he retired as a player at the end of the 1922–23 season. over his full career holford played 474 league games, an exceptionally large number for the period, he had played everywhere except in goal. upon his retirement he became a trainer for port vale, only to make his final appearance on 5 april 1924 at a club record age of 46 years and 68 days. at the time this also made him the second-oldest to play in the football league, after billy meredith, and as of 2008 he is the sixth oldest football league player of all time.