Player Profile

Bobby Holmes Date of Birth: 25 July 1932 Birthplace: Coatbridge First Match: 14/08/1954 v Motherwell, League Cup First Goal: 18/08/1954 v Raith Rovers League Cup Last Match: 14/03/1959 v Dunfermline Athletic Scottish Cup Total Appearances: 116 Total Goals: 38

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Bobby Holmes was surely one of the finest yet unluckiest players ever to wear the black and white.

His footballing career started in the amateur leagues with Lochend Rovers and progressed to Campsie Black watch and then onto Kilsyth Rangers in the junior league. Whilst at Kilsyth he won a junior cap against the Republic of Ireland.

He signed for St.Mirren during the 1953-54 season but remained at Kilsyth, helping them to every junior honour except the Scottish Cup.

He made his Saints debut at inside-left in a 4-4 League Cup draw against Motherwell at home on 14th August 1954 and it was not long before spectators were drooling over his tough tackling, his deadly shooting and excellent distribution.

It was not long before the fans saw his scoring ability as in his second game for Saints he netted in a 2-2 draw at Raith Rovers. His second goal followed quickly in the next match against Kilmarnock.

 Bobby was a regular that season, scoring 4 league goals.

Although he was recognised as a centre half or left half, he could also play up front and did so with some success during the following season, 1955-56. He netted 19 goals during the league and cup campaigns, making him Saints top scorer. He claimed three hat-tricks, two against Airdrie and the other against Third Lanark.

His most notable goal came at Hampden Park in the League Cup final. Unfortunately this strike could not prevent Aberdeen winning 2-1.

This form was to continue into 1956-57 with Bobby claiming 12 goals and a call up to the Scottish league side to play the English league. Full international honours were seen as the next step for Bobby and he was tipped to take a place in the Scottish World Cup squad for 1958. Unfortunately during training at Love Street in April 1957 He sustained a bad leg break and this was to signal the beginning of the end for his career.

He didn't play at all in 57/58 and only managed a couple of league appearances in the cup winning season of 58/59.
He did play in the 10-0 win over Peebles Rovers at the start of the Scottish Cup run, claiming a couple of goals, and also played in the Quarter Final 2-1 win over Dunfermline, which was his last competitive game for Saints.

He made a comeback in the reserve side but unfortunately could not regain full fitness and was never the player he was before his injury.

On the 7th March 1960, local papers carried the story that Bobby Holmes had made the agonising decision to quit the game following medical advice.

After his playing days ended he took up physiotherapy and gained a post at Albion Rovers before spending a few years at Dumbarton. In 1984 he got the chance to return to Love Street. He was Saints physio until 1990. Highlight of this period was being a part of the 1987 Scottish Cup winning campaign. After Love Street he joined Motherwell and was at Hampden again in 1991 as Motherwell won the cup.

In his time at Love Street he played in 116 competitive games and scored 38goals, placing him in 23rd position on the Saints post war scorings chart. A pretty good scoring ratio for a player who played most games in the half back line! Add to this all of the goals he created from the middle of the park and his worth to Saints is obvious. His loss to the game at a young age and just as he was about to realise his full potential was one of the great tragedies in St.Mirren’s history.