Paul Holmes (footballer)

{{Short description|English footballer (1968–2024)}}

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

{{Use British English|date=September 2024}}

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Paul Holmes

|image =

|caption =

|full_name = Paul Holmes

|birth_date = {{birth date|1968|2|18|df=y}}

|birth_place = Stocksbridge, England

|death_date = {{death date and age|2024|5|7|1968|2|18|df=y}}

|death_place = Torquay, England

|height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=3580 |title=Paul Holmes |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=1 January 2012}}

|position = Right back

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 =

|years1 = 1986–1988 |clubs1 = Doncaster Rovers |caps1 = 47 |goals1 = 1

|years2 = 1988–1992 |clubs2 = Torquay United |caps2 = 138 |goals2 = 4

|years3 = 1992–1993 |clubs3 = Birmingham City |caps3 = 12 |goals3 = 0

|years4 = 1993–1996 |clubs4 = Everton |caps4 = 21 |goals4 = 0

|years5 = 1996 |clubs5 = → West Bromwich Albion (loan) |caps5 = 4 |goals5 = 0

|years6 = 1996–1999 |clubs6 = West Bromwich Albion{{efn|The English National Football Archive confirms that Holmes made four league appearances (and one in the Anglo-Italian Cup) before his transfer was made permanent on 15 February 1996.{{cite web |url=https://www.enfa.co.uk/playersearch.php |title=Player search: Holmes, P (Paul) |website=English National Football Archive |access-date=30 September 2024 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/top-premiership-clubs-reject-tv-deals-1319301.html |title=Top Premiership clubs reject TV deals |first=Guy |last=Hodgson |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=16 February 1996 |access-date=30 September 2024}}}} |caps6 = 99 |goals6 = 1

|years7 = 1999–2003 |clubs7 = Torquay United |caps7 = 87 |goals7 = 2

|totalcaps = 408

|totalgoals = 8

}}

Paul Holmes (18 February 1968 – 7 May 2024) was an English professional footballer who played as a right back. He made more than 400 appearances in the Football League and Premier League playing for Doncaster Rovers, Torquay United, Birmingham City, Everton and West Bromwich Albion.{{cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/paulholmes.html |title=Paul Holmes |website=UK A–Z Transfers |publisher=Neil Brown |accessdate=1 January 2012}} His father, Albert Holmes, played football for Chesterfield.{{cite web |url=http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/PastPlayersDetail/0,,10435~78591,00.html |title=Albert Holmes |publisher=Chesterfield F.C. |date=2 December 2007 |access-date=28 April 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329032426/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/PastPlayersDetail/0,,10435~78591,00.html |archivedate=29 March 2012}} Holmes died aged 56 at Rowcroft Hospice, Torquay, on 7 May 2024, after being diagnosed with cancer in 2023.{{cite web |title=United mourn the passing of Paul Holmes |url=https://torquayunited.com/united-mourn-the-passing-of-paul-holmes/ |publisher=Torquay United F.C. |date=8 May 2024 |access-date=9 May 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://rowcrofthospice.org.uk/family-of-ex-gulls-star-paul-gives-heartfelt-thanks-to-hospice/ |title=Family of ex-Gulls star Paul gives heartfelt thanks to hospice |publisher=Rowcroft Hospice |date=13 May 2024 |access-date=30 September 2024}}