David Howells
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = David Howells
| image = David Howells.jpg
| caption =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|12|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Guildford, England
| death_date =
| currentclub =
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 = 1980–1985
| youthclubs1 = Tottenham Hotspur
| years1 = 1985–1998
| clubs1 = Tottenham Hotspur
| caps1 = 277
| goals1 = 22
| years2 = 1998–2000
| clubs2 = Southampton
| caps2 = 9
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 1999
| clubs3 = → Bristol City (loan)
| caps3 = 8
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2001–2003
| clubs4 = Hartley Wintney
| caps4 =
| goals4 =
| years5 = 2003–2004
| clubs5 = Havant & Waterlooville
| caps5 =
| goals5 =
| years6 = 2004–2006
| clubs6 = Guildford City
| caps6 = 17
| goals6 = 3
| totalcaps = 294
| totalgoals = 24
| nationalyears1 = 1985 | nationalteam1 = England U17 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 1986 | nationalteam2 = England Youth | nationalcaps2 = 4 | nationalgoals2 = 0
}}
David Howells (born 15 December 1967) is an English football coach and former professional footballer.
As a player, he was a midfielder who notably played in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton. He played 277 times for Spurs in the league and scored 22 goals, winning the FA Cup in 1991. He also played in the Football League with Bristol City, before finishing his career in non-league football with Hartley Wintney, Havant & Waterlooville and Guildford City.{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=3664 |title=David Howells |work=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=14 December 2009}}{{cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player3/davidhowells.html |title=David Howells |work=UK A–Z Transfers |publisher=Neil Brown |accessdate=14 December 2009}}
Following retirement, he was director of football at Guildford City, has worked as an agent and is now a secondary school teacher at Farnham Heath End School.
Football career
Born in Guildford, Surrey, Howells made his debut for Tottenham Hotspur as an 18-year-old in 1986, scoring in a 2–1 win against Sheffield Wednesday. He spent 12 more seasons at White Hart Lane,{{cite web |url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=40854 |title=David Howells Tottenham Hotspur FC |work=Football Heroes |publisher=Sporting Heroes Collections |accessdate=14 December 2009}} made 335 first-team appearances,{{cite web|url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/history/history_azofplayers.html |title=A–Z of Players |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur |accessdate=14 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090702141941/http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/history/history_azofplayers.html |archivedate=2 July 2009 }} and was on the winning side in the 1991 FA Cup final. Howells also represented Southampton, scoring once against Arsenal,{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-howells-of-delight-as-saints-hold-on-1178978.html |title=Howells of delight as Saints hold on |newspaper=The Independent |first=Norman |last=Fox |date=18 October 1998 |accessdate=14 December 2009}} and Bristol City before retiring from the game in 2000 due to a persistent knee problem.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/4768881/Ruud-can-fly-but-not-to-United.html |title=Ruud can fly but not to United |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |first=Matt |last=Lawton |date=23 August 2000 |accessdate=14 December 2009}}
Later career
He went on to run holiday resort-based soccer schools, was involved with Guildford City as director of football and occasional player, appeared for Havant & Waterlooville, coached at Westfield (Surrey), and became a director of a sports agency.{{cite web |url=http://www.havantandwaterlooville.net/news.asp?item=312 |title=Hawks act to shore up depleted team |date=14 February 2005 |publisher=Havant & Waterlooville F.C |accessdate=14 December 2009}}{{cite news |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=43478 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926061708/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=43478 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=26 September 2012 |title=New Challenge For Howells |work=NonLeague Daily |date=9 July 2007 |accessdate=14 December 2009}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hpcagents.com/THETEAM.htm |title=The High Profile Team |publisher=High Profile Contacts |accessdate=14 December 2009}}
Howells used to teach at Queen Eleanor's junior school in Guildford. He was subsequently appointed head coach of the first XI at Charterhouse. He now teaches at Farnham Heath End School.{{citation needed|date= October 2021}}
Personal life
Howells has a younger brother, Gareth, who is also a professional footballer, playing in goal. As of 2010–11 season, Gareth is a player/coach at Eastleigh FC. Like his brother, Gareth was originally signed on youth terms at Tottenham, but never made the step up to play professionally for the club, and has spent almost his entire career at clubs outside of the Football League structure.{{cite web|url=http://www.eastleigh-fc.co.uk/|title=Eastleigh FC Official Site|access-date=27 June 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802090511/http://www.eastleigh-fc.co.uk/|archive-date=2 August 2012|url-status=dead}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/searchresults.asp?ButtonLeap=0&countryLinkDescription=+matching+search+results&FootballHeroName=David+Howells&FootballHeroClubCountry=&FootballHeroDecade=Select+One&SearchButton=Search Stats and photos] at Sporting Heroes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howells, David}}
Category:Footballers from Guildford
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players
Category:Southampton F.C. players
Category:Bristol City F.C. players
Category:Guildford City F.C. players
Category:Hartley Wintney F.C. players
Category:Havant & Waterlooville F.C. players