Mickleover bring in ex-Derby winger Holmes

FORMER Derby County winger Lee Holmes has joined Mickleover.

Holmes became the youngest player to appear for the Rams’ first team when he went on as a substitute in a 3-1 defeat to Grimsby Town on Boxing Day, 2002, aged only 15 years and 268 days.

That record was broken when Mason Bennett, aged 15 years, three months and seven days, played for the Rams against Middlesbrough on October 22, 2011.

Now Holmes, who was released by Exeter City at the end of his contract in July 2020, is on board at Mickleover, who sit mid-table in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division after six games.

They are also through to the FA Cup second qualifying round where they will face Basford United at home.

Mickleover chairman Don Amott said: “I’m a really good friend of (former Exeter City manager) Paul Tisdale and Matt Oakley, and I heard Lee had moved into the Mickleover area.

“We made contact and I put him in touch with John McGrath, our manager, and sorted a deal out which suits us and suits Lee.

“Lee loves the club, he’s been down to train a couple of times and he loves the atmosphere, how everybody is smiling, and he can almost walk to training.

“He just needs to get match fit. He’s fit but he wants a couple of weeks to build it up and he’ll be away.

“We bring young lads through all the time and it’s lovely to have one or two older heads on the pitch to help them.”

Holmes made 46 appearances for Derby after his teenage debut.

His career has also featured spells at Southampton, Preston North End and Swindon Town, where he was part of a League Two title-winning squad and was voted player of the year.

He finished his professional career at Exeter, where he made more than 100 appearances for the Grecians.

Holmes has been capped by England at Under 16, 17 and 19 level and his Mickleover debut is expected in the next few weeks.