48 Facts About Russell Howarth

Russell Michael Howarth was born on 27 March 1982 and is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Russell Howarth played in the Football League for York City, Tranmere Rovers and Bradford City.

Russell Howarth retired from football and started working as a paramedic.

Russell Howarth was capped twice at under-16 level in 1999, while still a trainee at York.

Russell Howarth competed with Chelsea's Rhys Evans for a starting place in the under-18 team, playing for them in 2001 UEFA European Under-18 Championship qualifying.

Russell Howarth was capped four times for the team from 2001 to 2002 before being given a late call-up to the under-21 squad for the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Russell Howarth was still included in under-21 squads after moving to Tranmere, but failed to be capped at that level.

Russell Howarth was born in York to Michael and Lyn Russell Howarth.

Russell Howarth was baptised in Riccall, North Yorkshire and attended Barlby High School.

Russell Howarth soon returned to playing in goal and impressed Huntington School teacher Alan Whitehead, a former York City player, who ran the York and District team.

Russell Howarth started his career with hometown club York City in their youth system, joining in 1996 on schoolboy terms.

Russell Howarth started the season as York's first-choice goalkeeper ahead of the experienced Bobby Mimms, keeping clean sheets in the first three matches.

On 26 August 1999, two days after making his fifth successive appearance, Russell Howarth signed a three-year professional contract with York.

York's management team insisted Russell Howarth's exclusion was to safeguard him, and was not based on merit.

However, following the signing of Northern Ireland international Alan Fettis, Russell Howarth was restricted to the substitutes' bench.

In May 2000, Russell Howarth played for Premier League club Leeds United in a seven-a-side tournament in Singapore, because their own goalkeepers were unavailable.

Russell Howarth represented York in the Candia-66 International Under-20s Tournament for a second successive summer, although he only played one match as he was being rested after playing for Leeds.

Russell Howarth's kicking was excellent and he did everything else he had to do without a problem.

Russell Howarth then spent a brief period on trial with Wolverhampton Wanderers of the First Division in January 2002.

Russell Howarth played for the reserve team against Huddersfield and reportedly impressed manager Dave Jones.

Russell Howarth trialled with Everton in May 2002, and played in a friendly against Falkirk in the Alex Scott Memorial Trophy, keeping a clean sheet.

Russell Howarth revealed he was interested in a move to Everton, and due to Fettis' good form for York, he decided to pursue a move.

Russell Howarth was recalled by York to take part in a pre-season friendly against Sunderland, although he refused to participate.

Russell Howarth told Dolan he did not want to play for the club, as any potential injury could have ended his proposed transfer.

Russell Howarth's proposed move to Wolves continued until August 2002, and late that month he trained with Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

Russell Howarth played in a practice match for Tottenham, but after they failed to follow up their interest in him Wolves made a bid to sign him on loan, which York rejected.

Russell Howarth left York on 5 November 2002, signing for Second Division club Tranmere Rovers for an undisclosed five-figure fee.

However, with Achterberg established in the Tranmere goal, Russell Howarth had to wait until 4 February 2003 to make his league debut away to Cheltenham Town, coming on as a substitute in the 57th minute after Achterberg sustained an injury.

Russell Howarth returned to the substitutes' bench for the following match against Swindon Town on 8 February 2003, as Achterberg had recovered from injury.

However, Achterberg was declared fit for the following match against Millwall on 7 March 2004, and Russell Howarth returned to the substitutes' bench.

Russell Howarth did not play another match for Tranmere that season.

Russell Howarth failed to play again that season, and was released by Tranmere on 24 May 2005.

On 8 June 2005, Russell Howarth signed a two-year contract with League One club Bradford City.

Russell Howarth made his debut away to Rotherham United on 20 August 2005, coming on as a 27th-minute substitute after Ricketts was injured.

Russell Howarth finished his first season at Bradford with a career-record 15 appearances.

Russell Howarth was released by Bradford on 9 May 2007 and subsequently retired from professional football aged 25.

Russell Howarth received his first international call-up when he was included in the England national under-16 team to play Turkey on 12 January 1999.

Russell Howarth was the only player with a club from below the top two divisions to have been selected.

Russell Howarth was excluded from the line-up for the final match against Italy, which England won to progress to the intermediate qualifying round.

Russell Howarth was included in the squad for another friendly against the Netherlands on 1 March 2001, although Evans was chosen to play ahead of Howarth.

Russell Howarth was ineligible to play for the under-19 team due to an alteration to the England set-up, and was called up for the under-20 match against Portugal at home on 21 November 2001.

Shortly after the under-20s' elimination from the Toulon Tournament, Russell Howarth was called up for the under-21 team playing in the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Championship after Bywater and Evans picked up injuries.

Russell Howarth was an unused substitute for England's final two group matches against Italy and Portugal, and after losing both of these matches the team was eliminated.

Russell Howarth was recalled by the under-21s for a match against Yugoslavia on 6 September 2002, although Liverpool's Chris Kirkland started.

Russell Howarth was included in the squad for the under-21s' next match against Slovakia on 11 October 2002 in qualification Group 7 of the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship and, despite Kirkland being injured, failed to play as Wolves' Matt Murray was selected.

Russell Howarth became a coach for City Football Development in August 2009, which was set up to offer coaching to youngsters in York.

Russell Howarth has been an Everton supporter since the early 1990s.

Russell Howarth's girlfriend Victoria worked as a deputy head teacher and while Howarth was a Tranmere player the couple lived on the Wirral.