Mark Howard (footballer, born September 1986)

Mark Howard
Howard in 2009, with St Mirren
Personal information
Date of birth (1986-09-21) 21 September 1986
Place of birth Southwark, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Blackpool
Number 1
Youth career
000–2005 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Arsenal 0 (0)
2005–2006 → Falkirk (loan) 8 (0)
2006–2007 Cardiff City 0 (0)
2007 → Swansea City (loan) 0 (0)
2007–2010 St Mirren 53 (0)
2010–2011 Aberdeen 9 (0)
2011–2012 Blackpool 4 (0)
2012–2016 Sheffield United 80 (0)
2016–2018 Bolton Wanderers 35 (0)
2018– Blackpool 11 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:50, 8 October 2018 (UTC)

Mark Stephen Howard (born 21 September 1986) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Blackpool.

Born in Southwark, London he was part of Arsenal's youth team but having failed to make the step up to the senior squad he departed for Cardiff City. Howard moved to Scotland with spells at St Mirren and Aberdeen before moving back to England to play for Blackpool before arriving at Sheffield United. Where he currently holds the clubs consecutive clean sheet record with a record of 8 games without conceding a goal.

Career

Early career

Howard started his career with Arsenal but he never made an appearance for the first team, although he was an unused substitute during the 2005 FA Community Shield. He was loaned to Scottish Premier League club Falkirk in January 2006, where he made eight appearances. After his loan period ended in the summer Howard was released by Arsenal.

Cardiff City

Following his release by Arsenal Howard was offered a permanent contract with Falkirk, but instead decided to join Cardiff City to try and develop into a first team keeper. Howard provided back up as a second choice keeper that season to Neil Alexander.[1] He made his debut for The Bluebirds in a League Cup game between Cardiff and Barnet

Howard made only one other appearance for Cardiff, against The New Saints in a FAW Premier Cup match and against Barnet in a League Cup match. After a month's loan with Swansea City as cover in January 2007, where he failed to make a first team appearance, he was released by Cardiff at the end of the 2006–07 season.

St Mirren

Howard then joined Scottish side St Mirren[2] and made his debut on 13 February 2008, keeping a clean sheet against Dundee United in a Scottish Cup match. He then made his league debut three days later as St Mirren suffered a 4–0 defeat against Falkirk. Howard soon become first choice goalkeeper, taking over from Chris Smith and his performances led to him signing a new two-year contract in April 2009.[3] The following season however Howard made only two appearances after losing his first choice status to new signing Paul Gallacher and left the club after three seasons and 52 games.

Aberdeen

In July 2010 Howard signed a one-year deal at Aberdeen[4] and made his debut on 14 August 2010, keeping a clean sheet in a 4–0 win over Hamilton Academical. As the season progressed Howard slipped to second choice goalkeeper behind Jamie Langfield and left the club when the season ended.[5]

Blackpool

Howard signed a five-month contract with Blackpool in September 2011 as cover after a fitness concerns over Matt Gilks and Mark Halstead. He had to wait until Boxing Day later that year to make his full début for the club in a 3–1 victory at Barnsley. He went on to make three more appearances, his performances prompting manager Ian Holloway to offer him an extension for the rest of the season,[6] but Howard failed to agree terms and left Bloomfield Road when his short-term deal expired.

Sheffield United

In February 2012 Howard joined Sheffield United on a free transfer, signing a two and a half year contract after a successful two-week trial period,[7] arriving as cover for Steve Simonsen but didn't make a first team appearance that season.[8] When Simonsen was released the following summer, Howard made his United debut, against Shrewsbury Town on 18 August 2012, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win. Howard remained first choice keeper until he suffered a thigh injury in the 11th minute at Matchroom Stadium against Leyton Orient in October 2012, an injury that kept him out of the side for twelve weeks.[9] Replaced by George Long, Howard was unable to regain his place in the team, despite having started the 2012–13 season as first-choice keeper.[10] The following season initially saw Howard continue to play understudy to Long, making only a handful of appearances until he was recalled to the starting line up by new manager Nigel Clough for an FA Cup tie against Fulham in February 2014.[11] Having kept a clean sheet in that fixture Howard retained his place,[11] and was virtually ever present until the end of the season, missing only one game.[12] With his current deal set to expire, United opted to take up a one-year extension in May 2014.[13]

Bolton Wanderers

On 13 July 2016 he signed a two-year contract with Bolton Wanderers after leaving Sheffield United at the end of the previous season.[14] On 24 May 2018, Bolton confirmed that Howard would leave the club on 30 June when his contract came to an end.[15]

Blackpool

Howard re-joined Blackpool F.C following his release from Bolton Wanderers. On 5 July 2018, Howard signed a two year deal with the Tangerines.[16]

International career

Although Howard never won any official caps for either England or any of its youth teams, he did appear as a substitute in an unofficial England fixture in 2004, as part of a testimonial for former Arsenal defender Martin Keown. England lost 6-0.[17]

Career statistics

As of 7 February 2015.[18]
Club PerformanceLeagueCupLeague CupOtherTotal
SeasonClubLeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
ScotlandLeagueScottish CupLeague CupOtherTotal
2005–06FalkirkPremier League800000— 80
EnglandLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
2006–07Cardiff CityChampionship00001010 20
2006–07Swansea CityLeague One000000— 00
ScotlandLeagueScottish CupLeague CupOtherTotal
2007–08St MirrenPremier League1001000— 110
2008–093303020— 380
2009–10200000— 20
2010–11Aberdeen900020— 110
EnglandLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
2011–12BlackpoolChampionship401000— 50
2011–12Sheffield UnitedLeague One000000— 00
2012–131100010— 120
2013–14190401020 260
2014–15300607000 430
Sheffield United total5401009020760
Career Total1220150140301600

References

  1. ↑ "Howard picks Cardiff over Bairns". BBC Sport. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2006.
  2. ↑ "St Mirren sign up striker Dargo". BBC Sport. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
  3. ↑ "Howard agrees new Saints deal". Sky Sports. 6 April 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "Aberdeen sign goalkeeper Mark Howard on one-year deal". BBC Sport. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  5. ↑ "Dons trio to leave Pittodrie". Sky Sports. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Holloway waits on Howard". Sky Sports. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  7. ↑ "Howard joins Sheff Utd". Sheffield United F.C. 20 February 2012. Archived from the original on 21 February 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  8. ↑ "Games played by Mark Howard in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  9. ↑ "Sheffield United goalkeeper Mark Howard sidelined with thigh injury". BBC Sport. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  10. ↑ "Games played by Mark Howard in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Howard to keep place". The Sheffield Star. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  12. ↑ "Games played by Mark Howard in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "Miller time over at Blades". Sky Sports News. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "Bolton Wanderers complete Mark Howard signing". Bolton Wanderers Official Webskite. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  15. ↑ "Wanderers confirm departure of seven players". Bolton Wanderers Official Site. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  16. ↑ "Mark Howard Returns To Blackpool". Blackpool. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  17. ↑ http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTst.html
  18. ↑ Mark Howard at Soccerbase Retrieved 9 February 2014.
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