Ian Howat

Football player infobox
playername = Ian Howat


fullname = Ian Stuart Howat
height = height|ft=5|in=8
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1958|7|29
cityofbirth = Wrexham
countryofbirth = Wales
currentclub = Retired
clubnumber =
position = Striker
youthyears = 1974–1976
youthclubs = Chester City
years = 1976–1982
1982
1982–1985
c.1987–1988
c.1988
c.1988–1990
c.1990–1991
c.1991–1994
1994–1995
clubs = Chester City
Crewe Alexandra
Bangor City
Oswestry Town
Bangor City
Caernarfon Town
Newtown
Holywell Town
Llansantffraid
caps(goals) = 0 57 0(10)
0 17 0(1)
0 6 0 (4)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
managerclubs =
manageryears =
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Ian Howat (born 29 July 1958, Wrexham) is a former Welsh professional footballer who played in The Football League for Chester City and Crewe Alexandra. He later appeared for several non-league clubs.

Playing career

A product of Chester’s youth policy, Howat made his Chester debut as a substitute in a Football League Third Division fixture against Mansfield Town on 16 October 1976 [cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages=stats section|id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6] . Later in the season he scored twice during the club’s run to the FA Cup fifth round and netted the winner against Port Vale in the Debenhams Cup final at the end of the season [cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages=p.92|id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6] . In his time at the club, Howat had spells playing in attack alongside fellow forwards including Paul Crossley, Ian Edwards, Ian Mellor, Peter Henderson, Ian Rush and Trevor Phillips without establishing himself as a first-team regular [cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages=stats section|id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6] . He memorably found the target when Chester won 2–1 at Wrexham in April 1978, ending his hometown club’s unbeaten home league record [cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages=p.93|id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6] .

In February 1982 Howat moved to Crewe Alexandra, but left the club at the end of the season. This marked the end of his Football League career and Howat joined Bangor City in the Alliance Premier League. His spell with Bangor included an appearance at Wembley Stadium in May 1984 in the FA Trophy final against Northwich Victoria [’Player Memories’, Chester City v. Rotherham United matchday programme; 7/12/1993; pg. 24] .

A cartlidge operation the following season ruled Howat out of action for a couple of years [’Player Memories’, Chester City v. Rotherham United matchday programme; 7/12/1993; pg. 24] , but he subsequently returned to play for Welsh non-league sides Oswestry Town, Bangor City (second spell), Caernarfon Town, Newtown, Holywell Town and Llansantffraid. His achievements in later years included scoring 17 times in the first season of the League of Wales for Holywell [cite web|url= http://www.welsh-premier.com/player_detail_solo.php?player_id=11013|title= Welsh Premier career details| publisher = welsh-premier.com | accessdate=2008-02-11] .

Honours

Chester City

*Debenhams Cup winners: 1976–1977

Bangor City

*FA Trophy runners-up: 1983–1984.

External links

* [http://www.welsh-premier.com/player_detail_solo.php?player_id=11013 Welsh Premier career stats] (surname spelt incorrectly)
* [http://www.chester-city.co.uk/ipswich_v_chester_facup_1980.asp Article on Ipswich v. Chester FA Cup tie 1980 (featuring Howat)]
* [http://homepages.tesco.net/~BCSA/History/1980s.htm Article on Bangor City in the 1980s (featuring Howat)]

References