Famous Family With A Surprising Tale To Tell

Wolves Past Of Late Keeper

By Chris Westcott

Bill Hollins….keeper with a Molineux link.

Here’s a question for you: Which two brothers played for different international sides? And a supplementary: What is the connection with Wolves?

Answer: John and Dave Hollins, who were born into a football family. And the Molineux link? Their father, William, had a spell as a goalkeeper at Wolves in the late 1920s.

His stay in these parts is referenced by a mention for him below among the huge playing staff at Major Frank Buckley’s disposal in 1929-30.

Hollins Snr, better known as Bill, also had a spell with Stoke but was living in Bangor and playing for Bangor City when Dave was born in 1938.

By the time John arrived in 1946, the Hollins family had moved to Guildford and John spent the majority of his career in London with Chelsea, QPR and Arsenal.

By contrast, Dave, who started at Brighton, headed to Newcastle in 1960 for what was the sizeable fee (in those days) of £11,000.

He faced Wolves several times during his six-year stint in the north-east and won 11 caps for Wales between 1962 and 1966, including a notable debut against Brazil in the Maracana Stadium. He went on at half-time in the friendly after Jack Kelsey was injured.

John had the more decorated club career, largely because of his trophy-winning years with Chelsea, but played just once at senior international level – that was for England at the age of 20 in a 1967 friendly against Spain.

In addition, Bill’s eldest son, Roy, signed professional terms with Brighton but his career was cut short by a serious cartilage injury. Oh, and there’s a fourth son…..Anthony. Naturally enough. he also played football…..for Farncombe United in the Surrey Senior League.

Dave is now 86 and living in my viccinity just outside Brighton. A delightful book by Spencer Vignes, published a couple of years ago, told the tale of his lasting association with Eric Gill, the goalkeeper he understudied for five years at the Goldstone Ground.

Dave Hollins proudly showing off his Welsh caps.

Eric & Dave, A Lifetime of Football and Friendship (by Pitch Publishing) touches on another sport. By a happy coincidence, Dave is now a very proficient bowls player and regularly tests his skills against none other than Eric Gill, who is 94. Is it the sea air, the bowling and/or being a goalkeeper that aids longevity?

So the Hollins family have surely given us a unique record – the tale of a Wolves keeper with three professional footballing sons. Unless anyone can match that, of course….

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