Comes |date=14 December 2006 |access-date=11 January 2025}} They finished the 1979–80 Isthmian League Premier Division season in 11th place.{{cite web |url=https://fchd.info/lghist/isth1980.htm |title=1979–80: Isthmian League |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=19 January 2025}} Harlow regularly had players unavailable through injury during the 1980–81 Isthmian League Premier Division season,{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003384%2F19810326&page=52 |title=New signing eases Town injury crisis |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=52 |date=26 March 1981 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} in which they were involved in a fight against relegation{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003754%2F19810205&page=36 |title=Single goal sinks Town |newspaper=Harlow Star |page=36 |date=5 February 1981 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} before finishing 19th.{{cite web |url=https://fchd.info/lghist/isth1981.htm |title=1980–81: Isthmian League |website=Football Club History Database |publisher=Richard Rundle |access-date=19 January 2025}} Wolstenholme also led Harlow to the second round of the FA Trophy for the first time this season.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003384%2F19810115&page=21 |title=Ian rewrites history |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=19 |date=15 January 1981 |access-date=19 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} He resigned in March 1982 with the team struggling and stated that "I always said I would go when we failed to progress".{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003754%2F19820304&page=40 |title=Wolstenholme quits |newspaper=Harlow Star |page=40 |date=4 March 1982 |access-date=8 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}}

Wolstenholme was appointed manager of Hitchin Town in December 1982{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003754%2F19821216&page=22 |title=Kitson signs |newspaper=Harlow Star |page=22 |date=16 December 1982 |access-date=8 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} and his first match in charge was a 3–2 defeat away to Tooting & Mitcham United on 11 December in an Isthmian League Premier Division match.{{cite web |url=https://fishpondersfactsandstats.info/players/wolstenholme%20ian.html |title=Ian Wolstenholme |website=Fishponders Stats |access-date=8 January 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://fishpondersfactsandstats.info/games/19821211%20tooting%20&%20mitcham%20united.html |title=Sat 11/Dec/1982 Servowarm Isthmian League |website=Fishponders Stats |access-date=8 January 2025}} Wolstenholme briefly came out of playing retirement late in the 1982–83 season to make three appearances for Hitchin, his debut being a 6–1 home defeat to Hendon on 2 April 1983.{{cite web |url=https://fishpondersfactsandstats.info/fixtures/fixtures%201980.html |title=Fixtures 1980–89 |website=Fishponders Stats |access-date=8 January 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://fishpondersfactsandstats.info/games/19830402%20hendon.html |title=Sat 02/Apr/1983 Servowarm Isthmian League |website=Fishponders Stats |access-date=8 January 2025}} Two days later, Wolstenholme played for Hitchin in the Herts Charity Cup final, in which his team lost 3–1 to one of his former clubs, Bishop's Stortford.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003385%2F19830407&page=55 |title=Blues in top cup gear |newspaper=Herts and Essex Observer |location=Bishop's Stortford |page=56 |date=7 April 1983 |access-date=8 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} His time with Hitchin came to a close at the end of the season. He would later serve as a coach at St Margaretsbury, working under manager Kelvin Hart, and during their time together the club won the 1992–93 Herts Senior Centenary Trophy.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003617%2F19930430&page=119 |title=The greatest moment in Saints 99 year history |first=Graham |last=Warwick |newspaper=Cheshunt and Waltham Mercury |page=119 |date=30 April 1993 |access-date=8 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}} Wolstenholme left the club in 1994 due to other commitments.{{cite web |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0003617%2F19940729&page=111 |title=Brown leaves Cheshunt for Boreham Wood |first=Graham |last=Warwick |newspaper=Cheshunt and Waltham Mercury |page=111 |date=29 July 1994 |access-date=8 January 2025 |url-access=subscription |via=Findmypast}}

Career statistics

=Player=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|FA Cup

!colspan="2"|League Cup

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="4"|York City

|1963–64{{cite web |url=https://www.enfa.co.uk/ |title=Player Details: Ian Wolstenholme |website=English National Football Archive |access-date=22 January 2025 |url-access=subscription}}

|Fourth Division

|2

00000colspan="2"|—20
1964–65

|Fourth Division

|0

00000colspan="2"|—00
1965–66

|Third Division

|0

0colspan="2"|—1{{efn|Appearance in Football League Cup}}0colspan="2"|—10
colspan="2"|Total

!2||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||3||0

rowspan="4"|Slough Town

|1970–71

|Athenian League Premier Division

|28

0902{{efn|name=ALC|Appearances in Athenian League Cup}}024{{efn|Ten appearances in Premier Midweek Floodlight League, six appearances in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup, eight appearances in FA Amateur Cup}}0630
1971–72

|Athenian League Premier Division

|24

0304{{efn|name=ALC}}020{{efn|Thirteen appearances in Premier Midweek Floodlight League, four appearances in FA Amateur Cup, three appearances in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup}}0510
1972–73

|Athenian League Premier Division

|30

0405{{efn|name=ALC}}017{{efn|Eight appearances in Premier Midweek Floodlight League, six appearances in FA Amateur Cup, three appearances in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup}}0560
colspan="2"|Total

!82||0||16||0||11||0||61||0||170||0

St Albans City

|1973–74

|Isthmian League Division One

|12

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—1{{efn|name=HCC|Appearance in Herts Charity Cup}}0130
Hitchin Town

|1982–83

|Isthmian League Premier Division

|2

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—1{{efn|name=HCC}}030
colspan="3"|Career total

!98||0||16||0||12||0||63||0||189||0

{{notelist}}

=Manager=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="5"|Record

{{abbr|P|Matches played}}{{abbr|W|Matches won}}{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
align="left"|Hitchin Town

|align="left"|11 December 1982{{efn|name=Dates|Dates of Wolstenholme's first and last matches as manager.}}

|align="left"|7 May 1983{{efn|name=Dates}}

{{WDL|30|6|8|16}}

colspan="3"|Total

{{WDLtot|30|6|8|16}}

{{notelist}}

Honours

=Player=

Enfield

Slough Town

=Manager=

Harlow Town

References