Howard Matthews Explained

Howard Matthews
Fullname:William Howard Matthews
Birth Date:29 November 1885
Birth Place:Oldbury, Worcestershire, England
Death Place:Oldham, Lancashire, England
Height:[1]
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthclubs1:Oldbury St. John's
Youthclubs2:Langley St. Michael's
Years1:1906–1907
Clubs1:Port Vale
Caps1:26
Goals1:0
Years2:1907–1908
Clubs2:Burton United
Years3:1908–1926
Clubs3:Oldham Athletic
Caps3:344
Goals3:0
Years4:1926–1928
Clubs4:Port Vale
Caps4:35
Goals4:0
Years5:1928–1930
Clubs5:Halifax Town
Caps5:40
Goals5:0
Years6:1930–1931
Clubs6:Chester
Clubs7:Oswestry Town
Totalcaps:445+
Totalgoals:0

William Howard Matthews (29 November 1885 – 9 February 1963) was an English football goalkeeper who played for Port Vale, Burton United, Oldham Athletic, Halifax Town, Chester, and Oswestry Town. With Oldham, he finished second in the Second Division in 1909–10 and then second in the First Division in 1914–15.

Career

Matthews played for local sides Oldbury St. John's and Langley St. Michael's before joining Burslem Port Vale as an amateur in May 1906.[2] Preferred to Arthur Box, he played 26 Second Division and four FA Cup games in the 1906–07 season.[2] He was released from the Athletic Ground at the end of the 1906–07 season when the club suffered a financial crisis.[2] He moved on to Burton United, who themselves resigned from the Football League at the end of the 1906–07 season. He signed with Oldham Athletic. The "Latics" finished third in the Second Division in 1907–08, and then finished sixth in 1908–09 before securing promotion with a second-place finish in 1909–10. Oldham then posted a seventh-place finish in the First Division in 1910–11, before finishing 18th in 1911–12, ninth in 1912–13, fourth in 1913–14, and second in 1914–15 – one point behind champions Everton. He returned to Boundary Park after the conclusion of World War I, as the club finished 17th in 1919–20, 19th in 1920–21 and 1921–22, before being relegated in last place in 1922–23. Athletic finished seventh in the Second Division in 1923–24, 18th in 1924–25, and then seventh again in 1925–26. He returned to Port Vale a remarkable 19 years after his release, in October 1926, and played 21 league games in the 1926–27 campaign ahead of rivals Tom Fern, George Holdcroft, and Alex Binnie.[2] However, he was seriously injured from a kick to the back by South Shields winger Alex Trotter in a 3–3 draw on 5 February.[2] He then lost his first-team place to Alf Bennett and made 16 league and cup appearances in the 1927–28 season.[2] He was given a free transfer away from The Old Recreation Ground in May 1928 and despite being in his 40s managed to go on play for Halifax Town.[2] The "Shaymen" finished 13th in Third Division North, before dropping into the re-election zone in 1929–30. He later played for Chester and Oswestry Town.

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Burslem Port Vale1906–07Second Division26040304
Oldham Athletic1908–09Second Division36020380
1909–10Second Division37010380
1910–11First Division000000
1911–12First Division35040390
1912–13First Division37060430
1913–14First Division31000310
1914–15First Division36050410
1919–20First Division18010190
1920–21First Division26000260
1921–22First Division600060
1922–23First Division33010340
1923–24Second Division40020420
1924–25Second Division700070
1925–26Second Division201030
Total34402303670
Port Vale1926–27Second Division21040250
1927–28Second Division14020160
Total35060410
Halifax Town1928–29Third Division North33010340
1929–30Third Division North700070
Total40010410
Career total44503404790

Honours

Oldham Athletic

Notes and References

  1. News: Few big transfers in the First Division of the Football League. Oldham Athletic . Harricus . Athletic News . Manchester . 21 August 1922 . 5.
  2. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 187. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.