By Jon Spurling
When footballers play for a number of London golf equipment all through their careers, they hardly ever acquire real and lasting respect from all the respective groups’ supporters. Assume William Gallas as an example. However the effervescent John Hollins, who turned out for Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers after which Arsenal between 1979 and 1983, proved to be a welcome exception to the rule. ‘I turned up at Highbury aged 33,’ he recalled, ‘which in these days was virtually geriatric territory.’ At 36, he gained the Arsenal Supporters Membership participant of the season (1981-82) award, which he described as being ‘as a lot of an honour because the medals I gained with Chelsea.’
A complete – hearted midfielder with Chelsea between 1963 and 1975, Hollins hardly ever missed a sport at Stamford Bridge all through his twelve 12 months Blues profession, as Chelsea gained the FA Cup towards Leeds United in 1970 and the Cup Winners Cup in 1971 after a replay with Actual Madrid. Hollins departed Chelsea after their relegation from Division One in 1975, after which put pen to paper for QPR, the place he was a key element of a facet which was pipped on the publish for the league title by Liverpool in 1976.
Some doubted the knowledge of manger Terry Neill spending £75,000 on Hollins throughout the shut season after Arsenal had gained the FA Cup. ‘Initially, Terry informed me that he wanted me as cowl for a season,’ Hollins stated, ‘however I ended up staying for 4 years, and performed 164 instances, a lot to the shock of each of us.’ I used to be lucky to interview ‘Holly’ – as his Gunners staff mates known as him – on a number of events down the years, often as Arsenal ready to play Chelsea. ‘Ah – I used to be questioning while you’d name,’ he laughed after I phoned him within the lead as much as the 2017 FA Cup Ultimate between the 2 golf equipment. Softly spoken, and with out a dangerous phrase to say about anybody, Hollins was nonetheless razor sharp in his observations of his 4 years at N5.
‘After I arrived, Liam Brady had already handed in his discover, so to talk. He’d be going on the finish of the 79-80 season. There was an odd temper across the place, regardless of the very fact Arsenal had simply gained the FA Cup,’ Hollins stated. He recalled going buying the day after he put pen to paper for the Gunners and bumping into an Arsenal fan who informed him: ‘Welcome to the membership John, however you’re not precisely a bloody spring hen, are you? I might see what he meant. Arsenal had been linked with Johann Neeskens – the Dutch star – however as a substitute they received an previous crock like me.’ Hollins realised he must show himself to Arsenal followers, and that many supporters would at all times see him as a ‘blue.’
‘I wasn’t certain that I’d really get a lot enjoying time, and was just a little nervous, to be sincere,’ he admitted. He needn’t have been. Arsenal’s breathless 79-80 marketing campaign, by which they performed a (then) file breaking 70 matches, meant that Hollins appeared in round half of the Gunners’ video games, with a number of cameo roles from the bench thrown in. He shortly endeared himself to his new staff mates together with his dedication to coaching, and his relentlessly upbeat nature. ‘John might make you assume the solar was shining on a horrible gray and wet day,’ former Arsenal defender Willie Younger recalled. His positivity can be wanted within the years that adopted.
Hollins’ reminiscences of the marketing campaign remained vivid. ‘I performed within the 7-0 thrashing of Leeds within the league Cup, which was an astonishing night time, as all our assaults appeared to finish in a purpose. I keep in mind the genius of Liam Brady, swerving and manouevring his well past defenders together with his magic left foot. And I additionally recall consuming hen soup in East Germany once we went behind the Iron Curtain and performed Magdeburg within the Cup Winners Cup. It nonetheless had the feathers on. East German meals wasn’t the very best….’ Hollins missed the reduce for the FA Cup Ultimate towards West Ham, however got here on as substitute for David Value 4 days later within the Cup Winners Cup Ultimate towards Valencia.
The crushing disappointment because the Gunners misplaced their second last within the house of 4 days was all consuming: ‘Gamers have been on their knees, or strolling spherical in a daze. Nobody stated a phrase afterwards. The lengthy season had caught up with us.’ Following Brady’s departure to Juventus throughout the shut season, Hollins adopted the Irishman’s quantity 7 shirt (‘a poisoned chalice if ever there was one!’), and sometimes bore the brunt of the group’s frustrations. It was hardly a disastrous marketing campaign – Arsenal completed third within the league to qualify for the UEFA Cup – however early cup exits meant that the group vented its disappointment that Brady wasn’t adequately changed. ‘I couldn’t blame the Arsenal followers one bit for sounding off at us. They missed their hero and the staff’s artistic maestro,’ he stated.
Within the second half of the 81-82 marketing campaign, Hollins started to fill in at proper again after John Devine fell out of favour, and have become a agency favorite with the group as he put in energetic and sterling performances which might have been a credit score to footballers half his age. ‘Arsenal followers like transformed gamers, who give it a go in a distinct place. Assume Lauren – who was a midfielder however ended up as an amazing full again. It exhibits guts and dedication,’ he stated. Hollins’ reward was that Supporters Membership participant of the 12 months trophy.
Now underneath strain, following the sale of Frank Stapleton to Manchester United in 1981, Terry Neill appointed Hollins captain for the 82-83 marketing campaign. Arsenal laboured in tenth within the league, and Hollins was current and proper as Arsenal fell within the League Cup and FA Cup Semi Finals to Manchester United. ‘It was a disappointing time,’ he recalled. ‘The membership didn’t construct on the cup success in ’79, allowed its two star gamers (Brady and Stapleton) to depart, and the children who got here in, like Paul Davis and Stewart Robson, struggled with the strain of every part. Arsenal misplaced their route.’
A comfort was that Hollins grew to become one among a choose group of gamers to put on the well-known inexperienced and blue away equipment. Ever tactful, Hollins described it as ‘a artistic early ‘80s masterpiece.’
Since Hollins’ passing final week, Arsenal followers have paid tribute to his courtesy and persistence with supporters, whether or not it was signing autographs, or spending time with sick youngsters throughout Arsenal gamers’ visits to hospitals at Christmas. ‘That a part of being a participant was important. Footballers ought to at all times look past their gilded cages and be humble. The sport is nothing with out followers,’ Hollins stated.
He departed for Stamford Bridge as soon as extra in 1983, initially as a participant however then grew to become Blues supervisor after Chelsea have been promoted again to Division One for the 1984-85 marketing campaign. ‘I used to be a Chelsea man, however once I seemed on the marble halls and the historic East and West stands, I shortly received what it meant to play for Arsenal, and I believe the Arsenal followers received me,’ he stated.
We did.
Thanks John.
John Hollins 16 July 1946 – 14 June 2023
