Jake Howells
Howells playing for Luton Town in 2011
Personal information
Full name Jake Thomas Howells[1]
Date of birth (1991-04-18) 18 April 1991[1]
Place of birth St Albans, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender / Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Kings Langley
Youth career
Hemel Hempstead Town
Watford
2007–2008 Luton Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2016 Luton Town 320 (29)
2015 → Yeovil Town (loan) 6 (0)
2016–2017 Eastleigh 14 (1)
2017–2018 Dagenham & Redbridge 48 (1)
2017 → Ebbsfleet United (loan) 1 (0)
2018–2019 Billericay Town 42 (1)
2019–2021 Hemel Hempstead Town 39 (0)
2021– Kings Langley 1 (0)
International career‡
2009–2011 England C 4 (1)
2011–2012 Wales U21 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:26, 31 October 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:03, 22 November 2015 (UTC)

Jake Thomas Howells (born 18 April 1991) is a former professional footballer who played as a defender or a midfielder for Luton Town. He was capped by the England C team four times from 2009 to 2011 and has represented Wales at under-21 level.

Club career

Luton Town

Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire,[1] Howells began his youth career at Hemel Hempstead Town, prior to spending time in the youth system at Watford, before signing for rivals Luton Town in July 2007.[2] After impressing in the Luton youth team, Howells made his first-team debut as a substitute on the final day of the 2007–08 season in a 1–0 defeat to Huddersfield Town, having turned 17 just three weeks earlier.[3] Soon after, Howells revealed that he had turned down offers to join Premier League clubs Portsmouth and Fulham while in the youth team, and had instead chose to further his career at Luton.[4]

Howells became a regular in the first-team during 2008–09, making his first appearance on 4 October 2008 in a 1–1 draw with Bradford City, coming on as a 37th-minute substitute for Sol Davis.[5] He finished the season with 28 league appearances,[5] primarily playing as a left-back and occasionally as a left winger. With the exception of the final, Howells played in every match of Luton's Football League Trophy success,[5] receiving a winner's medal at Wembley Stadium.[1][6] Howells won the club's Young Player of the Season award following his impressive season and signing his first professional contract with Luton soon after.[7][8]

Howells scored his first senior goal the next season in a 4–3 win away to Cambridge United on 26 September 2009.[9] Following the departure of Mick Harford and the subsequent arrival of new Luton manager Richard Money, Howells was pushed forward from his regular left-back position onto the left wing, scoring five further goals in the process,[9] including two in a 6–3 victory over Histon.[10] On 25 April 2010, Howells was named as Luton's Young Player of the Season for the second successive season.[11]

On 25 November 2010, it was announced that Howells had signed a new two-year contract with Luton.[12] With an injury to regular left-back Fred Murray in December 2010, Howells reverted to his original position in defence, helping Luton keep six clean sheets during the month of January.[6][13] After another solid season in a number of positions, including central midfield, Howells again received the Young Player of the Season award and, in doing so, became the second Luton player, after Kevin Foley to win the accolade for three consecutive seasons.[14]

The 2011–12 season saw Howells used primarily at left-back due to injuries to other players; he played in that position in the team that lost 2–1 to York City in the 2012 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley Stadium in May 2012.[15] The next month saw him sign a new three-year contract and, with the departure of Keith Keane to Preston North End, Howells became the team's current longest serving player at the age of 21, having made 183 appearances by the end of the season.[16] Moved back into midfield by new Luton manager Paul Buckle in the 2012–13 season, Howells scored his first goal of the campaign within the first 45 seconds of a 4–1 win at home to Macclesfield Town on 1 September 2012.[6][17]

Another managerial change saw Buckle replaced by the experienced John Still in February 2013. Howells scored the first goal under Still's reign in a 1–0 win away to Stockport County on 2 March 2013.[18] As under previous managers, Howells continued to be played in a variety of roles, including on the left side of attack and in the hole behind two strikers. During the 2013–14 season, at the age of 22, Howells made his 250th appearance for Luton on 2 November 2013 in a 0–0 draw with Gateshead.[19] He became the club's regular penalty-taker, successfully converting six out of six penalties. Howells finished the season with eight league goals in 35 appearances as the club won the Conference Premier title and therefore promotion into League Two.[6][20]

In July 2014, Howells signed a new two-year contract with Luton.[21] On 17 January 2015, Howells made his 300th appearance for the club at the age of 23 in a 1–0 win over Plymouth Argyle.[22] He finished 2014–15 with 41 appearances and five goals as Luton finished in eighth place on their return to the Football League.[23][24] In the summer of 2015, Howells asked to leave the club.[25] On 15 July 2015, Luton manager John Still confirmed that he had turned down an offer for Howells' services from an unnamed club.[25] He was not given a squad number by the club when they were announced five days later.[26]

On 11 September 2015, Howells joined Luton's fellow League Two club Yeovil Town on a one-month loan.[27] He finished his loan spell with seven appearances and returned to Luton on 12 October.[28][29] Howells was left out of the first-team squad by Still upon his return, but was recalled to the starting lineup by interim manager Andy Awford following Still's sacking in December 2015 and was assigned squad number 40.[30] He made his first Luton appearance of 2015–16 in a 3–2 win away to Exeter City on 19 December.[28] Howells admitted he had no complaints over his treatment by Still, stating that "maybe it was the wrong step" to ask to leave the club in the summer.[31] Following the appointment of Nathan Jones as Luton manager, Howells' run in the first-team continued, playing in every match under Jones' management until picking up a knee injury, for which he underwent a scan.[32] Shortly after, it was confirmed Howells would require a knee operation, resulting in a spell on the sidelines.[33] He returned to first-team football as a 94th-minute substitute for Josh McQuoid in a 3–2 win away to Oxford United on 16 April 2016.[34] Howells finished the season with 17 appearances,[28] but his contract with Luton was not renewed after 334 appearances and 31 goals since making his first-team debut at the age of 17 in 2008.[35][36]

Eastleigh

On 23 May 2016, Howells signed for National League club Eastleigh on a two-year contract.[37] He made his debut on the opening day of the 2016–17 season in a 2–1 win at home to Guiseley.[38] His first goal for Eastleigh was the team's third goal in a 5–0 win away to Bromley on 29 August.[6] Howells made his final appearance for Eastleigh in a 1–1 draw at home to Swindon Town in the FA Cup on 4 November, in which he suffered a knee injury.[39] He left Eastleigh by mutual consent on 4 January 2017 when manager Martin Allen began reshaping the squad.[39]

Dagenham & Redbridge

On 20 January 2017, Howells signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with National League club Dagenham & Redbridge.[40] He debuted on 11 February as an 83rd-minute substitute in a 4–1 win away to Southport.[41] After three appearances for Dagenham,[6] Howells signed for National League South club Ebbsfleet United on a one-month loan on 16 March 2017, as the club had sustained a number of injuries.[42] He debuted at left-back five days later in an 8–0 victory at home to Bishop's Stortford.[43] Howells completed the loan spell without making any further appearances.[6] He was released by Dagenham at the end of the 2017–18 season after not being offered a new contract.[44]

Billericay Town

Howells signed for newly promoted National League South club Billericay Town on 28 June 2018.[45]

Hemel Hempstead Town

Howells returned to fellow National League South club Hemel Hempstead Town on 29 May 2019.[46] He made his 500th career appearance whilst playing for the club.[47]

Kings Langley

In July 2021, he signed for Southern Football League Premier Division South side Kings Langley on a free transfer.[47]

Berkhamsted FC

In early July 2022, Howells was signed for Berkhamsted Football Club by Manager, Chris Devane.

International career

Howells is eligible to play for England by birth, and also qualifies for Wales through one of his grandfathers. Wales enquired about picking Howells for their under-21 team towards the end of the 2008–09 season,[48] but on 30 October 2009 he was named in the England C squad for the match against the Poland U23 team.[49] He earned his first cap in a 2–1 victory.[50] Howells scored his first goal for England C in a 1–0 victory over Estonia in the International Challenge Trophy on 12 October 2010.[51]

On 27 July 2011, Howells was called up to the Wales U21 squad to face Hungary in a friendly match.[52] He said "I'm really proud to be called up and hope to do well when I play."[52] He made his debut as Wales U21 lost 2–1 on 10 August.[53] He made four further appearances during the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification campaign, playing in victories over Montenegro[54] and Andorra,[55] and defeats to the Czech Republic[56] and Armenia as Wales U21 failed to qualify.[57]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 January 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Luton Town 2007–08[58] League One 1000000010
2008–09[5] League Two 28030005[lower-alpha 1]0360
2009–10[9] Conference Premier 31660—2[lower-alpha 2]0396
2010–11[6] Conference Premier 42350—8[lower-alpha 3]0553
2011–12[6] Conference Premier 42530—7[lower-alpha 4]1526
2012–13[6] Conference Premier 41360—5[lower-alpha 5]0523
2013–14[6] Conference Premier 35820—4[lower-alpha 5]0418
2014–15[23] League Two 36441001[lower-alpha 1]0415
2015–16[28] League Two 1700000—170
Total 273292910032133431
Yeovil Town (loan) 2015–16[28] League Two 60——1[lower-alpha 1]070
Eastleigh 2016–17[6] National League 14110—00151
Dagenham & Redbridge 2016–17[6] National League 40——0040
2017–18[6] National League 44120—1[lower-alpha 5]0471
Total 48120—10511
Ebbsfleet United (loan) 2016–17[6] National League South 10———10
Billericay Town 2018–19[6][59] National League South 42150—3[lower-alpha 6]0501
Hemel Hempstead Town 2019–20[60] National League South 26010—3[lower-alpha 7]0300
2020–21[60] National League South 13020—2[lower-alpha 5]0170
Total 39030—50470
Career total 423324010042150534
  1. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearances in Conference Premier play-offs
  3. ↑ Five appearances in FA Trophy, three appearances in Conference Premier play-offs
  4. ↑ Four appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, three appearances in Conference Premier play-offs
  5. 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  6. ↑ Two appearances in FA Trophy, one in Essex Senior Cup
  7. ↑ Two appearances in FA Trophy, one in Herts Senior Cup

Honours

Club

Luton Town

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 200. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. ↑ Wash, Roger, ed. (2008). Hatters Heroes. Roger Wash. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-9560832-0-3.
  3. ↑ "Luton 0–1 Huddersfield". Luton Town F.C. 3 May 2008. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012.
  4. ↑ "Jake turned down big guns to stay at Town". Luton Today. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Jake Howells in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "J. Howells: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  7. 1 2 "King Keane rules the awards roost". Luton Today. 28 April 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Hatters hand Howells pro contract". BBC Sport. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  9. 1 2 3 Williams, Tony; Wright, James, eds. (2010). Non-League Club Directory 2011. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 118–119. ISBN 978-1-869833-68-8.
  10. ↑ "Luton 6–3 Histon". BBC Sport. 13 April 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Awards a plenty for Pilks". Luton Town F.C. 26 April 2010. Archived from the original on 29 April 2010.
  12. ↑ "Jake Howells rewarded with Luton Town deal". BBC Sport. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  13. ↑ Cunliffe, James (3 January 2011). "Pilkington praises Howells ahead of Hayes test". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  14. 1 2 "Two trophies for Tyler". Luton Town F.C. 2 May 2011. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  15. ↑ Maiden, Phil (20 May 2012). "Luton Town 1–2 York City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "Howells pens new Luton deal". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  17. ↑ "Luton 4–1 Macclesfield". BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  18. ↑ "Stockport 0–1 Luton". BBC Sport. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  19. ↑ "Luton Town fan's view: Thank you, Jake Howells". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  20. ↑ "Luton Town win Conference Premier and Football League spot". BBC Sport. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  21. ↑ "Luton Town: Jake Howells signs new Hatters deal". BBC Sport. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  22. ↑ "Emotional Howells proud of reaching landmark". Luton Town F.C. 18 January 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  23. 1 2 "Games played by Jake Howells in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  24. ↑ "Luton Town 2–0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  25. 1 2 Simmonds, Mike (15 July 2015). "Hatters reject offer for Howells". Luton Today. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  26. ↑ "Squad numbers submitted to The Football League". Luton Town F.C. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  27. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (11 September 2015). "Howells heads to Yeovil for a month". Luton Today. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 "Games played by Jake Howells in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  29. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (12 October 2015). "Loan watch: Howells returns to Hatters after Yeovil deal expires". Luton Today. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  30. ↑ "Jake Howells returns to Town squad this weekend". Luton Town F.C. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  31. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (21 December 2015). "Howells has no complaints over his treatment by Luton". Luton Today. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  32. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (7 March 2016). "Injured Howells to undergo scan". Luton Today. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  33. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (10 March 2016). "Howells requires operation to cure knee injury". Luton Today. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  34. ↑ "Oxford United 2–3 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  35. ↑ "Hatters release list published". Luton Town F.C. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  36. ↑ "Luton Town: Jake Howells and Alex Lawless among nine released". BBC Sport. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  37. ↑ "Jake Howells: Eastleigh sign Luton midfielder on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  38. ↑ Gee, Wendy (6 August 2016). "Eastleigh off to a winning start as Guiseley are beaten 2–1". Southern Daily Echo. Southampton. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  39. ↑ "Dagenham & Redbridge make double signing of Jake Howells and Jake Sheppard". BBC Sport. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  40. ↑ Keating, Ned (11 February 2017). "Southport 1 Dagenham & Redbridge 4: Daggers come from behind to beat Sandgrounders and earn fifth straight win". Barking & Dagenham Post. Ilford. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  41. ↑ "Ebbsfleet United sign Dagenham and Redbridge's former Luton Town midfielder Jake Howells". Kent Online. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  42. ↑ Miller, Ed (21 March 2017). "Fleet 8–0 Bishop's Stortford". Ebbsfleet United F.C. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  43. ↑ "First team squad news". Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  44. ↑ "Jake Howells comes to Town". Billericay Town F.C. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  45. ↑ Chance, Dean (29 May 2019). "See below for the first signing of the evening". Hemel Hempstead Town F.C. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  46. 1 2 Simmonds, Mike (21 July 2021). "Ex-Hatter Howells moves to Kings Langley as former Town defender Galloway joins Plymouth". Luton Today. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  47. ↑ "Young Howells is on Wales' wish list". Luton Today. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  48. ↑ "C squad named". The Football Association. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013.
  49. ↑ "Fine win for England C". The Football Association. 18 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013.
  50. ↑ Appleby, Mike (12 October 2010). "England C into ICT semis". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  51. 1 2 Wood, Mark (28 July 2011). "Howells chuffed by Wales U21 call". Luton Today. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  52. ↑ "Wales U21 1–2 Hungary U21". BBC Sport. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  53. ↑ "Wales U21 1–0 Montenegro U21". BBC Sport. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  54. ↑ "Uefa under-21 qualifier: Wales U21 4–0 Andorra U21". BBC Sport. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  55. ↑ "Wales U21 0–1 Czech Republic U21". BBC Sport. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  56. ↑ "Wales U21 0–1 Armenia U21". Sky Sports. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  57. ↑ "Games played by Jake Howells in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  58. ↑ For FA Cup second qualifying round: "Brennan wins first match as Town progress in the FA Cup". Billericay Town F.C. 22 September 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
    For FA Cup third qualifying round: "Town go in to FA Cup fourth round". Billericay Town F.C. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
    For Essex Senior Cup third round: Rust, Danny (6 November 2018). "Essex Senior Cup holders Billericay Town progress after win over Concord Rangers". The Echo. Basildon. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
    For FA Trophy third qualifying round: "Jake goal gives Blues Trophy win". Billericay Town F.C. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
    For Essex Senior Cup fourth round: "Blues score 8 in Essex Senior Cup". Billericay Town F.C. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
    For Essex Senior Cup semi-final: "Billericay go out of Essex Senior Cup". Billericay Town F.C. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  59. 1 2 "Player profiles: Jake Howells". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
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