Holley had already scored more than any of his teammates would in the whole league campaign, but could he build on it?
Sunderland’s top scorer for the 1911/1912 season was George Holley, even though the local boy and fan favourite had endured an unfortunate drought in the build up to Christmas.
After five goals in the first four games quickly became ten in nine by October, the Seaham-born inside forward then went six weeks without scoring again — albeit injury worries meant he wasn’t at 100% during the run and so was having to come in and out of the side during that period.
Nevertheless, having made such a blistering start, Holley was pleased to then get back into the groove when he scored Sunderland’s first goal in a 3-2 win against West Bromwich Albion in early December, and with Preston North End next up on Wearside, he was keen to continue his recovery. It wasn’t the only reason he wanted to impress either, for in the absence of Charlie Thomson, he’d been named captain for the afternoon and sought to lead by example.
Thomson had taken a knee to the back against the Baggies and with an egg-sized lump forming where he’d been hit, he required treatment at both half time and full time. A cab was then arranged to take him home, and whilst the inflammation had settled down since then, it was still too early for him to make a return to action.
Winning the toss on a heavy pitch, the temporary skipper was happy for the visitors to take the kick-off at 14:11 and whilst Preston were bright in the first few minutes, it wasn’t long before Holley and his teammates began making inroads — only for their progress to be halted for a short while when a small dog found its way onto the pitch and play had to be suspended for a period.
Building momentum back up after the incident didn’t take long however, with John Young — a debutant seven days prior and whom often went by the name of “Jack” — soon feeding Holley for the opener.
A slip by goalkeeper Herbert Taylor as he rushed out to try and narrow the angle helped matters, yet Holley still needed to show composure to finish the chance whilst Taylor soon redeemed himself by hanging onto a vicious shot from Arthur Bridgett before blocking an equally powerful Franis Cuggy drive.
Next came an almighty goalmouth scramble as Preston eventually hacked clear, and with the pressure being steadily maintained, it took them over half an hour before they were able to break out and give Walter Scott anything to do in the home goal.
Even then though his workload was minimal, and at half time the Lilywhites were grateful to still just about be in the game given how hard they’d been pushed up to that point.
The pattern also continued once ends had been switched, with Preston unable to do much more than frustrate the Lads, and on the rare occasion they were able to get any meaningful possession higher up the pitch, Sunderland mirrored their firm defensive work.
John Thompson — a former Lads player who’d left Roker the year before — was one of the few attacking players able to test home full back Billy Troughear, whereas the hosts had a number of different threats and could sustain longer periods on the front foot.
There was little surprise, therefore, when Holley looked to have clinched things with his second goal twenty five minutes from time. Receiving the ball from Charlie Buchan this time, he placed a low shot beyond Taylor to make it 2-0, and with the game now well and truly up Preston began to show their frustration, with David Anderson having to be pulled away by the referee having found himself at loggerheads with Cuggy.
There was then further displeasure shown when from a rare corner against, Sunderland upfield with Young, with the ball being tucked away by Jackie Mordue from a tight angle.
Having forged a chance for himself, a rare misfire meant Holley missed out on a hat trick, but it mattered little; he’d by now rediscovered his knack and whilst his remaining strikes were to come in more fitful spells, he finished his Division One season with twenty five goals in just thirty two appearances.
Saturday 16 December 1911
Football League Division One
Roker Park
Attendance: 10,000
Sunderland 3 (Holley 11’, 65’, Mordue 77’)
Preston North End 0
Sunderland: Scott, Troughear, Milton; Tait, Cuggy, Forster; Mordue, Buchan, Young; Holley, Bridgett
Category: General Sports
