Mark Howard (footballer, born September 1986)
 Mark Howard prior to a match | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mark Stephen Howard[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 21 September 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Southwark, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Sheffield United | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| ?–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– | Sheffield United | 60 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:30, 7 February 2015 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Mark Stephen Howard (born 21 September 1986) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Sheffield United.
Born in Southwark in 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. After a disappointing time in Wales 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.
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.[2] He made his debut for The Bluebirds in a League Cup game between Cardiff and Barnet on 22 August 2006 but a poor performance led to a 2–0 defeat. He was subsequently overlooked by manager Dave Jones.
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 an unsuccessful month's loan with Swansea City 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[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 was allowed to leave the club after three seasons and 52 games.
Aberdeen
In July 2010 Howard signed a one-year deal at 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 goalkeeper behind Jamie Langfield and was released from the club when the season ended.[6]
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 3 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 two and a half year contract after a successful two-week trial period,[8] arriving as cover for Steve Simonsen but didn't 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 1–0 win. Howard remained first choice keeper unitil 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.[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 keeper.[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 line up 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.<ref name=201314stats">"Games played by Mark Howard in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 May 2014.</ref> With his current deal set to expire, United opted to take up a one-year extension in May 2014.[13]
Career statistics
- As of 7 February 2015.[14]
| Club Performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Scotland | League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
| 2005–06 | Falkirk | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| England | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
| 2006–07 | Cardiff City | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006–07 | Swansea City | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Scotland | League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
| 2007–08 | St. Mirren | Premier League | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | |
| 2008–09 | 33 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | |||
| 2009–10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2010–11 | Aberdeen | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| England | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
| 2011–12 | Blackpool | Championship | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | Sheffield United | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012–13 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | 30 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 | ||
| Sheffield United total | 54 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 76 | 0 | ||
| Career Total | 122 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 160 | 0 | ||
References
- ↑ "Search 1984 to 2006 – Birth, Marriage and Death indexes". Findmypast.com. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
- ↑ "Howard picks Cardiff over Bairns". BBC Sport. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2006.
- ↑ "St Mirren sign up striker Dargo". BBC Sport. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
- ↑ "Howard agrees new Saints deal". Sky Sports. 6 April 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ "Aberdeen sign goalkeeper Mark Howard on one-year deal". BBC Sport. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ↑ "Dons trio to leave Pittodrie". Sky Sports. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ "Holloway waits on Howard". Sky Sports. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ "Howard joins Sheff Utd". Sheffield United F.C. 20 February 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
- ↑ "Games played by Mark Howard in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ↑ "Sheffield United goalkeeper Mark Howard sidelined with thigh injury". BBC Sport. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- ↑ "Games played by Mark Howard in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Howard to keep place". The Sheffield Star. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
- ↑ "Miller time over at Blades". Sky Sports News. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ↑ Mark Howard career statistics at Soccerbase Retrieved 9 February 2014.
External links
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