RAB HOWELL (1869 – 1937)
“..is believed to be the only true Romany to play for England”
Rabbi (Raby) Howell (born. October 12, 1867 in Wincobank, Sheffield - died. 1937) was a nineteenth century professional footballer who played for Sheffield United and Liverpool, and won two England caps. He was notable as the first, and probably only, full-blooded Roma ("gypsy") to play for England.
The two internationals that Rab played in were
The Pall Mall Gazette (London, England) dated Saturday, March 9, 1895; Issue 9347 gives some additional information on the fixture
Howell was born in a Roma caravan in Wincobank, Sheffield. His father was a horse dealer who sold pots and pans. He began his career with the Sheffield club Ecclesfield and also played for Rotherham Swifts before signing, with three other Swifts players, for Second Division Sheffield United in March 1890. It appears that they were lured to the Lane by the offer of 10/- a week in wages. He started at the club as a centre forward and then centre half. However in his second full season at the club he moved to wing half and when the club joined the Football League in 1892 he took up the right back position with Ernest Needham on the left. This is what Needham said in later years about his partner
"a gypsy by birth, perhaps owes some of his inexhaustible vitality to his lucky parentage. Certain it is that no man is more untiring. In his right-hand position this light-weight player (9st.12lbs or 57.3kg.) always excels. He rejoices at meeting the best of forward wings, and should the outside man indulge in dribbling he sticks to him like a leech. Many duels have I seen between him and [Fred] Spiksley [of Sheffield Wednesday], and generally Howell has come off best. Unfortunately he is a little too fond of keeping the ball too long, and loses many opportunities."
So Rab had become by common consent a highly skilled player despite his small size (5 feet 5 inches or 1.65 metres). Dennis Clareborough in his book “100 Greats – Sheffield United Football Club” states that many players were frightened of Rab as he was “hard as nails”, a ball winner who stuck to opponents like glue. He was fast and “terrier like” although his game was let down by both his passing and shooting.
In the book, Famous Association Footballers (1895), Howell is described as: "Formerly he played centre-half, but for his present club he has always occupied the position of right half with conspicuous success. He is small, but for his size he has not many equals. Very quick in his movements, he never tires, and plays equally well to the end of the game."
He won promotion with the Blades, and, in 1897-98, a Championship medal. He played for 5 years with United, making 155 League appearances for the club with 6 goals. He also played in 22 F.A. Cup ties without scoring, and 63 other games, scoring five goals. His overall total for the Blades was 240 appearances and 11 goals.
However his departure from the club was, and still is mired in controversy. During the five years at the Club, he was often in trouble for “off the field activities” and the United Committee would on occasion sanction Rab extra money so that he could meet his obligations. However matters came to a head in an away game against Sunderland at what was then their home ground, Newcastle Road (they did not move to Roker Park until the following season). United were in the midst of trying to win their first League Championship. But on two occasions during the match crosses came in from the Sunderland right, passed in front of Billy Foulke in the United goal, and looked as though they were going out for goal kicks. But both crosses were intercepted by Rab Howell who in attempting to clear the them, put both in the Sheffield United net.
Graham Phythian in his book "The True Story of William Foulke" recounts both goals. The first goal was a result of a hopeful cross by the Sunderland winger Morgan from somewhere near the corner flag. Billy Foulke moved forward to collect the cross but Rab Howell intercepted it, slipped in doing so and sent the ball into the net. The next goal came in the second half. Howell raced back to forestall a Sunderland forward and in doing so help the ball pass a bewildered Foulke and into the net. The Blades lost this vital game 3 - 1. Foulke was of the opinion that a player of Howell's skill and experience would not have committed two such appalling blunders in the same match, and such a crucial one at that. Foulke no doubt let it be known what he thought about the events surrounding Howell's goals. He was said to be incensed
Sheffield United FC circa 1895 - Rab Howell is sat down bottom right
Now it may have have been an unfortunate accident but the club did not see it that way. Their actions after the game seem to indicate that they believed that Rab Howell was participating in some form of corrupt practice. He was left out of the challenge match against Celtic and the Dewar Shield match against the Corinthians. He played in the next match against West Bromwich Albion in which the Blades lost 2 - 0, with Howell having another poor game. The rumours and no doubt the invective that Howell received led to him in April 1898 being transferred to Liverpool FC for a fee of £200, with Rab making his debut for the club in a game against Aston Villa. This was the last game of the season and resulted in an impressive 4-0 win for Liverpool. The Anfield club finished championship runners-up a year later with Howell missing only four of their 34 games.
However by the time Liverpool landed their first title in 1901 Howell had lost his regular place in the team and that summer he moved on to Preston North End. In all, he played 68 times for Liverpool, scoring no goals.
His career was ended by broken leg in 1903 whilst playing for Preston. In April 2008 I was informed that after retiring from the game Rab opened a fruit and vegetable shop making local deliveries by horse and cart. Furthermore one of Rab's daughters married into a wealth mill owner's family.
Three years alter I was contacted by a football historian who stated that an extract in the Lancashire Evening Post when he died reported that around Xmas 1936 he had become practically blind. He had been a general labourer and night watchman. Rab died in Preston on 21st July 1937. His age was given as 69
In March 2012, I was contacted by the webmaster of England Football Online who was updated the Biographies of those players that had in their time played for England. From our researchers we found out that Rab seems to have had a "varied" personal life as well as a professional one
According to the 1871 census, Rabbi is
the sixth child of eight to Thomas and Elizabeth. They're living in Stock's Hill
in Ecclesfield. His father is an agricultural labourer. Rabbi's birthplace is
stated as Brightside
According to the 1881 census, Raby is a scholar and has another sister. He is
one of five children remaining with their parents in Ecclesfield. His father is
a general labourer.
According to the 1891 census, Rabi is married to Selina, with one daughter,
Elizabeth. He is a coal miner and they live at the back of 147 Dunlop Street, in
Attercliffe cum Darnell, in the Carbrook area of Sheffield. His birthplace is
stated as Ecclesall.
According to the 1901 census, Selina, who is still stated as being married, is
living with her father Dennis Smith at 16 Newark Street in Attercliffe cum
Darnell. Rabi has three more children, Selina, Rabbi and Edith.
Rabbi however is remarried to Ada with one son, fourteen month old Leo, and
living at 3 Lilian Road in Liverpool, where he plys he trade as a professional
football player.
According to the 1911 census, Rabbi has retired and is now a small shopkeeper
along with his wife, Ada. Who also work at the shop. They have four more
children, Madge, James Joseph, Maria and Percy Vincent. They live at 27 Paradise
Street in Preston. The census reveals that they had ten children altogether, and
that five had tragically died in childhood.
Married twice, to Selina Smith [registered as Rabbi, Sheffield, March 1888],
then to Ada [married in 1898, but no registration found, so no maiden name
found]
Died summer 1937, aged 69 years n/k days [registered in Preston, Lancashire,
September 1937].
References
The Pall Mall Gazette (London, England), Saturday, March 9, 1895; Issue 9347
Needham, Ernest (2003 reprint of 1901 original). Association Football. Cleethorpes: Soccer Books.
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dennis Clareborough 100 Greats – Sheffield United Football Club
Graham Phythian -"The True Story of William Foulke"
The Complete Record of Sheffield United FC
Famous Association Footballers (1895)
Notes
I have stated that Rab Howell is believed to be the only “true Romany to play for England” The former England international and England manager Sir Alf Ramsey was supposedly descended from Roma’s. A review in the Daily Telegraph 30th April 2006 of a biography of Sir Alf quotes the following story
“As for (Bobby) Moore, whom Ramsey had made captain at the unusually tender age of 22, the manager recognised that he was a pillar, for all his indiscipline and his cheek - towards even Ramsey, who, when young, had been nicknamed 'Darkie' and occasionally (almost certainly mistakenly) held to have gypsy blood. The journalist Nigel Clarke tells of Ramsey's fury one day when the team coach was going through Czechoslovakia: 'It passed some Romany caravans. And Bobby piped up "Hey, Alf, there's some of your relatives over there." Alf went absolutely crimson.'
Sheffield United did eventually win the League Championship in 1898 for the first and sadly the only time. They finished the season on 42 points, three points ahead of their nearest rivals Sunderland and seven points clear of the third club Wolverhampton Wanderers
If you can supply any further information on Rab Howell, especially after his career finished, please contact me.
This page was last updated on 03/04/12 10:21