Very well put Highbury - a part of my youth has gone too. I'll be leaving London in good time on Friday. Headingley is the only place I want to be that evening.

I was told a while ago that he was very poorly but am still shocked. He was my first hero in blue and amber in the early 80s. My dad used to work with him and he'd bring the Challenge Cup in for people to look at, but did it in a totally self effacing and humble way.

RIP John

As has been stated an unbelievable player. Pick any superlative you like but what has not been said is that he was one of the most humblest people I have ever had the pleasure to meet and a real gentleman (in the true sense of the word).

I remember his first game at Headingley and thinking to myself, "Who does this young whipper snapper think he is taking over from the great Bev Risman?" Well we soon found out!

MHDSRIP

RIP John.

As for many, my first Loiner hero. Favourite memories are probably the try he set up for TC to beat Wigan, and oddly, a pre-season game against Bramley where to the delight of a small group of Leeds fans who were calling him to do it, he had a shot at goal from the touchline. Missed, but had a big grin on his face after he took it. A player who genuinely enjoyed playing the game in the spirit it should be.

I have just got in from work and seen the tragic news on BBC ceefax. I am at a loss - probably the same feeling I had when Billy Bremner passed away. The term legend is used too easily these days - John Holmes was not only a rugby league legend he was a true gentleman and had the time of day for anyone.

My condolences to John's family at this very sad time.

God bless you John and thank you for the happy memories that you have left behind.

Jesus Just Heard....RIP a true Leeds Legend

John Holmes was an all-time great for Leeds in particular and Rugby League in general.

I've been privileged to see and admire many great players but no-one I've ever seen could time a pass as well as John.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Rest in peace.

The best player I've ever seen and probably the best player I'll ever see.

John Holmes R.I.P.

A long time since I posted on here but can't let this moment pass.

John Holmes was a mercurial talent. Looking at him on the pitch you couldn't believe the skill he had in those hands and the ability to read the game so well. Many times in the early eighties as I was receiving my RL eduction first in the paddock then in the south stand, John frequently shone out.

To me one of the signs of his greatness was how often he was targetted by late / high tackles by the opposition. They knew how good he was.

As posted by others I remember the game at St Helens but some of the greatest enjoyment were the alliance games on a Friday night. His love for the club and the game in general shone then as brightly as it did on the big stage.

RIP and I hope a suitable memorial is provided by the club.

R.I.P John

Thoughts go out to his family.

All of the above.

It just makes you wonder how over-used the word 'legend' is.

John is the original definition of that.

Having only taken an intrest in RL since 1992 I've never heard of John



But condolences to his family and friends

I was devasted to hear the news.

John gave me one of my earliest memories of the game when i was 8 years old - the 1978 Challenge Cup final.

He was a true gentleman, sportsman and also a friend. Simply one of the best to wear the Leeds colours.

Condolences to Karen and all his family.

RIP John Holmes.

R.I.P

i didn't start watching properly till 1980 & i don't think i'll ever see anyone time a pass better than than John Holmes.

To play the amount of games he did when the late challenges were flying around every game showed his own strength as well as skill.

Awful news, what a gentleman John was, very humble and unassuming. I remember one freezing morning at Headingly when he was arriving for training, I shouted over for his autograph not expecting even a glance and he just turned, smiled and walked over to me saying "sure no problem" Many of todays superstars would'nt have even looked never mind walk the 20 yards over to me, that just sums John up for me. A pleasure to watch him throughout his career. Hope the Rhinos commemorate his passing with a dvd, sad to lose Shoey and John so close together. RIP

On the BBC website it mentions thast John Holmes played at Leeds for 21 years - from 1968 to 1989. Is this true? If so, that is [isome[/i longevity.

Everything that has been written about Holmes suggests he was a classy player. Probably one who we'd kill to have playing now as there is a genuionbe dearth of creative half backs around.

I can't come to terms with this. The man was a God to Leeds fans of a certain vintage.

John was probably the most self-effacing superstar the game has ever seen. Modest to the point of shyness and a lovely, lovely man.

For younger readers, I'd liken him to Darren Lockyer because of the fact that he was a world-class (reluctant) goalkicker and full-back as a teenager, who then made the transition to become a world-class stand-off.

And I mean, world class as the '78 Kangaroos would testify after the way he came off the sub's bench played his considerable part in the 2nd test win for Peter Fox's Dad's Army side at Odsal.

I saw his astonishing debut at 16, against Hunslet at Parkside in 1968 (scoring a try and 10 goals) and his final first-team appearance as sub' at Barrow in 1989, watched him star in the 72 Championship Final, score 3 tries in a Yorkshire Cup Final defeat of Dewsbury, throw THAT amazing pass at fartown in the John Player defeat of Salford and star at Wembley in 77 and 78 when he should have got the Lance Todd Trophy.

In 21 years he gave rugby league fans of all persuasion a treat with his myriad skills, rare bravery and unique capacity to freeze-frame the action when he had the ball in his hands. The greatest players make time stand still and John did that so often.

A World Cup winner in 1972, he played for GB over 11 years - with his versatility (capped at full-back, centre and stand-off) he was the consummate tourist with GB in 1977 and '79 and with England in 1975.

It is a terribly sad time for all connected with Leeds because John Holmes was the greatest, most humble servant this club has ever had.

RIP John.

Indeed it is true.

Holmes was just about the last link from when I started watching, during the barren years of the early 80s, from the great Leeds team of the late 60s and 70s.

He spent most of the time towards the end of his career playing for the A-Team (reserves) and guiding around some of the up & coming young players of the time.

What his legs no longer had was exceeded by a wonderful footballing brain and the ability to find the gap with a defence splitting pass.

Given the sheer length of his career and greater number of games played during that time (think of the early 70s with the county cup, JPS trophy, Capt Morgan, floodlit and premierships etc.), as has been said on the official tribute on the club website the appearance record will never be exceed.

Basically, thirty games-a-season for twenty-one solid years.

That is some achievement, and he sounds like he was a genuine 'good guy.'

The last paragraph reminds me of Phil Veivers at Saints at the end of his career - the old pro guiding the young heads and completely dedicated to the cause.

Those were the days - the old 'A' team matches on a cold Wednesday - free at Saints to get in with a season ticket.

Anyway, rest in peace John Holmes. Sounds like a player RL should be proud of.

Condolences to John's family and friends, also to the Leeds Rhino's club and supporters, it's very sad news indeed!

John was a great player and I can well remember him and his halfback partner, Barry Seabourne, tormenting us on many occasions.

RIP John, a player and a man of the every highest calibre, his memory will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone who was fortunate enough to witness him play.

I consider it great privilege and honour to have been able to see John play this great game of ours, albeit towards the end of his career. Even in those final years in the Blue and Amber, what he was starting to lack in speed of the legs, he made up for in speed of his great RL playing mind and what could only be described as sublime passing of the ball.

My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and all who have had the privilege to see him play.

God's speed John.

Still cant believe it - I really cant.

I still find it hard that at this moment in time (Monday at 1725 hours) Sky Sports havent even mentioned it on either their website or their TV channel.

Ever since I first started to watch and play RL, I always admired the stand off halfs. John was the first professional stand off I saw live and at close quaters. Although I have had the pleasure of watching some fantastic players since that time (and I don't mean just for Leeds), John was without doubt one of the very best in that position.
It is a great loss made all the more saddening by his relatively young age.

Typical Sky Sports - typical media as a whole not giving any rugby league issues a mention, quite a number of them don't mention the play off semi's this morning.