Mark Howard (footballer, born September 1986)

Mark Stephen Howard (born 21 September 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for League Two club Scunthorpe United.

Mark Howard
Howard in 2009 with St Mirren
Personal information
Full name Mark Stephen Howard [1]
Date of birth (1986-09-21) 21 September 1986
Place of birth Southwark, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Scunthorpe United
Number 33
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 46 (0)
2010–2011 Aberdeen 9 (0)
2011–2012 Blackpool 4 (0)
2012–2016 Sheffield United 80 (0)
2016–2018 Bolton Wanderers 35 (0)
2018–2020 Blackpool 36 (0)
2019 → Salford City (loan) 3 (0)
2020– Scunthorpe United 13 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:10, 30 December 2020 (UTC)

Born in Southwark, London, Howard was part of Arsenal's youth team, but having failed to make the step up to the senior squad he departed for Cardiff City. He moved to Scotland, with spells at St Mirren and Aberdeen, before moving back to England to play for Blackpool, Sheffield United (for whom he holds the club's consecutive clean-sheet record of eight games) and Bolton Wanderers. He returned to Blackpool in 2018 and remained there for two years.

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, for whom he made eight appearances. After his loan period ended in the summer, Howard was released by Arsenal.

Cardiff City

Following his release by the Gunners, Howard was offered a permanent contract with Falkirk, but he instead decided to join Cardiff City. He provided backup as a second-choice keeper that season to Neil Alexander.[2] He made his debut for The Bluebirds in a Football League Cup tie against Barnet

After a month's loan with Swansea City, as cover in January 2007, he was released by Cardiff at the end of the 2006–07 season.

St Mirren

Howard joined Scottish side St Mirren[3] 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.[4] 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 with Aberdeen[5] 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 behind Jamie Langfield and left the club when the season ended.[6]

Blackpool

Howard signed a five-month contract with Blackpool in September 2011 as cover after 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,[7] 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 ​2 1⁄2-year contract after a successful two-week trial period,[8] arriving as cover for Steve Simonsen. He did not make a first-team appearance that season.[9] 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 single-goal victory. Howard remained first-choice keeper until he suffered a thigh injury in the eleventh minute at Matchroom Stadium against Leyton Orient in October 2012, an injury that kept him out of the side for twelve weeks.[10] Replaced by George Long, Howard was unable to regain his place in the team, despite having started the 2012–13 season as first-choice.[11] 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 lineup by new manager Nigel Clough for an FA Cup tie against Fulham in February 2014.[12] Having kept a clean sheet in that fixture, Howard retained his place[12] and was virtually ever-present until the end of the season, missing only one game.[13] With his current deal set to expire, United opted to take up a one-year extension in May 2014.[14]

Bolton Wanderers

On 13 July 2016, Howard signed a two-year contract with Bolton Wanderers after leaving Sheffield United at the end of the previous season.[15] On 24 May 2018, Bolton confirmed that Howard would leave the club on 30 June, when his contract came to an end.[16]

Blackpool

Howard re-joined Blackpool following his release from Bolton. On 5 July 2018, he signed a two-year deal with the Tangerines.[17] He was released in June 2020.[18]

Salford City

Howard joined Salford City in a seven-day emergency loan on 22 October 2019.[19] The loan was renewed on 29 October.[20]

Scunthorpe United

On 22 October 2020, Howard joined League Two side Scunthorpe United on a deal until the end of the season.[21]

International career

Although Howard did not win 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.[22]

Career statistics
As of match played 29 December 2020
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal 2005–06[23] Premier League 0000000000
Falkirk (loan) 2005–06[23] Scottish Premier League 800000—80
Cardiff City 2006–07[24] Championship 000010—10
Swansea City (loan) 2006–07[24] League One 0000000000
St Mirren 2007–08[25] Scottish Premier League 1001000—110
2008–09[26] Scottish Premier League 3403020—390
2009–10[27] Scottish Premier League 200000—20
Total 4604020—520
Aberdeen 2010–11[28] Scottish Premier League 900020—110
Blackpool 2011–12[29] Championship 401000—50
Sheffield United 2011–12[29] League One 00——0000
2012–13[30] League One 110001000120
2013–14[31] League One 19040102[lower-alpha 1]0260
2014–15[32] League One 35060702[lower-alpha 2]0500
2015–16[33] League One 150001000160
Total 800100100401040
Bolton Wanderers 2016–17[34] League One 27010001[lower-alpha 3]0290
2017–18[35] Championship 801010—100
Total 350201010390
Blackpool 2018–19[36] League One 320304000390
2019–20[37] League One 4020002[lower-alpha 3]080
Total 360504020470
Salford City (loan) 2019–20[37] League Two 3000000030
Scunthorpe United 2020–21[38] League Two 130100000140
Career total 2340230200702840
  1. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearances in League One play-offs
  3. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

Bolton Wanderers

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Blackpool" (PDF). English Football League. p. 6. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  2. "Howard picks Cardiff over Bairns". BBC Sport. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2006.
  3. "St Mirren sign up striker Dargo". BBC Sport. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
  4. "Howard agrees new Saints deal". Sky Sports. 6 April 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  5. "Aberdeen sign goalkeeper Mark Howard on one-year deal". BBC Sport. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  6. "Dons trio to leave Pittodrie". Sky Sports. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  7. "Holloway waits on Howard". Sky Sports. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  8. "Howard joins Sheff Utd". Sheffield United F.C. 20 February 2012. Archived from the original on 21 February 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  9. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  10. "Sheffield United goalkeeper Mark Howard sidelined with thigh injury". BBC Sport. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  11. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  12. "Howard to keep place". The Sheffield Star. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  13. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  14. "Miller time over at Blades". Sky Sports News. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  15. "Bolton Wanderers complete Mark Howard signing". Bolton Wanderers Official Webskite. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  16. "Wanderers confirm departure of seven players". Bolton Wanderers Official Site. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  17. "Mark Howard Returns To Blackpool". Blackpool. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  18. "Club Confirms Retained List" - Blackpool F.C., 11 June 2020
  19. "Howard In 7-Day Loan Move To Salford" - Blackpool F.C., 22 October 2019
  20. https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2019/october/howard-extends-salford-loan/
  21. "Mark Howard: Scunthorpe sign ex-Blackpool and Sheffield United goalkeeper". BBC. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  22. http://www.englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslTst.html
  23. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  24. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  25. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  26. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  27. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  28. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  29. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  30. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  31. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  32. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  33. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  34. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  35. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  36. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  37. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  38. "Games played by Mark Howard in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
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