Steve Howard

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Steve Howard
Personal information
Full name	Steve Howard
Date of birth	May 10, 1976 (age 30)
Place of birth	Durham, England
Height	6ft 3in
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Derby County
Number	9
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1994-1995 1995-1999 1999-2001 2001-2006 2006-	Tow Law Town Hartlepool United Northampton Town Luton Town Derby County	00? 0(?) 145 (26) 086 (18) 212 (96) 037 (16)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:46, 17 March 2007 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Steve Howard (born May 10, 1976, Durham, England) is an English footballer currently playing for Derby County

Howard began his career at non-league Tow Law Town before moving to Hartlepool United in 1995 and moving on to Northampton Town as their record signing for £120,000 in February 1999. Luton Town signed him for £50,000 on March 22, 2001 with another £25,000 due if Luton avoided relegation which they didn't.

Howard was almost sacked from Luton in late 2001 after an incident away York City. The Hatters had been awarded a penalty, and Steve grabbed the ball from the designated penalty taker and promptly missed. However, an infringement was noticed and the penalty was too be re-taken. Against the protests of the senior players and the management team, Steve once again grabbed the ball and stepped up to take the penalty, once again missing. He was substituted immediately afterwards and he walked straight into the changing rooms. After reclaiming his place, Steve went onto to score 24 goals as Luton finished Runners-Up in the Division 3 and Howard himself won the Golden Boot.

The 2002/03 season saw Steve partnered by Hatters favorite Tony Thorpe. Many pundits expected Thorpe to be the striker to hit 20+ goals that season, but it was Howard who again finished the Hatters top scorer, this time with 23. Steve was part of the squad of players that dug deep and stuck together as the awful mess of the 2003 take-over saga unraveled. During that season Steve suffered from a hernia, and missed a large chunk of the season, but again he finished the Hatters top scorer, this time with 16 goals.

In the summer of 2004 a transfer to Sheffield Wednesday appeared to be imminent after Wednesday announced that Luton had accepted a bid for Steve from the Owls. Luton then came out and denied accepting a bid. After much confusion, Steve stayed at Luton, and earned himself a League One winners medal. With 18 goals also, Steve played a crucial part in Luton's promotion season, earning himself a place in the League One P.F.A Team of the Year 2005, alongside 5 other Hatters.

Howard signed a new deal in 2005, despite interest from a host of clubs in Luton's new league. In his first season at the Championship level, Steve managed to hit 15 goals in 45 appearances over the season. This is more impressive because Howard played a large chunk of the season at center-half following an injury crises.

On July 22, 2006 he signed for Derby County F.C. for £1million. Steve leaves Luton as a legend to many people, with over 100 goals in all competitions (96 in the league), 5 years of service, two promotions and a never-say-die attitude, Steve is a hard presence to replace in the team. After failing to score in his first seven games for the Rams, he then scored in four consecutive games, the first player to do so for the club since Fabrizio Ravanelli in 2001. He has already become a fans favourite in the short time he has been at the club and is repaying the large fee he commanded with his work-rate, commitment and goals. Steve was nominated for the January Player of the Month award in 2007 also. Howard's own personal chant goes to the tune of Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag:

• Duh Duh Duh Duh, Stevie Howard*

When the sound team at Pride Park Stadium started playing Papa's Got A Brand New Pig Bag before the beginning of each half (after Steve Bloomer's Watching), Derby fan's instantly sung Howard's name to the tune, indicating just how much of a fan's favourite he has become during his short time at the club.

[edit] Playing Record

Season	Team	Games	Goals
1995-96	Hartlepool	36	7
1996-97	Hartlepool	28	7
1997-98	Hartlepool	37	7
1998-99	Hartlepool	28	7
1998-99	Northampton Town	12	0
1999-2000	Northampton Town	34	10
2000-01	Northampton Town	27	8
2000-01	Luton Town	12	3
2001-02	Luton Town	43	24
2002-03	Luton Town	44	23
2003-04	Luton Town	39	16
2004-05	Luton Town	44	22
2005-06	Luton Town	42	15
2006-07	Derby County	31	16 (And Counting.)

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Steve Howard career stats at Soccerbase

Derby County F.C. - Current Squad
2 Edworthy | 3 Camara | 4 McEveley | 5 Leacock | 6 M. Johnson | 7 Jones | 8 Bisgaard | 9 Howard | 10 Fagan | 11 Peschisolido | 12 Macken | 13 Grant | 14 Jackson | 16 Lupoli | 18 S. Johnson | 19 Currie | 20 Holmes | 21 Malcolm | 22 Oakley | 23 Moore | 24 Mears | 25 Pearson | 27 Teale | 28 Barnes | 31 Meredith | 32 Cumberworth | 34 Bossekota | 35 Cann | 43 Bywater | Manager: Davies