Hollingworth, born in
Doncaster but raised in
Rainworth, was training as a mechanical engineer and playing amateur football for
Sutton Junction when he was spotted by
Wolverhampton Wanderers. He joined the
Second Division club on 8 November 1928, making his first team debut two days later in a 2–0 win at their
Black Country rivals West Bromwich Albion. The defender made only sporadic appearances during his first seasons with the
Molineux club, but became a first team regular during the 1930–31 season. The following season he was again a bedrock of their defence as the club won the Second Division championship and returned to the top flight after a 26-year absence. This season also saw him selected by
England to play in a trial match in March, preceding a
Home International against Scotland, but he was forced to pull out after damaging his ankle on the eve of the game in a league match. Injuries began to persistently restrict his career over the following years causing him to announce his football retirement at the end of the 1935–36 season, aged 26. He had made 180 appearances in total for Wolves, scoring eight times. After leaving football, he joined the
Staffordshire police force, and also later worked at the
Goodyear factory in
Wolverhampton. He died on 8 July 1969, aged 59, when he suffered a heart attack while out driving in Birmingham. ==Honours==