Spring 2020Interview with John Holder

John Holder’s professional cricket career spanned from 1966-2010 as both bowler and umpire. He was the first black umpire in the country, one of the first neutral umpires to oversee a Pakistan and India match, and is an expert on the laws of cricket.

The fifth of six children, John was born in Barbados in 1945. He began playing cricket as a young boy after his father taught him and his siblings. Playing the popular sport at every opportunity, John went on to bowl for his high school, Combermere, where he honed his cricketing skills.

“Cricket was a big game in Barbados. All six of us played at every opportunity we got, and my aunt played as well,” John recalls, smiling at the memory as we sit at his home in Rochdale, where he lives with his wife, Glenda.

In 1964, John came to England, working for London Transport after a drive to recruit one hundred conductors, guards and station-men each month to the UK.

Set on playing professional cricket, John’s career began when he began to bowl for Hampshire in 1966, playing 47 first-class matches between 1968 and 1972. Moving to the North West in 1974, John also played professionally for Royton in the 1970s before moving to Norden.

Once able to bowl at 90 miles per hour, John retired from bowling after a back injury in 1982, becoming a first-class umpire in the following year, and officiating his first test-match in 1988.

“I missed first class cricket, so I returned as an umpire. I loved umpiring; it was hugely satisfying and enjoyable. I was away from home a lot because I travelled all over.”

John’s first international match as an umpire was a test between England and Sri Lanka at Lord’s in 1988. In 1989, he umpired four test matches between Pakistan and India, a neutral umpire so that neither side could be accused of cheating.

He went on to officiate in 11 Tests and 19 one-day internationals, the last of which came in 2001.

“I’m a cricket fanatic, and the umpire has the best seat in the house. I love all the little ploys that the bowlers use, the skill of the batsmen and their mental ability to score runs; I love to see that battle! I very much enjoyed being part of the entertainment and having a big sway in what happens,” he laughs.

In 2008, John became responsible for monitoring and improving the performances of umpires as the ICC’s regional umpires’ performance manager for the Americas and Europe.

After retiring from the sport, John became involved with the local Rotary International club, one of the world’s largest and most successful global membership and humanitarian service organisations, going on to serve as president for the Rotary Club of Rochdale in 2016/17.

In 2012, John suggested staging an annual cricket dinner for charity, one of the most notable events in the Rotary Club of Rochdale’s calendar alongside the classic car show, another of John’s ideas.

Funds raised from the cricket dinners go towards coaching local young cricketers.

Speaking about the introduction of the Classic Car Show, John said: “I thought If Hebden Bridge can do it, why can’t we? Mike [Tompkinson, organiser and fellow Rotarian] owned his own classic car and is a real enthusiast. We’ve so far held two very successful events at Hollingworth Lake.”

The first Classic Car Show was held in 2017, and will return in  July 2020 at a new venue, Falinge Park.

“We’ve been able to give money to some good causes and be involved in a lot of fun and enjoyable projects,” John adds. 

In 2016, John received a Golden Jubilee medal marking the 50th anniversary of Barbados’ independence in 1966 at a special gala dinner at London’s Savoy Hotel. The medals were given to recognise 50 people who made a significant difference in Anglo-Barbadian relations, and for excelling in their field of employment.

John’s biography ‘Test of Character’ was written the same year by his friend, and fellow cricketer, batsman Andrew Murtagh.

Just a couple of years later, John would put his name to another book, this time helping solve tricky cricketing conundrums with ‘You Are the Umpire’, illustrated by sports artist Paul Trevillion, who had previously created artwork for ‘You Are the Ref’. Both books highlight difficult, or unusual decisions, which have to be made in the individual sports.

“With all the euphoria from the Ashes in 2008 and 2009, it was thought a similar book about cricket would sell, so I provided the answers to questions sent in by the public, whilst Paul sketched the artwork,” explains John.

And even last year, John was presented with the 2019 award for outstanding services to cricket by the Cricket Society – a “very pleasant surprise,” he states, modestly.