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Players Index Page Last Updated
3 April 2024
 
 

Bob Howarth

Preston North End FC, Everton FC

 5 appearances, 0 goals

P 5 W 4 D 1 L 0 F 21: A 4
90% successful
1887-94

captain: none
minutes played: 450

Timeline
  Robert Henry Howarth
Birth Tuesday, 20 June 1865 at St. Paul's Road, Preston, Lancashire.
  registered in Preston July-September 1865
Baptism Sunday, 23 July 1865 at St. Paul's Church in Preston.
Education Attended St. Paul's Church School
 

According to the 1871 census, Robert H. is the second child of three to Robert and Jane. His father is an iron molder and they live at 36 Holstein Street in Preston.
 

According to the 1881 census, Robert Henry is now a general clerk, he is still one of three children and with his parents, they live at 5 Schleswig Street in Preston. His father is a foreman moulder at the iron works.
Marriage to Elizabeth Poole, on 13 March 1886 at St. Paul's Church in Preston.
  registered in Preston January-March 1886
Children Bob and Elizabeth Howarth had three children together, John (b.1887), Robert (b.18 July 1888), Alfred (b.8 April 1896).

St. Paul's Church in Preston, central to the life of Howarth from his birth to his death.
Became home to Red Rose Radio 1981-2020

According to the 1891 census, Robert Henry is now married to Elizabeth with two children, Robert Frederick and John Poole. Robert is a solicitor's clerk. They live at 'The Cross Keys' 11 & 12 Market Place, Preston.
"ALLEGED BURGLARIES ON THE NORTH END GROUND.
 "John Moss and George Chatburn, youths, were charged with breaking and entering a wooden shed on the North End Football Ground and stealing six bottles of beer, a gallon of beer, and a football, the property of Robert Henry Howarth, landlord of the Cross Keys Hotel." - Preston Herald, Wednesday, 5 April 1893.

(His mother died in early 1897. His father died on 15 February 1899)
According to the 1901 census, Robert Henry is still a solicitor's clerk and still married, with a third child, Alfred. They live at 56 Jemmett Street in Preston.

According to the 1911 census, Robert Henry remains married with his three children. He is now a solicitor, having qualified in 1908, living at 9 East Street in Preston.
According to the 1917 General & Commercial Directory of Preston, Robt. Hy. was a practising solicitor based at Central chambers, 129a Fishergate, living at 32 Grafton Street,
According to the 1921 census, Robert Henry, still a solicitor, remains married with is with two of his sons at 32 Grafton Street in Preston.
Death Saturday, 20 August 1938 at his home at 32 Grafton Street, Preston, Lancashire.
  aged 73 years 61 days registered in Preston July-September 1938
"HOWARTH.—On the 20th inst., at 32 Grafton-street, Preston. ROBERT HENRY HOWARTH. No flowers, by request. Service in St. Paul's Church on Wednesday, at 11 a.m. Internment Preston Cemetery" - Lancashire Evening Post, Wednesday, 22 August 1938.

Obituary
"BOB HOWARTH
 "Mr. Robert H. Howarth, full-back in the famous Preston North End team known as the Old Invincibles, died yesterday at his home in Preston. He was right back in the Preston North End XI which won the English Cup without a goal being scored against it, and also won the League Championship in 1888-9. One of the historic feats in football history in which he had a share was when North End achieved a record Cup-tie win by 26—0 against Hyde, in October, 1887. Mr. Howarth's death leaves four survivors of that team, these being Bob Holmes and Sam Thomson, still residing in Preston and district, Jack Gordon, living in London, and Johnny Goodall, living in Watford." - Sheffield Independent, Monday, 22 August 1938
Funeral Wednesday, 24 August 1938 at St. Paul's Church, interred at Preston New Cemetery, New Hall Lane, Ribbleton, Preston.
He remains in an unmarked grave. He is buried near Bob Holmes.
 

According to the 1939 register, widow Elizabeth, along with her sons, Robert and Alfred live at 32 Grafton Street in Preston. Robert is a local government clerk and Alfred is also a clerk in a solicitors office.
Probate "HOWARTH Robert Henry of 32 Grafton-street Preston Lancashire died 20 August 1938 Administration Lancaster 11 August 1943 to Alfred Howarth solicitors clerk.
 Effects £939 4s. 3d." [2019 equivalent: £43,137].
  Elizabeth Howarth died in early 1954.

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Began with Excelsior (Rugby) FC and St. Paul's CC as a first-class bowler, before joining Preston North End FC in 1883, becoming captain of the second team, making his debut against Great Lever FC in October 1884. Signed for Everton FC as a professional player on 24 November 1891 for £2 a week, with a £200 signing-on fee. Preston had only offered £3 a week all year round, and Blackburn Rovers FC had made attempts to sign him too. However, he returned to Preston North End FC on 10 September 1894 after he was released by Everton FC. Joined Blackburn Rovers FC, then Fulham FC in August 1904. From November 1908, he assisted Clitheroe FC.

League History
109 appearances		 Preston North End FC 1888-91 47 appearances
debut: 8 September 1888, Preston North End FC 5 Burnley FC 2.
Everton FC 1891-94 59 appearances
debut: 5 December 1891 Blackburn Rovers FC 2 Everton FC 2.
Preston North End FC 1894-99 three appearances
debut: 22 September 1894 Preston North End FC 0 Small Heath FC 1.
last: 20 March 1899 Preston North End FC 2 Notts County FC 0.
Club honours FA Cup runners-up 1887-88, 1892-93 (c 7ᵃ), winners 1888-89 (5ᵃ);
Football League Champions 1888-89 (18ᵃ), 1889-90 (21ᵃ), runners-up 1890-91 (6ᵃ), 1891-92 (2ᵃ); Division One third place 1892-93 (26ᵃ);
Individual honours Football League (two appearances).
Lancashire FA (1884-85 vs. Ayrshire FA).
Distinctions Brother of Sir Alfred Howarth, a Preston dignitary.
Height/Weight 5' 11" [1886], 5' 11½", 13st. [1888-89], 5' 10½" [1893]

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA.

England Career
Player number One of five who became the 134th player (134) to appear for England.
Position(s) Right-back; left-back
First match No. 29, 5 February 1887, England 7 Ireland 0, a British Championship match at The Yorkshire County Cricket Ground, Bramall Lane, Highfield, Sheffield, aged 21 years 230 days.
Last match
7 years 26 days		 No. 50, 3 March 1894, Ireland 2 England 2, a British Championship match at Cliftonville Gardens, Cliftonville, Belfast, aged 28 years 256 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1886-87, 1887-88, 1890-91, 1893-94;
Team honours British Championship winners 1887-88, 1890-91;
Individual honours The North (one appearance, January 1886, withdrew from the 1890 match)
The Whites (one appearance, March 1891)
The Professionals (withdrew in 1893)
Distinctions Died just two days after Ben Spilsbury

Beyond England
Worked as a solicitor in Preston, admitted to the bar in January 1908. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.137.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
10 5 5 450 0 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
5 4 1 0 21 4 +17 0 2 4.2 0.8 90 +4
All of his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 2 2 0 0 9 1 +8 0 1 4.50 0.50 100.0 +2
Away 3 2 1 0 12 3 +9 0 1 4.00 1.00 83.3 +2

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1886-87 1 1 0 0 7 0 +7 0 1 7.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC 1887-88 2 2 0 0 10 1 +9 0 1 5.00 0.50 100.0 +2
BC 1889-90 0 0 0 0 0 0 =0 0 0 0.00 0.00 00.0 =0
BC 1890-91 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 0 0 2.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC 1892-93 0 0 0 0 0 0 =0 0 0 0.00 0.00 00.0 =0
BC 1893-94 1 0 1 0 2 2 =0 0 0 2.00 2.00 50.0 =0
BC All 5 4 1 0 21 4 +17 0 2 4.20 0.80 90.0 +4

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 5 4 1 0 21 4 +17 0 2 4.20 0.80 90.0 +4
5 4 1 0 21 4 +17 0 2 4.2 0.8 90 +4

Match History

 Club: Preston North End F.C. - four full appearances (360 min) F.A. Committee - one full appearance (90 min)x

Age 20 trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, 30 January 1886;

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 21
1 29 5 February 1887 - England 7 Ireland 0
Yorkshire Cricket Ground, Sheffield		 BC HW   rb

the one of five who became the 134th player (134) to appear for England
the third player from Preston North End FC to represent England

30 26 February 1887 - England 4 Wales 0, The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington BC HW reserve
31 19 March 1887 - England 2 Scotland 3, Leamington Street, Blackburn BC HL reserve

  F.A. International Select Committee - four full appearances (360 min)x

Age 22
2 32 4 February 1888 - Wales 1 England 5
Alexandra Recreation Ground, Crewe 		BC AW   rb
3 33 17 March 1888 - Scotland 0 England 5
Hampden Park, Glasgow		 BC AW may have scored [0-1] lb
34 7 April 1888 - Ireland 1 England 5, Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast BC AW withdrew
  

Age 24 trial  
withdrew - The South vs. The North, 13 January 1890;

38 15 March 1890 - Ireland 1 England 9, Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast BC AW captain
withdrew injured
  

Age 25 trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 24 March 1891;

4 43 4 April 1891 - England 2 Scotland 1
Ewood Park, Blackburn		 BC HW   rb
  

 Club: Everton F.C. - one full appearance (90 min)

Age 27 trial  
withdrew - The Professionals vs. The Amateurs, 22 March 1893;

49 1 April 1893 - England 5 Scotland 2, Athletic Ground, Richmond BC HW withdrew

Age 28
5 50 3 March 1894 - Ireland 2 England 2
Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast		 BC AD   rb
  

the fifth player from Everton FC to represent England

     

 
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