Jack Howe

This article is about the footballer. For the architect and industrial designer, see Jack Howe (architect).
Jack Howe
Personal information
Full nameJohn Robert Howe
Date of birth7 October 1915
Place of birthHartlepool, England
Date of death5 April 1987 (aged 71)
Place of deathHartlepool, England
Playing positionDefender
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1934-1936Hartlepool United24(0)
1936-1950Derby County223(2)
1950-1951Huddersfield Town29(1)
National team
1948-1949England3(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

John Robert "Jack" Howe (7 October 1915 – 5 April 1987) was a professional footballer who gained 3 caps for England in the late 1940s.

Jack Howe was one of the best two footed full-backs in Britain. Standing six foot tall. Howe could kick a ball equally hard and accurately with either foot. Signed by George Jobey from the North East, Howe made his debut as Derby were finishing eight points behind Champions Sunderland and was a regular until the war when he joined the Cameron Highlanders and guested for Hearts, Falkirk, Aberdeen, and St Mirren. He played for the Scottish League against the British Army and, after service in India, he was demobbed in time to earn an FA Cup winner's medal playing Centre-half in the semi-final replay and left back at Wembley. Howe never shirked a tackle, was totally dominant and took over the captaincy when Raich Carter went to Hull in 1948. When Howe received the first of his 3 England caps, in a memorable 4 - 0 victory over Italy in Turin, it was considered long overdue. Howe, among Derby's greatest defenders, was one of the first professional sportsmen to wear contact lenses. He was over 40 before he ended his career with Wisbech Town.

His grandson, Steve Fletcher also played professionally[1] and is the record appearance holder with AFC Bournemouth.[2] He is still with Bournemouth as their scout.

References

  1. "Johnson joins the England Euro squad full of Hope". The Northern Echo. 2005-06-04. Retrieved 2009-09-08.