Robert Holmes

Holmes was the longest–serving survivor of the Preston North End team known as the 'Invincibles' when he died aged 88 in November 1955. His first club was Preston Olympic from 1883. There is no clear record of when he signed for Preston North End. Season 1887–88 was when he came to prominence. He played wing–half in the 1888 FA Cup Final played on 24 March 1888 at Kennington Oval against West Bromwich Albion. Preston North End lost 2–1. In the following month, Holmes made his international debut for England, on 7 April 1888 against Ireland. England won 5–1 at the Ulster Cricket Ground. Holmes made his League debut on 8 September 1888 at full-back for Preston North End against Burnley at Preston North End's Deepdale ground. Preston won 5–2. When he played as a full–back against Burnley on 8 September 1888 he was 21 years 77 days old; which made him, on the first weekend of League football, Preston North End's youngest player. Holmes played all of Preston's 22 League Championship matches and played in a defence-line that achieved 13 clean-sheets and restricted the opposition to one–League–goal–in–a–match on three separate occasions. He appeared in all five FA Cup ties of season 1888–89 and even scored in an earlier round. He played left–back in the 1889 FA Cup Final which Preston North End won 3–0, defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers thereby achieving the first–ever League and FA Cup double in the first season it could be won. Holmes won League Championship and FA Cup winners…

Holmes accidentally fell and broke his thigh in 1955. He died of his injury at Preston Royal Infirmary.