Howard Matthews

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.

Howard Matthews
Personal information
Full name William Howard Matthews[1]
Date of birth (1885-11-29)29 November 1885[1]
Place of birth Oldbury, Worcestershire, England[1]
Date of death 9 February 1963(1963-02-09) (aged 77)[1]
Place of death Oldham, Lancashire, England[1]
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Oldbury St. John's
Langley St. Michael's
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1906–1907 Port Vale 26 (0)
1907–1908 Burton United
1908–1926 Oldham Athletic 344 (0)
1926–1928 Port Vale 35 (0)
1928–1930 Halifax Town 40 (0)
1930–1931 Chester
Oswestry Town
Total 445+ (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.[1] Preferred to Arthur Box, he played 26 Second Division and four FA Cup games in the 1906–07 season.[1] He was released from the Athletic Ground at the end of the 1906–07 season when the club suffered a financial crisis.[1] He moved on to Burton United, who themselves resigned from the Football League at the end of the 1906–07 season. He then 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 since 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.[1] 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.[1] He then lost his first team place to Alf Bennett, and made 16 league and cup appearances in the 1927–28 season.[1] 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.[1] 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:[3]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Burslem Port Vale 1906–07 Second Division 26040304
Oldham Athletic 1908–09 Second Division 36020380
1909–10 Second Division 37010380
1910–11 First Division 000000
1911–12 First Division 35040390
1912–13 First Division 37060430
1913–14 First Division 31000310
1914–15 First Division 36050410
1919–20 First Division 18010190
1920–21 First Division 26000260
1921–22 First Division 600060
1922–23 First Division 33010340
1923–24 Second Division 40020420
1924–25 Second Division 700070
1925–26 Second Division 201030
Total 34402303670
Port Vale 1926–27 Second Division 21040250
1927–28 Second Division 14020160
Total 35060410
Halifax Town 1928–29 Third Division North 33010340
1929–30 Third Division North 700070
Total 40010410
Career total 44503404790

Honours

Oldham Athletic

References

  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 187. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Harricus (21 August 1922). "Few big transfers in the First Division of the Football League. Oldham Athletic". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
  3. Howard Matthews at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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