Jimmy Holland (right) with the late George Bray, Arthur Bellamy and Brian Miller during the Sherpa Van Northen Final win at Deepdale in 1988
Jimmy became almost part of the Turf Moor furniture after replacing Billy Dougall as physio in the 1960s and he carried out that role until his retirement at the end of the 1992/93 season after which he was replaced by Mark Leather. His service to the club was rewarded with a testimonial game against Oldham.
Harry Potts was manager when Jimmy first joined the staff at Turf Moor and he worked for no fewer than ten different managers, the last of them being Jimmy Mullen. For the early part of his time at Turf Moor the supporters hardly saw him, the treatment of players on the pitch was carried out by the trainer and Jimmy was a man in a white coat that was spotted on the occasional photograph.
That all changed in 1979, following Brian Miller's appointment as manager. Brian had been carrying out match day duties under manager Harry Potts but when he stepped up it was physio Jimmy who took over the on field treatment.
I've never been so sure why, his job was to run on and treat the players and then leave the field again, but he became something of a cult figure with the fans and his every move was greeted with chants of ‘There's only one Jimmy Holland', more so as he walked back round the pitch perimeter on his way back to the dug out.
He loved it, and always responded, and the decision to grant him that testimonial was unanimously supported. He never really left the Turf though, as a supporter he would be there on match days as a succession of physiotherapists stepped into his shoes, the most recent being current physio Andy Mitchell.
His sudden death has come as a shock; it was only a couple of weeks since I last saw him shopping in town. My thoughts, and I'm sure those of everyone with an interest in Burnley Football Club, will be with Jimmy's daugher Kath, her husband Kev and Jimmy's grandchildren Adam and Emma at this very sad time.
