Darren Holden (born 27 August 1993) is an English-South African professional footballer who plays for Mossley,[4] as a defender.
 Holden with Hartlepool United in 2012 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Darren Holden[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 27 August 1993[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Krugersdorp, South Africa | ||
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Left back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Mossley | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Hartlepool United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2015 | Hartlepool United | 58 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Ross County | 0 | (0) |
| 2016 | Gateshead | 7 | (0) |
| 2016 | Jarrow Roofing | 3 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | South Shields | 10 | (0) |
| 2017 | West Auckland Town | ||
| 2017–2018 | Guiseley | 18 | (0) |
| 2018–2022 | Consett | 133 | (11) |
| 2022–2023 | Clitheroe | 37 | (0) |
| 2023– | Mossley | 20 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:25, 29 April 2024 (UTC) | |||
Career
Born in Krugersdorp, South Africa,[2] Holden made his senior debut for English club Hartlepool United in April 2011 in a 1–1 draw, with other debutants Andy Rafferty and Josh Rowbotham, against Tranmere Rovers.[5]
After being a regular for the reserve and youth side, Holden was handed a professional deal with Hartlepool in April 2012.[6]
Holden was rewarded with a new contract in December 2012 to keep him at Victoria Park.[7] He went on to make 17 league appearances in the 2012–13 season which saw him challenging to keep the experienced left-back Evan Horwood out of the first-team.[8]
Holden became a regular in the second half of the 2013–14 season after an injury to Neil Austin, which led to him starting in Pools' final twenty games of the season. In May 2014, Holden signed a new contract with Hartlepool.[9]
He signed for Scottish club Ross County in June 2015,[10] making his debut on 25 August in a 2–0 Scottish League Cup victory over Ayr United.[11] He scored his first senior goal in a 7–0 Scottish League Cup win over Falkirk on 22 September.[12]
On 5 February 2016, Holden signed for National League side Gateshead.[13] He made his debut on 13 February as a substitute in a 0–4 defeat to Dover Athletic.[14] He made a further six appearances before being released at the end of the season.[15]
After a spell with Jarrow Roofing, he signed for South Shields in November 2016.[16] He then played with West Auckland Town before moving to National League side Guiseley in 2017.[3]
Following their relegation to the National League North, Holden was released from Guiseley and signed for Consett in 2018.[4] After making 44 appearances in his first season with Consett, Holden signed a new contract to keep him with the club for a further year.[17] He made a total of 133 appearances for Consett, scoring eleven times and also played for the club at Wembley Stadium in their 2020 FA Vase Final defeat.[18]
On 12 October 2022, he signed for Northern Premier League Division One West side Clitheroe, making his debut against Bootle[19] in a 4-0 win.[20]
In December 2023, Holden signed for fellow Northern Premier League Division One West side Mossley.[21]
Style of play
Holden is an attacking-minded left-back known for his long throws, fast pace,[5] and having a strong left foot.[7]
Career statistics
- As of match played 16 June 2018
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hartlepool United | 2010–11[22] | League One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011–12[23] | League One | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2012–13[24] | League One | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| 2013–14[25] | League Two | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| 2014–15[26] | League Two | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Total | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 61 | 0 | ||
| Ross County | 2015–16[27] | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | |
| Gateshead | 2015–16[2] | National League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Guiseley | 2017–18[2] | National League | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Career total | 83 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 91 | 1 | ||
Honours
South Shields