# Rob Howard (footballer)

Robert William Howard (born 15 September 1999) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Southern League Premier Division Central club Bishop's Stortford.
After playing youth football for Southend United, Arsenal and Colchester United, Howard started his career at Harlow Town, on loan from Southend United, making his debut in 2019. Loan spells at Dartford and Braintree Town followed, before making his senior debut for Southend United in League Two in December 2020. He joined King's Lynn Town on loan in March 2021 and spent the remainder of the season at the club.

## Early life

Born in Chelmsford, Howard grew up in Billericay.

## Career
### Early career

Howard started his youth career at Southend United at the age of 11, before joining Arsenal as a 14-year-old. He joined Colchester United in 2016, signing a two-year scholarship in May of that year, but was released in 2018 at the end his scholarship deal.

### Return to Southend United

Howard returned to Southend United on a one-year deal in July 2018. Howard joined Harlow Town on loan for the remainder of the season in March 2019, for whom he made 5 appearances. The club activated an extension clause in his contract at the end of the 2018–19 season. He joined Dartford on a month-long loan in August 2019, and made 7 league appearances. He joined Braintree Town on loan in January 2020, for whom he made 4 league appearances. He was offered a new one-year contract with the option of a further year in summer 2020. He made his senior debut for the club on 19 December 2020 in a league win over Mansfield Town. On 22 March 2021, Howard joined National League side King's Lynn Town on loan until the end of the season. Having made his debut for the club the following day, starting in a 3–0 league defeat away to Altrincham, Howard made 16 appearances for King's Lynn Town across his loan spell. On 11 February 2022, Howard joined Southern League Premier Division South side Farnborough on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.

### Welling United

On 3 June 2022, Howard signed for Welling United.
On 9 May 2023, Howard left Welling United.

### Bishop's Stortford

In July 2023, Howard signed for National League North club Bishop's Stortford following a spell with the club on trial.

## Career statistics

    As of 15 April 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Southend United | 2018–19 | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Southend United | 2019–20 | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Southend United | 2020–21 | League Two | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Southend United | 2021–22 | National League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Southend United | Total | Total | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Harlow Town (loan) | 2018–19 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Dartford (loan) | 2019–20 | National League South | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Braintree Town (loan) | 2019–20 | National League South | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| King's Lynn Town (loan) | 2020–21 | National League | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Farnborough (loan) | 2021–22 | Southern League Premier Division South | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Welling United | 2022–23 | National League South | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 62 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 0 |
* ↑ One appearance in the London Senior Cup