Howarth, Frank

Birth Date

17th November 1964

Birthplace

Budleigh Salterton, Devon

Occupation

Midfielder

Biographical Text

Budleigh Salterton-born Frank Howarth started as an apprentice and made around twenty league appearances for Exeter City in the first half of the 1980s. He later played for the successful Exmouth Town team of the late 1980s.

Formerly signed on schoolboy forms in August 1979, progressing as an apprentice, Exeter City gave Frank a full contract in November 1982 although he had made his league debut during the previous season in a 2-0 defeat at Brentford in February 1982.

Never regarded as a first team regular, he nevertheless stayed with the Grecians until the end of the 1984-85 season, which proved to be his best in terms of games played. He also scored what proved to be his only league goal in a 1-1 home draw with Blackpool.

Although it would have drawn little attention at the time, he had also featured in City's first-ever game in the Football League Trophy (also known variously as the Football League Group Cup and Associate Members' Cup) against Bristol City on 14 August 1982.

Frank left City to link up with a very successful Exmouth Town side in the summer of 1985 and later played for Torrington, Budleigh Salterton and Taunton Town.