James Holland (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = James Holland
fullname = James Robert Holland


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1989|05|15
cityofbirth = Sydney
countryofbirth = Australia
height = height|m=1.80
currentclub = Newcastle United Jets
clubnumber = 5
position = Attacking Midfielder
youthyears = 2005–2006
2006
youthclubs = NSWIS
AIS
years = 2007–"present"
clubs = Newcastle Jets
caps(goals) = 12 (3)
nationalyears = 2007–"present"
2008
2008–
nationalteam = Australia U-20
Australia U-23
Australia
nationalcaps(goals) = 8 (3)
2 (0)
3 (0)
pcupdate = 19 September 2008
ntupdate = 11:06, 22 June 2008 (UTC)

James Holland (born May 15 1989 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) is a professional football (soccer) player who plays for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League.

Club career

Holland captained the NSW Under-16 side at the 2005 Qantas National Talent Identification Championships in Parklea, a tournament the NSW team ultimately won. He was a 2007 AIS Football scholarship holder and was an influential player in their successful campaign in the Victorian Premier League.

Holland made an impressive A-League debut with the Newcastle Jets playing two games as a short term injury replacement player. He scored a goal against Wellington Phoenix in his first game, making him the youngest player to score in the A-League. [cite news |url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=19733 |title=Holland could hang around |first=Dom |last=Brock |publisher=A-League |date=2007-10-15 |accessdate=2008-05-19 ]

In October 2007 he signed a full time 2 year professional contract with the Newcastle Jets, despite interest from his home town club and Newcastle's rivals the Central Coast Mariners. [cite news |url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/63147,jet-top-gun-was-almost-a-mariner.aspx |title=Jet Top Gun Was Almost A Mariner |first=Jon |last=Ritson |date=2007-10-16 |accessdate=2008-05-19 |publisher=FourFourTwo (Australia) ] Holland had previously made one appearance for the Mariners on a short term contract during the 2006 A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup.

Holland was part of the Newcastle Jets team which won the 2008 A-League Grand Final against the Central Coast Mariners. He was involved in a controversy during second-half injury time when he handballed inside the penalty area. Referee Mark Shield failed to spot the handball and did not award a penalty. [cite news |url=http://sportal.com.au/football-news-display/have-mercy-on-vukovic-43826 |title=Have Mercy On Vukovic |first=Adam |last=Lucius |publisher=Sportal |date=2008-02-25 |accessdate=2008-05-19 ] Holland later stated he did not feel any contact with the ball, and that if he had handled the ball it was unintentional.

International career

James is an Australian Under-17 and Under-20 national team representative, a striker in this squad playing alongside Marko Jesic, Holland's good friend. He made his full debut for the Socceroos against Singapore in 2008, and was named in the squad to face Ghana on 23 May 2008. He played in the World Cup qualifier against China on 22 June 2008, and was substituted for David Williams.

Honours

With Newcastle Jets:
* A-League Championship: 2007-2008

References

External links

* [http://www.newcastlejets.com.au/default.aspx?s=njfc_playerprofile_item&pid=730 Newcastle Jets profile]
* [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/MensU23/default.aspx?s=aus_u23men_player_profile&pid=730&tid=112 FFA - Olyroos profile]