Kevin Holt Explained

Kevin Holt
Fullname:Kevin Holt
Birth Date:25 January 1993
Birth Place:Dumfries, Scotland
Height:[1] [2]
Position:Left-back, Centre Back
Currentclub:Dundee United
Clubnumber:4
Youthyears1:2010–11
Youthclubs1:Queen of the South
Years1:2011–2015
Clubs1:Queen of the South
Caps1:108
Goals1:5
Years2:2015–2018
Clubs2:Dundee
Caps2:95
Goals2:7
Years3:2018–2019
Clubs3:Pafos
Caps3:26
Goals3:0
Years4:2019–2020
Clubs4:Queen of the South
Caps4:27
Goals4:2
Years5:2020–2021
Clubs5:Ermis Aradippou
Caps5:27
Goals5:2
Years6:2021–2023
Clubs6:Partick Thistle
Caps6:59
Goals6:9
Club-Update:01:00, 4 April 2024 (UTC)
Clubs7:Dundee United
Caps7:30
Goals7:6
Years7:2023–

Kevin Holt (born 25 January 1993) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a left-back and also a centre-back for club Dundee United. Holt started his career with local side Queen of the South before playing for Dundee and Cypriot side Pafos, then returning to The Doonhamers. After another stint in Cyprus with Ermis Aradippou, Holt spent two seasons with Partick Thistle before signing with Dundee United.

Playing career

Queen of the South (First spell)

Holt joined Queen of the South in August 2010 and began playing for their Under-19 squad.[3] In June 2011, Holt was awarded the Jade Moore Memorial Trophy for being Queens under-19s player of the season.[4] Holt debuted for the first-team on 17 September 2011, appearing as a substitute in a 4–1 victory versus Greenock Morton in a Scottish First Division fixture replacing hat-trick scorer Kevin Smith.[5]

Holt made his first senior start on 12 November 2011, versus Partick Thistle in a goalless home draw.[5] Holt was sent off versus Dundee in December 2011 and this was his first ever dismissal.[5] Holt's debut in the Scottish Cup was in a 1–0 away win versus the Maryhill Magyars on 7 January 2012 with the goal scored by Dan Carmichael. This was Queens first win in the competition since their 4–3 semi-final win versus Aberdeen in 2008 at Hampden Park.[6] At the end of the 2011–12 season Queens were relegated to the Scottish Second Division but despite this Holt remained with the club, having signed a new contract in December 2011.[7] He scored 6 goals in 137 competitive QoS first team games.[8]

Dundee

In May 2015, Holt signed a pre-contract with Scottish Premiership club Dundee and the move was completed during the summer of 2015.[9] After three seasons with Dundee, Holt was released at the end of the 2017-18 season.[10] Holt scored 8 goals in 113 competitive first-team matches for the Dee.[8]

Pafos

On 9 June 2018, after being released by Dundee, Holt signed for Cypriot club Pafos.[11] Pafos ended their 22 matches in eighth position out of twelve clubs and entered the league's relegation section.[12]

Queen of the South (Second spell)

On 27 May 2019, Holt signed for Queen of the South for a second spell on a two-year contract.[13] The club announced Holt's departure from the club in September 2020.[14]

Ermis Aradippou

On 11 September 2020, Holt returned to Cyprus to sign for Ermis Aradippou.[15]

Partick Thistle

Holt signed a two-year deal with Scottish Championship club Partick Thistle in May 2021.[16] Holt scored his first goal for Thistle, heading in from a corner, in a 3-0 away win against Dunfermline.[17]

Holt finished the 2022–23 season having scored nine goals that season for Thistle, the highest return of his career in an individual season.[18]

During his second season with Thistle, Holt was part of the squad that made it to the Scottish Premiership promotion play off final, which Thistle eventually lost on penalties to Ross County, meaning the club remained in the Scottish Championship. Following this Holt left the club.[19]

Dundee United

In June 2023, Holt signed a one-year deal with Scottish Championship club Dundee United.[20]

Personal life

Kevin Holt is the son of the Dumfries born footballer Gordon Holt. Gordon played for Kello Rovers in the Scottish Junior ranks before turning professional when he played for Airdrieonians during the 1986-87 season and then for Stranraer during the 1987-88 season.[21]

In 2011, Holt was studying for a career in banking.[3]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Queen of the South2011–12Scottish First Division170200000190
2012–13Scottish Second Division28110304[22] 0361
2013–14Scottish Championship30130305[23] 1412
2014–1533330203[24] 0413
Total108590801211376
Dundee2015–16Scottish Premiership3424110393
2016–173731040423
2017–182422060322
Total95771110001138
Pafos2018–19Cypriot First Division26020280
Queen of the South2019–20Scottish Championship272104010332
Ermis Aradippou2020–21Cypriot First Division272100000282
Career total 2831620123013133918

Honours

Queen of the South

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kevin Holt . scottishfootballleague.com . . 15 December 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130224082415/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/player/kevin-holt/460863/ . 24 February 2013 .
  2. News: Squad Profiles . BBC Sport . British Broadcasting Corporation . 15 December 2012 . 19 April 2013 . https://archive.today/20130419165959/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/shared/bsp/hi/football/statistics/players/h/holt_460863.stm . dead .
  3. News: Kevin Holt Profile . qosfc.com . Queen of the South F.C.. 27 September 2011 .
  4. News: Queens under 19s awards . . Scottish & Universal Newspapers Limited . 8 June 2011 . 3 December 2011 .
  5. News: Holt stays on at Palmerston . https://archive.today/20130202034309/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/news/article/holt-stays-on-at-palmerston/ . dead . 2 February 2013 . scottishfootballleague.com . Scottish Football League . 28 December 2011 . 4 June 2012 .
  6. News: Partick Thistle 0 – 1 Queen of the South . qosfc.com . . 7 January 2012 . 8 January 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120119032932/http://www.qosfc.com/new_report.aspx?fixtureid=537 . 19 January 2012 .
  7. News: Queens' star man Robinson in no hurry to leave Palmerston . . Scottish & Universal Newspapers Limited . 11 May 2012 . 4 June 2012 . Holt signed for Steven Pressley's Cypriot First Division team, Pafos FC
  8. https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=58191 Kevin Holt on Soccerbase
  9. Web site: Dundee sign Queen of the South's Kevin Holt on a pre-contract. BBC Sport. 18 May 2015.
  10. Web site: Player update . Dundee FC . 16 May 2018 . 16 May 2018.
  11. Web site: Pafos move for former Dark Blues Defender . The Courier . 9 June 2018 . 9 June 2018.
  12. https://cyprus-mail.com/cyprus-football-highlights-2018-2019-2/ "CYPRUS FOOTBALL LEAGUE TABLE & HIGHLIGHTS 2018-2019" cyprus-mail.com
  13. Web site: QosFC: Holt Returns to Queens .
  14. Web site: 11 September 2020. Kevin Holt Departs. 11 September 2020. qosfc.com.
  15. Web site: 11 September 2020. Transfer News LIVE: 11 September 2020. 11 September 2020. Daily Record.
  16. Web site: Signing News: Kevin Holt pens two-year contract.
  17. News: Two wins from two for Partick Thistle. BBC Sport.
  18. https://twitter.com/thistlearchive/status/1662747917231308801?s=46&t=4F4JIh7SqgH4ETcXZ7u2Rg
  19. Web site: Trio leave Partick Thistle .
  20. Web site: KEVIN HOLT PENS TANNADICE DEAL . 2023-06-26 . Dundee United Football Club . en.
  21. http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player4/gordonholt.html
  22. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  23. Three appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup; two appearances and one goal in the Premiership play-offs
  24. One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Premiership play-offs