Paul Holmes, a former Everton and Birmingham City player, has died aged 56 following a battle with cancer.
Holmes was born in Stocksbridge and joined the Blues from Birmingham City in 1993, making 28 appearances. Everton have issued a statement expressing that everyone at the club “is deeply saddened” by Holmes’ death, while club ambassador Ian Snodin, who was one of his teammates at Goodison Park, said: “I knew Paul was unwell, but I am deeply shocked by his passing.”
“He was a great player and a pleasure to share a changing room with. He got along well with all of the guys and was disappointed not to play more games.”
Holmes made his debut with Everton title-winner Snodin on March 24, 1993, as the Blues defeated Ipswich Town 3-0 at home. Neville Southall, Matt Jackson, Andy Hinchcliffe, Dave Watson, and Paul Rideout, all members of the 1995 FA Cup-winning side, were also on the pitch that night. The right-back’s huge move to Goodison Park happened by coincidence, as manager Howard Kendall observed him playing for Birmingham City’s reserves while scouting another player.
In an article released earlier this season by the EFC Heritage Society, Steve Zocek reported Holmes as saying: “I played for Birmingham reserves and was later told to go into the office, where Terry Cooper informed me that Howard Kendall from Everton was on the phone. I thought this was a joke.
“I chatted with Howard on the phone, and he invited me to play in a reserve game, which was about it. The move was nerve-racking because all of the players were well-known. Everton is a large and fantastic club, and this was a significant step.”
Holmes, who played in a 2-0 Merseyside Derby victory over Liverpool on September 18, 1993, and came on as a substitute for his final Everton appearance in a goalless draw against Feyenoord on October 19, 1995, when a certain Ronald Koeman was in opposition for a European Cup-Winners’ Cup tie, spoke of his excitement about returning to Goodison Park in the same article. He said, “I had only seen Howard Kendall on television before we met. He was, and continues to be, a club legend, even after his death. I went to Everton; they liked me, and we signed shortly after. I did not need to be asked twice. I would have accepted whatever wages they provided. It was just great to be involved with a club like that.”
Following his time at Everton, Holmes played for West Bromwich Albion and Torquay United, and after his diagnosis, former Soccer AM presenter Helen Chamberlain, a Torquay United fan, supported a fundraising effort to buy him a larger television to watch during his treatment after he was unable to continue working in Torbay Hospital’s medical records department. She stated: “We’ve gone big; we want the best, biggest television. If we don’t meet the aim, we’ll get one within budget; if we go over, he can spend whatever he wants with the leftovers, which will most likely be sweets.”