NEW loan signing Scott Holding believes he needs to build up his footballing cv at places like Stalybridge Celtic for his career to prosper.
“When clubs want to sign a centre half, they look at experiences and experience which loans like this provide,” explained the 19-year-old who has arrived from Championship club Watford for an initial one month.
Holding, who had previously played for Stockport County, added: “I played every minute of the Under-23 games for Watford before I came here, but missed the physical aspect.
“At the end of the day, everybody plays to win, but this football is ruthless compared to academy games, as we saw with the penalty against Marine.”
When Celtic won an injury-time spot kick on Holding’s home debut, there was five minutes of mayhem with several scuffles and an attempt to damage the penalty spot.
“You would never have seen that in an academy match – that is the difference,” Holding continued.
“Marine were very smart from the moment the penalty was awarded but, looking back, we should have dealt with it better.”
It was an eventful opening as Holding was sent off on his Celtic debut for collecting two yellow cards in the derby defeat at Ashton United and suspended for the trip to Whitby on Saturday, October 22.
Though Holding is at Watford, his roots are firmly in Lancashire as he was raised in Bolton, and he is a lifelong Wanderers’ fan.
He was spotted by Manchester United aged seven playing for local side Bromley Cross Strikers and remained with the Reds until the age of 15. He was in the same cohort as Shola Shoretire who has appeared in the first team.
Holding then joined neighbours Bury where he was offered a scholarship, but the club folded before it began.
“It was an emotional place with everybody uncertain about the future,” he said.
Holding joined Stockport County aged 17 and almost immediately was made captain of their Under-23 side.
“It was great to be made captain at that age. I look at myself as a leader on the pitch,” he explained.
Holding made one senior appearance for Stockport against Larkhall Athletic in the FA Trophy but was on the bench for several other games.
Stockport also loaned him to Ashton United where he was on the bench for a game against Guiseley.
He was due to stay for one month, but it was cut short after that one game as he went on trial to Swansea City.
Holding also had trials at Sunderland and Watford who told him he was going to be signed before he impressed in a trial game against Wigan Athletic.
Watford bought out the remainder of Holding’s contract at Stockport and also paid an undisclosed fee.
He signed a two-year professional contract in May, and he has settled in well after moving away from home for the first time.
Holding made an appearance for the first team in a pre-season friendly against Wycombe and trains with both the U23s and first team.
“It is a great experience training with the first team and with players like Tom Cleverley,” he said.