Bobby Howlett
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Bobby Howlett
| image =
| fullname = Robert Victor Howlett{{cite web |title=Colchester United – Player profile |url=http://coludata.co.uk/player.asp?pid=305 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505002423/http://coludata.co.uk/player.asp?pid=305 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2013 |publisher=Coludata.co.uk |accessdate=2 May 2013 }}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1948|12|12}}
| birth_place = West Ham, Essex, England
| position = Defender
| youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Chelsea
| years1 = 1967–1969 |clubs1 = Southend United |caps1 = 6 |goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1969–1970 |clubs2 = Colchester United |caps2 = 16 |goals2 = 0
| totalcaps = 22 | totalgoals = 0
}}
Robert Victor Howlett (born 12 December 1948) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League as a defender for Southend United and Colchester United. He began his career at Chelsea where he failed to make a first-team appearance.
Career
Born in West Ham, Essex, Howlett signed for Chelsea as a youth, prior to signing for Southend United. He failed to make an appearance at Chelsea, and played in just six league games for Southend between 1967 and 1969,{{cite web |title=SOUTHEND UNITED:1946/47-2011/12 |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/colchester/colchester.html |publisher=Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database |accessdate=2 May 2013 }} starting four league games and coming on as a substitute for the other two, also making one FA Cup start.{{cite web |title=SUFCdb – Player Detail – Bobby Howlett |url=http://www.sufcdb.co.uk/index.php?option=com_indplay&Itemid=61&pno=449 |publisher=Southend United database |accessdate=2 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331025414/http://www.sufcdb.co.uk/index.php?option=com_indplay&Itemid=61&pno=449 |archive-date=31 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}
Howlett signed for Essex rivals Colchester United in July 1969, and made his debut on 9 August 1969 at Sincil Bank during a 3–3 draw with Lincoln City.{{cite web |title=Colchester United – Match details – Colchester Utd 3–3 Lincoln City |url=http://coludata.co.uk/matchdetails.asp?mid=1296 |publisher=Coludata.co.uk |accessdate=2 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624212258/http://www.coludata.co.uk/matchdetails.asp?mid=1296 |archive-date=24 June 2009 |url-status=dead }} He made a further 15 league appearances for the U's.{{cite web |title=COLCHESTER UNITED:1950/51-1989/90 & 1992/93-2011/12 |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/colchester/colchester.html |publisher=Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database |accessdate=2 May 2013 }} On 18 April 1970, Howlett was to play his last professional game, after coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Ray Whittaker, he suffered a career-ending broken leg in a challenge with Peter Gelson in the 88th minute of a 2–0 away defeat to Brentford.{{cite web |title=Colchester United – Match details – Brentford 2–0 Colchester Utd |url=http://coludata.co.uk/matchdetails.asp?mid=1342 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130504234153/http://coludata.co.uk/matchdetails.asp?mid=1342 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 May 2013 |publisher=Coludata.co.uk |accessdate=2 May 2013 }} He was forced to retire on medical grounds after this injury.