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Brian Howard

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
02-03-1933
N/A
22-01-1952
United Services/ St. Helens B
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
18-10-1952 v Salford
Liverpool City
1959- Leigh
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1952-1958
131 (0)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
58
0
0
174

Biography of Brian Howard



HERITAGE NO : 711
Harry Brian Howard by Dave Dooley:
Brian Howard was a stalwart for the club playing over 100 matches mostly as a stand off. He made his debut against Salford on the 18th. October 1952. In 131 matches for the Saints Brian scored 58 tries, for a total points aggregate of 174 points. Brian was the nephew of William Birkett who had played for St Helens Recs before the war. He was signed from the Saints `B` team which operated in the local amateur league.

This hardworking, creative centre was a member of the 1956 Challenge Cup winning team that defeated Halifax by 13 points to 2. In this match Brian created a sensational try for Frank Carlton cutting through the Halifax defence to put the flying winger away to score near the posts. This sent Saints fans into rapture as caps, scarves, rattles and saucers flew into the air.

His final match for the Club was against Liverpool City on the 26th of April, 1959. Brian was subsequently sold to Leigh. He worked in the Oil industry and was widely travelled. He is the father of Harvey Howard, who played for Widnes and Brisbane Broncos in Australia, amongst others.

Brian sadly passed away in January 2017.

Brian Howard Dies [Obituary January 2017]

Another link from the 1956 Challenge Cup winning squad has been severed with the passing of Brian Howard at the age of 83. He had been ill for some time. The 1956 success against Halifax at Wembley was the first time the Saints had lifted the gleaming trophy and Brian played his part in this never-to-be-forgotten triumph. Playing left centre that afternoon, Brian's deft pass on the hour to Frank Carlton enabled the winger to fly away and score the crucial first try of the game that did so much to ensure eventual victory. "I was there as a spectator that day", recalls former Saint Brian McGinn "and he was obviously a regular first-teamer then. I was sixteen and signed for the club shortly afterwards. Eventually, of course, I became a team-mate of his in both the A team and the seniors. He came through with the likes of Walter Delves, Roy Robinson and Josh Gaskell. He was a very good all-round footballer and a nice bloke off the pitch too".

Hard-working, creative and defensively sound all describe Brian Howard's rugby ability. He also had the requisite pace to score tries as well as create them. It may be a something of a cliche to describe someone as a utility back, but it is true that Brian, at various times, occupied every position for the club in the threequarters, mostly as a left centre in his early career at Knowsley Road. Yet later on he became a stand-off, playing in the number six jersey on 57 occasions, with Alex Murphy as his scrum-half. This is where he enjoyed his most successful season, in 1958-59, when he turned out in 40 matches and scored 22 tries. Overall, he played 131 times for his home town club, including 48 tries.

Born in 1933, Brian attended Rivington Road School. Rugby-wise, he was a former member of the United Services and the Saints B teams in the Junior Leagues and signed professional forms for his home town club on 22nd January 1952. Brian made his senior debut on the right wing for St. Helens against Salford at Knowsley Road on 18th October 1952 [Saints won 14-6] and his last match was against Liverpool City, on 26th April 1959, when he was right centre to the great Tom van Vollenhoven in a 41-22 success.

Apart from the magnificent Challenge Cup final success in 1956, Brian played in one other final for the club, when Saints lost to Oldham in the Lancashire Cup final of 1958 at Central Park. He also scored one of his team's tries against the visiting New Zealanders in 1955, when the Kiwis were defeated 16-8.

Rugby League is very much in the Howard family's DNA. His uncle was William Birkett, who played for St. Helens Recs as a threequarter between the wars and, of course, one of Brian's two sons, Harvey, created his own niche in the rugby league game as an international and renowned club professional on two continents, with a clubs including Widnes, Wigan and Brisbane Broncos on his resume.

Brian moved on to Leigh from 1959-62 and made 79 appearances for the Hilton Park club, scoring 15 tries. A personable guy, Brian was a fine footballer and a member of the Saints' Players' Association.

PLAYER HONOURS

SEASON STATISTICS

Season (Official Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1952~530 0 0 2
1953~541 0 0 6
1954~55 1 0 0 1
1955~5612 0 0 28
1956~578 0 0 20
1957~5814 0 0 34
1958~5922 0 0 40
TOTALS:58 0 0 131
Season (Other Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1954~552001
1955~562002
1958~590001
TOTALS:4004

ALL MATCHES

DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
18th Oct 1952 1
W
 2 Salford L H 14 6 VIEW
18th Apr 1953 2
W
 2 Oldham L A 14 13 VIEW
26th Sep 1953 3
L
 6 Halifax L A 3 14 VIEW
7th Nov 1953 4
W
 3 Oldham L A 5 3 VIEW
9th Jan 1954 5
W
 4 Swinton L A 8 0 VIEW
16th Jan 1954 6
W
 4 Rochdale Hornets L H 28 5 1 VIEW
19th Apr 1954 7
L
 3 Huddersfield L A 13 29 VIEW
1st May 1954 8
L
 4 Warrington ChSF A 0 11 VIEW
21st Aug 1954 9
W
 2 Blackpool Borough L A 34 2 1 VIEW
7th May 1955 --
W
 4 Leigh* Fr H 40 16 2 VIEW
13th Aug 1955 --
L
 6 Barrow* Fr Ward Cup H 17 31 1 VIEW
20th Aug 1955 10
W
 4 Widnes L A 35 18 VIEW
27th Aug 1955 11
L
 4 Barrow LC1 A 12 18 1 VIEW
31st Aug 1955 12
L
 4 Salford L A 10 11 VIEW
3rd Sep 1955 13
W
 2 York L H 26 18 1 VIEW
10th Sep 1955 14
W
 4 Keighley L H 52 23 VIEW
24th Sep 1955 15
W
 4 Barrow L H 66 15 1 VIEW
8th Oct 1955 16
W
 4 Keighley L A 21 6 2 VIEW
15th Oct 1955 17
W
 6 Liverpool City L H 32 4 1 VIEW
22nd Oct 1955 18
W
 6 Blackpool Borough L A 36 4 VIEW
26th Oct 1955 19
W
 6 New Zealand Tour H 16 8 1 VIEW
29th Oct 1955 20
W
 6 Rochdale Hornets L H 8 7 VIEW
5th Nov 1955 21
W
 3 Swinton L A 4 0 VIEW
12th Nov 1955 22
W
 3 Halifax L H 13 8 VIEW
19th Nov 1955 23
W
 6 Liverpool City L A 29 9 1 VIEW
26th Nov 1955 24
W
 6 Workington Town L H 36 3 2 VIEW
3rd Dec 1955 25
W
 6 Whitehaven L A 20 12 VIEW
17th Dec 1955 26
W
 4 Barrow L A 18 6 VIEW
24th Dec 1955 27
W
 4 Oldham L H 18 7 VIEW
26th Dec 1955 28
L
 4 Leigh L H 9 18 VIEW
27th Dec 1955 29
L
 6 Wigan L A 0 8 VIEW
31st Dec 1955 30
W
 4 Dewsbury L A 19 10 1 VIEW
2nd Jan 1956 31
W
 6 Leigh L A 20 6 1 VIEW
17th Mar 1956 32
W
 4 York L A 13 6 VIEW
31st Mar 1956 33
L
 5 Warrington L H 7 13 VIEW
12th Apr 1956 34
W
 3 Workington Town L A 12 9 VIEW
14th Apr 1956 35
L
 4 Oldham L A 8 40 VIEW
16th Apr 1956 36
W
 3 Whitehaven L H 22 7 VIEW
28th Apr 1956 37
W
 4 Halifax CCF N 13 2 VIEW
20th May 1956 --
L
 4 Hull* Fr A 20 23 1 VIEW
18th Aug 1956 38
W
 4 Widnes L H 29 0 1 VIEW
29th Aug 1956 39
W
 4 Salford L H 40 0 2 VIEW
1st Sep 1956 40
W
 4 Swinton LC1 H 27 7 1 VIEW
8th Sep 1956 41
L
 4 Oldham L H 16 25 1 VIEW
11th Sep 1956 42
W
 4 Liverpool City LC2 H 34 3 VIEW
27th Oct 1956 43
L
 4 Workington Town L H 9 11 VIEW
1st Jan 1957 44
W
 4 Leigh L H 18 14 VIEW
6th Jan 1957 45
W
 5 Warrington L H 33 7 VIEW
12th Jan 1957 46
W
 4 Swinton L A 14 9 VIEW
19th Jan 1957 47
L
 4 Leeds L A 11 22 VIEW
9th Feb 1957 48
L
 3 Whitehaven CC1 A 8 9 VIEW
20th Mar 1957 49
W
 3 Halifax L A 10 4 VIEW
23rd Mar 1957 50
W
 3 Huddersfield L A 10 9 VIEW
3rd Apr 1957 51
W
 3 Whitehaven L A 5 2 1 VIEW
6th Apr 1957 52
W
 3 Leeds L H 44 3 1 VIEW
13th Apr 1957 53
W
 3 Swinton L H 34 0 VIEW
15th Apr 1957 54
L
 3 Barrow L A 8 11 VIEW
19th Apr 1957 55
L
 5 Wigan L A 11 19 1 VIEW
20th Apr 1957 56
L
 3 Workington Town L A 3 26 VIEW
22nd Apr 1957 57
W
 3 Blackpool Borough L H 48 10 VIEW
14th Sep 1957 58
W
 4 Hull L H 13 4 VIEW
21st Sep 1957 59
W
 4 Swinton L A 16 14 VIEW
28th Sep 1957 60
W
 4 Warrington L H 14 2 1 VIEW
2nd Oct 1957 61
L
 4 Oldham LCSF H 9 29 VIEW
5th Oct 1957 62
W
 6 Huddersfield L A 35 13 VIEW
12th Oct 1957 63
W
 3 Whitehaven L H 26 9 VIEW
19th Oct 1957 64
W
 4 Liverpool City L A 28 4 VIEW
26th Oct 1957 65
W
 5 Leeds L H 36 7 1 VIEW
2nd Nov 1957 66
W
 5 Whitehaven L A 15 7 1 VIEW
9th Nov 1957 67
W
 4 Swinton L H 43 11 1 VIEW
16th Nov 1957 68
W
 4 Barrow L A 18 12 2 VIEW
23rd Nov 1957 69
W
 4 Workington Town L H 29 6 1 VIEW
30th Nov 1957 70
W
 4 Warrington L A 13 11 1 VIEW
7th Dec 1957 71
W
 4 Barrow L H 25 7 1 VIEW
14th Dec 1957 72
W
 4 Rochdale Hornets L A 10 5 VIEW
21st Dec 1957 73
W
 4 Wakefield Trinity L H 52 5 VIEW
25th Dec 1957 74
W
 4 Leigh L H 11 9 VIEW
26th Dec 1957 75
W
 4 Wigan L A 12 9 VIEW
28th Dec 1957 76
L
 6 Salford L A 7 12 VIEW
1st Jan 1958 77
L
 4 Leigh L A 5 15 VIEW
1st Feb 1958 78
L
 4 Wakefield Trinity L A 12 17 VIEW
12th Feb 1958 79
W
 4 Hunslet CC1 A 15 0 VIEW
15th Feb 1958 80
W
 6 Oldham L H 5 4 VIEW
22nd Feb 1958 81
W
 4 Keighley CC2 A 19 4 1 VIEW
1st Mar 1958 82
L
 4 Workington Town L A 10 15 VIEW
8th Mar 1958 83
L
 4 Featherstone Rovers CC3 A 0 5 VIEW
15th Mar 1958 84
L
 4 Hull L A 11 22 VIEW
22nd Mar 1958 85
W
 4 Widnes L H 14 7 1 VIEW
4th Apr 1958 86
W
 6 Wigan L H 32 7 VIEW
5th Apr 1958 87
W
 6 Hunslet L A 33 2 1 VIEW
7th Apr 1958 88
W
 6 Halifax L A 18 2 1 VIEW
14th Apr 1958 89
W
 6 Salford L H 42 8 VIEW
19th Apr 1958 90
W
 6 Halifax L H 31 4 1 VIEW
3rd May 1958 91
L
 6 Workington Town ChSF H 13 14 VIEW
9th Aug 1958 --
L
 6 Barrow* Fr Ward Cup A 10 14 VIEW
16th Aug 1958 92
L
 6 Widnes L A 16 25 VIEW
19th Aug 1958 93
W
 6 Rochdale Hornets L A 15 5 VIEW
23rd Aug 1958 94
W
 6 Featherstone Rovers L H 32 9 1 VIEW
25th Aug 1958 95
W
 6 Warrington L H 15 7 VIEW
30th Aug 1958 96
W
 6 Rochdale Hornets LC1 A 20 15 1 VIEW
6th Sep 1958 97
W
 6 Wakefield Trinity L A 24 14 VIEW
8th Sep 1958 98
W
 6 Leigh LC2 A 12 2 1 VIEW
13th Sep 1958 99
W
 6 Halifax L H 45 20 VIEW
17th Sep 1958 100
W
 6 Barrow LCSF H 18 6 1 VIEW
20th Sep 1958 101
W
 6 Warrington L A 29 15 1 VIEW
27th Sep 1958 102
W
 6 Hunslet L H 31 15 3 VIEW
4th Oct 1958 103
W
 6 Blackpool Borough L A 26 19 VIEW
11th Oct 1958 104
W
 6 Wakefield Trinity L H 15 8 VIEW
18th Oct 1958 105
D
 6 Workington Town L A 10 10 1 VIEW
25th Oct 1958 106
L
 6 Oldham LCF N 2 12 VIEW
1st Nov 1958 107
W
 6 Salford L A 28 12 VIEW
8th Nov 1958 108
W
 6 Rochdale Hornets L H 42 12 2 VIEW
15th Nov 1958 109
W
 6 Featherstone Rovers L A 36 9 1 VIEW
29th Nov 1958 110
W
 6 Whitehaven L A 25 2 VIEW
6th Dec 1958 111
W
 6 Leeds L H 38 12 VIEW
13th Dec 1958 112
W
 6 Swinton L H 32 3 VIEW
20th Dec 1958 113
W
 6 Barrow L A 7 5 1 VIEW
25th Dec 1958 114
W
 6 Leigh L A 10 6 VIEW
26th Dec 1958 115
W
 6 Wigan L H 13 9 VIEW
1st Jan 1959 116
W
 6 Leigh L H 9 6 VIEW
3rd Jan 1959 117
L
 6 Leeds L A 11 12 VIEW
24th Jan 1959 118
L
 6 Hunslet L A 11 19 VIEW
31st Jan 1959 119
W
 6 Whitehaven L H 27 3 3 VIEW
7th Feb 1959 120
W
 6 Hull L A 19 9 1 VIEW
14th Feb 1959 121
W
 6 Barrow L H 71 15 1 VIEW
21st Feb 1959 122
W
 6 Oldham CC1 A 7 6 VIEW
28th Feb 1959 123
W
 6 Widnes L H 38 4 2 VIEW
7th Mar 1959 124
W
 6 Dewsbury CC2 H 35 8 VIEW
16th Mar 1959 125
W
 6 Salford L H 44 4 VIEW
21st Mar 1959 126
L
 6 Featherstone Rovers CC3 A 6 20 VIEW
27th Mar 1959 127
L
 4 Wigan L A 14 19 VIEW
28th Mar 1959 128
W
 6 Liverpool City L A 40 20 1 VIEW
18th Apr 1959 129
L
 6 Swinton L A 11 19 VIEW
21st Apr 1959 130
W
 6 Workington Town L H 36 14 1 VIEW
25th Apr 1959 131
W
 3 Liverpool City L H 41 22 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 100 | LOSSES : 34 | DRAWS : 1

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