As a player, he was a defender who played between 1986 and 2005 for Watford, Sheffield United, Birmingham City, Walsall, Bolton Wanderers and Gretna.
Holdsworth popped up to equalise from a corner, sending the game to extra time and then penalties, which United went on to win.
However, he only made one appearance for the Trotters: in a League Cup defeat to Bury (David started and his brother Dean came on as a substitute).
After retiring from playing he became reserve team manager at Gretna, where he was appointed director of youth development in May 2006,[10] but was sacked in a cost-cutting exercise a few months later.
[13] On 18 November 2010, it was announced that Holdsworth had agreed to leave Field Mill by mutual consent after less than two years with the club.
[14] On 24 October 2011, Holdsworth was named Lincoln City manager until the end of the 2011–12 season, replacing Steve Tilson.
[15] On 14 October 2013, he returned to management with Goole with his former Sheffield United teammate Curtis Woodhouse acting as his assistant.