Ian Wolstenholme

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Ian Wolstenholme
Personal information
Full name Ian Arthur Wolstenholme
Date of birth (1943-01-12) 12 January 1943 (age 82)
Place of birth Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1962–1963 St John's College (York)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1963–1965 York City 2 (0)
1965–1966 Sheffield
1966–1970 Enfield
1970–1973 Slough Town 82 (0)
1974 St Albans City 12 (0)
1975–1976 Bishop's Stortford
1977 Harlow Town
1983 Hitchin Town 2 (0)
Total98+(0+)
International career
1971 England amateur 2 (0)
Managerial career
1975–1976 Bishop's Stortford
1976–1982 Harlow Town
1982–1983 Hitchin Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.

Contents

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, [1] the son of Arthur. [2] Wolstenholme was raised in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, where he attended Abbeydale Boys' Grammar School. [3] 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. [4]

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. [5] [6] After finishing his studies, [3] 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. [7] He made his first-team debut on 6 April 1964 in a 3–1 home win over Darlington in a Fourth Division fixture. [5] He finished the 1963–64 season, in which York finished 22nd of 24 teams in the Fourth Division, with two appearances. [5] [8] Wolstenholme did not make any appearances in the 1964–65 season, [5] which saw York promoted to the Third Division after finishing third in the Fourth Division. [9] 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. [5]

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. [3] [5] 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. [10] Reg Whittaker, writing for The Star Green 'Un , speculated that this "must be a record". [10] Wolstenholme was part of the Sheffield team that finished third in the 1965–66 Yorkshire League Division Two and were promoted to Division One. [11] [12] 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, [13] an FA Colts XI against a South Yorkshire Amateur League XI in March, [14] and an England amateur XI in April in a trial match against a Combined Northern & Wearside Leagues XI. [15] [16] 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". [17]

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. [3] That year, Wolstenholme married. [3] [17] Wolstenholme had attracted interest from clubs in the Football League, but decided on Enfield to remaining playing as an amateur. [18] He made his debut in August in a 4–1 away win over Maidstone United. [17] 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. [19] [20] The replay was held a week later at Maine Road, which Enfield won 3–0, [19] with Wolstenholme again in goal. [21] He also helped Enfield win the London Senior Cup in the same season. [3] 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. [3] He won another Isthmian League title in the 1968–69 season, as well as the Middlesex Senior Cup. [3] Wolstenholme helped Enfield win the Amateur Cup again in the 1969–70 season, [7] when they beat Dagenham 5–1 in the final at Wembley on 4 April 1970. [22]

Wolstenholme signed for Slough Town in 1970, [5] and made his debut on 15 August in a 2–2 draw away to Tilbury in an Athenian League Premier Division match. [3] He was a regular starter in the Slough team, and finished the 1970–71 season with 63 appearances. [3] 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. [3] [23] 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. [15] He again played regularly for Slough in the 1971–72 season, making 51 appearances as the team went on to win four trophies. [3] [24] These included the Athenian League Premier Division title, the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup, the Athenian League Cup, and the Premier Midweek Floodlight League. [3] [24] [25] [26] 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. [3] [24] [27] 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. [28] Despite playing as a goalkeeper, [1] 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. [29] 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. [30] [31]

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. [32] 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. [33] [34] 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. [35] The team finished the 1974–75 Isthmian League Division One 11th of 22 teams, [36] which was followed by a 12th-place finish the following season. [37] He made occasional playing appearances for Stortford between and 1975 and 1976. [38] [39] He resigned as manager on 21 October 1976, and was succeeded by Terry Woodrow, who was part of Wolstenholme's coaching staff. [40] It was reported in the Herts and Essex Observer that his departure was "apparently over money for players". [41]

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. [42] 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. [43] Wolstenholme played himself in goal in a match in September 1977 when goalkeeper Paul Kitson was unavailable through injury. [44] Harlow were in a midtable position around halfway through the season in January 1978 having struggled with injuries, [45] and went on to finish the 1977–78 Isthmian League Division One in eighth place. [46] Wolstenholme led Harlow to the 1978–79 Isthmian League Division One championship, with the team securing the title with five matches left to play. [47] By winning the title, the club was promoted to the Premier Division. [47] 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. [48] 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. [49] 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. [50] The win over Leicester was described by Terry Smith in the Daily Mirror as the "FA Cup sensation of the season". [51] Harlow's run came to an end when being beaten 4–3 away by Watford in the fourth round. [52] They finished the 1979–80 Isthmian League Premier Division season in 11th place. [53] Harlow regularly had players unavailable through injury during the 1980–81 Isthmian League Premier Division season, [54] in which they were involved in a fight against relegation [55] before finishing 19th. [56] Wolstenholme also led Harlow to the second round of the FA Trophy for the first time this season. [57] He resigned in March 1982 with the team struggling and stated that "I always said I would go when we failed to progress". [58]

Wolstenholme was appointed manager of Hitchin Town in December 1982 [59] 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. [60] [61] Wolstenholme briefly came out of playing retirement late in the 1982–83 season to make three appearances for Hitchin, [60] his debut being a 6–1 home defeat to Hendon on 2 April 1983. [62] [63] 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. [64] His time with Hitchin came to a close at the end of the season. [60] [62] 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. [65] Wolstenholme left the club in 1994 due to other commitments. [66]

Career statistics

Player

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup League CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
York City 1963–64 [5] Fourth Division 200000—20
1964–65 [5] Fourth Division000000—00
1965–66 [5] Third Division 00—1 [a] 0—10
Total200010—30
Slough Town 1970–71 [3] Athenian League Premier Division280902 [b] 024 [c] 0630
1971–72 [3] Athenian League Premier Division240304 [b] 020 [d] 0510
1972–73 [3] Athenian League Premier Division300405 [b] 017 [e] 0560
Total8201601106101700
St Albans City 1973–74 [30] Isthmian League Division One120——1 [f] 0130
Hitchin Town 1982–83 [60] [62] Isthmian League Premier Division20——1 [f] 030
Career total9801601206301890
  1. ↑ Appearance in Football League Cup
  2. 1 2 3 Appearances in Athenian League Cup
  3. ↑ Ten appearances in Premier Midweek Floodlight League, six appearances in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup, eight appearances in FA Amateur Cup
  4. ↑ Thirteen appearances in Premier Midweek Floodlight League, four appearances in FA Amateur Cup, three appearances in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
  5. ↑ Eight appearances in Premier Midweek Floodlight League, six appearances in FA Amateur Cup, three appearances in Berks & Bucks Senior Cup
  6. 1 2 Appearance in Herts Charity Cup

Manager

Managerial record by team and tenure [60] [62]
TeamFromToRecord
PWDLWin %
Hitchin Town 11 December 1982 [a] 7 May 1983 [a] 306816020.00
Total306816020.00
  1. 1 2 Dates of Wolstenholme's first and last matches as manager.

Honours

Player

Enfield

Slough Town

Manager

Harlow Town

References

  1. 1 2 "Ian Wolstenholme". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  2. ↑ Pritchett, Tony (12 January 1980). "Harlow boss Ian should be manager of the month" . The Star Green 'Un. Sheffield. p. 6. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 "Ian Wolstenholme". Slough Town F.C. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "Connell banned: Swain back?" . Bucks Free Press. High Wycombe. 20 November 1970. p. 5. Retrieved 20 January 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Player Details: Ian Wolstenholme" . English National Football Archive. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  6. ↑ "Enfield have 'new' team" . Skelmersdale & Holland Reporter. 11 March 1970. p. 14. Retrieved 8 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  7. 1 2 3 Windross, Dave; Jarred, Martin (1997). Citizens and Minstermen: A Who's Who of York City FC 1922–1997. Selby: Citizen Publications. p. 114. ISBN   978-0-9531005-0-7.
  8. ↑ "1963–64: Football League". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "1964–65: Football League". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  10. 1 2 Whittaker, Reg (29 January 1966). "Saved three penalties out of four!" . The Star Green 'Un. Sheffield. p. 2. Retrieved 12 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  11. ↑ "Sheffield". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  12. ↑ Tomlinson, Bob (11 December 1965). "United keep up running" . South Yorkshire Times. Mexborough. p. 8. Retrieved 12 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  13. ↑ "W. Riding v. & S. & H." . The Star Green 'Un. Sheffield. 12 February 1966. p. 3. Retrieved 12 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  14. ↑ "Two local amateurs honoured" . The Star Green 'Un. Sheffield. 12 March 1966. p. 10. Retrieved 12 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  15. 1 2 "England Amateurs Match Results: 1962–1974". England Football Online. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "Mason in amateur party" . Coventry Evening Telegraph. 29 March 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 12 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  17. 1 2 3 Markie, Peter (27 August 1966). "Hurlfield teacher pays the penalty in debut for Enfield side" . The Star Green 'Un. Sheffield. p. 7. Retrieved 12 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  18. ↑ "Sheffield link" . The Star Green 'Un. Sheffield. 25 February 1967. p. 1. Retrieved 18 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  19. 1 2 "1966–67: F.A. Amateur Cup". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  20. ↑ Duthie, Shona (4 August 2016). "Enfield Town win commemorative friendly over Skelmersdale United". Enfield Independent. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  21. 1 2 "Hill's 2 for Enfield" . Sports Argus. Birmingham. 29 April 1967. p. 10. Retrieved 18 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  22. ↑ "1969–70: F.A. Amateur Cup". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  23. 1 2 "First Team Results 1970/71". Chairboys on the Net. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 "Slough Town FC Club Honours". Slough Town F.C. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  25. 1 2 "First Team Results 1971/72". Chairboys on the Net. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  26. 1 2 "Sport summary" . Daily Mirror. London. 13 May 1972. p. 31. Retrieved 12 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  27. 1 2 "Worthing shake Slough, but miss goal chances" . Worthing Gazette. 16 May 1973. p. 54. Retrieved 12 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  28. ↑ Comfort, John; Henning, Don (19 April 1973). "Connell's killer goal brings cup to Walton" . Esher News and Advertiser. p. 28. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  29. ↑ "Men from Slough" . Bracknell Times. 1 March 1973. p. 36. Retrieved 18 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  30. 1 2 "Ian Wolstenholme appearances: Season 1973–74 appearances". St Albans City Statistics. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  31. ↑ "Clapton 2–1 St Albans City". St Albans City Statistics. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  32. ↑ "Cup win is first task" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 14 February 1975. p. 44. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  33. ↑ "Injury-hit Blues end long bleak spell" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 13 March 1975. p. 41. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  34. ↑ "Isthmian League – North Division – Kingstonian 2–4 Bishop's Stortford – 1974–1975". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  35. ↑ "Stortford crash to classy Tooting" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 29 May 1975. p. 24. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  36. ↑ "1974–75: Isthmian League". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  37. ↑ "1975–76: Isthmian League". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  38. ↑ "Home debuts for Blues late signings" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 21 August 1975. p. 33. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  39. ↑ "Supermac settles it" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 12 February 1976. p. 36. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  40. ↑ "Wolstenholme quits and Woodrow takes over" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 28 October 1976. p. 44. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  41. ↑ "Go to it, Ian!" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 11 November 1976. p. 52. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  42. ↑ "Wolstenholme takes over" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 4 November 1976. p. 40. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  43. ↑ "1976–77: Isthmian League". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  44. ↑ "Manager took over in goal" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 29 September 1977. p. 53. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  45. ↑ Jones, Roy (26 January 1978). "The promotion race" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. p. 48. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  46. ↑ "1977–78: Isthmian League". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  47. 1 2 3 "Champions!" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 26 April 1979. p. 52. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  48. 1 2 "Double cup triumph" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 10 May 1979. p. 47. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  49. ↑ "Harlow Town". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  50. ↑ Weir, Luke (5 February 2022). "Harlow Town's stunning 1980 victory against Leicester City ranks in greatest FA Cup Third-Round giant killings". Essex Live. Local World. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  51. ↑ Smith, Terry (9 January 1980). "Harlow bombshell" . Daily Mirror. London. p. 28. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  52. ↑ Spurling, Jon (14 December 2006). "Harlow Town 1979–80". When Saturday Comes. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  53. ↑ "1979–80: Isthmian League". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  54. ↑ "New signing eases Town injury crisis" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 26 March 1981. p. 52. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  55. ↑ "Single goal sinks Town" . Harlow Star. 5 February 1981. p. 36. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  56. ↑ "1980–81: Isthmian League". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  57. ↑ "Ian rewrites history" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 15 January 1981. p. 19. Retrieved 19 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  58. ↑ "Wolstenholme quits" . Harlow Star. 4 March 1982. p. 40. Retrieved 8 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  59. ↑ "Kitson signs" . Harlow Star. 16 December 1982. p. 22. Retrieved 8 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  60. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ian Wolstenholme". Fishponders Stats. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  61. ↑ "Sat 11/Dec/1982 Servowarm Isthmian League". Fishponders Stats. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  62. 1 2 3 4 "Fixtures 1980–89". Fishponders Stats. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  63. ↑ "Sat 02/Apr/1983 Servowarm Isthmian League". Fishponders Stats. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  64. ↑ "Blues in top cup gear" . Herts and Essex Observer. Bishop's Stortford. 7 April 1983. p. 56. Retrieved 8 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  65. ↑ Warwick, Graham (30 April 1993). "The greatest moment in Saints 99 year history" . Cheshunt and Waltham Mercury. p. 119. Retrieved 8 January 2025– via Findmypast.
  66. ↑ Warwick, Graham (29 July 1994). "Brown leaves Cheshunt for Boreham Wood" . Cheshunt and Waltham Mercury. p. 111. Retrieved 8 January 2025– via Findmypast.
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