Howarth: James Thomas (Tommy)

1921-1922 (Player Details)

Centre Forward

Born: Bury: 15-04-1890

Debut: Bury (a): 12-03-1921

5’8” 12st (1922)

Howarth began with Bury before joining Bristol City in April 1914. Bristol City had found life after relegation from the top flight in 1911 very difficult. Howarth was integral to the club's F.A. Cup run in the 1919-1920 F.A. Cup run, which raised the club's fortunes and he scored Second Division City’s goal in the famous victory over Arsenal on their way to the 1920 FA Cup Semi-Final. The run started with a 2-1 win at Blundell Park, over Second Division Grimsby Town on 10th January 1920 in the First Round. It was followed three weeks later by a 1-0 triumph over First Division Arsenal at Ashton Gate with Tommy Howarth's goal making him the hero of the hour. Round Three saw Non-League Cardiff City leave Ashton Gate after being vanquished 2-1 on 21st February 1920. The Fourth Round was another blockbuster as City disposed of the fancied Bradford City of the First Division, 2-0 on 6th March 1920 thanks to two goals from future Leeds player Jack (Joe) Harris. This brought City into conflict with the eventual runners-up, Huddersfield Town of the Second Division, and their Semi-Final defeat on 22nd March 1922 at Stamford Bridge by two goals to one. In the League he made fifty-two appearances for City, scoring seventeen goals. He joined Leeds in March 1921 for £1,750, of which he received £460. He was an all-action player, with something of a short temper and after scoring on debut against his native and former team, Bury, at Gigg Lane, on 12th March 1921, he finished his first season with six goals from eleven appearances. He scored all but one of the goals scored by United after he joined them. Such was United's reliance on his scoring abilities that he was leading goalscorer in their second season in League football, with thirteen goals from twenty-eight games. In November 1922 he signed for Bristol Rovers for £500 and, after scoring four goals in twenty-one League games he left for Welsh Western League side, Lovells Athletic, for £750 in May 1923, becoming Player-Manager three months later. He led them to the western League Championship in the 1923-24 season, at their first attempt, with the imposing record of played twenty, won sixteen, drawn three, lost one. They scored forty-three goals while conceding only ten and finished with thirty-five out of a possible forty points. But the following season, 1924-25, they finished rank bottom in thirteenth place with just eight points from a possible forty-eight, having won just one game and were relegated into the Second Division of the Western League. He died in Rochdale on 20th September 1969. His son, Sid, played for Swansea Town, Merthyr Tydfil, Aston Villa and Walsall.