Imagine the surprise of the West Cumberland Sunday League secretary when he was asked to register a former Premier League star!
Neil McCrickerd was approached by FC Butcher’s to add Grant Holt to their players’ list.
Carlisle-born Holt is based in Norwich, one of his previous clubs, but was coming home for the weekend.
It appears he is friendly with Dean Scholey, the Carlisle United kitman who had persuaded him to have a run-out with Butcher’s at the weekend.
Unfortunately their big clash with reigning Workington Sunday League champions Northside was called-off because of the freezing weather.
“It was a bit of a surprise,” said Neil when Butcher’s asked about adding Holt to their register. “But it would certainly have been a feather in the cap of the League in our first season.”
Whether Holt, 42, will be able to fit-in a future visit home with a run-out for Butcher’s remains to be seen.
Holt had a wonderful career, playing for numerous top clubs and he made over 611 first team appearances, scoring 208 goals.
He had started with local side Northbank in Carlisle before figuring for Workington Reds when they won the North Western Trains League title in 1999.
As it happened three games did go ahead in the Sunday League with wins for Parkside, Dearham and Flimby.
Parkside were 5-2 winners over Lowca Pirates thanks to a hat-trick from Leigh Dunn along with goals from Ryan Maguire and Adam Smith.
Daniel Coulter and Kian Goulding replied for Lowca.
Dearham went one better as they won 6-1 at Senhouse Street with strikes from Attlee Skillen (2), Aaron Lister (2), Kyah Frazer and Lewis Manchester.
Tightest game was at Flimby where the home side beat Seaton 2-0 with goals from Scott Underwood and Lee Birks.
