James Howieson (7 June 1900 – 28 May 1971) was a Scottish footballer, who played as an inside forward for clubs in Scotland, Ireland, England and the United States. He earned one cap with Scotland in 1927.[2]

Jimmy Howieson
Personal information
Date of birth (1900-06-07)7 June 1900
Place of birth Rutherglen, Scotland
Date of death 28 May 1971(1971-05-28) (aged 70)[1]
Place of death Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s) Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1921–1922 Rutherglen Glencairn
1921–1924 Airdrieonians 66 (20)
1924–1925 St Johnstone 19 (9)
1925St Mirren (loan) 0 (0)
1925 Dundee United 10 (5)
1925–1927 St Mirren 44 (14)
1927–1928 Hull City 39 (7)
1928–1929 New Bedford Whalers 43 (17)
1929 New York Giants 4 (3)
1929–1930 Hull City 28 (5)
1930–1932 Shelbourne
1932–1934 Clyde 37 (6)
1934–1935 Alloa Athletic
1934–1935 Glenavon
1935–1936 Belfast Celtic
International career
1927 Scotland 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life edit

Howieson, the son of a Glasgow city centre tavern owner,[3] attended Rutherglen Elementary School and John Street School (Bridgeton). He spent two years as a marine engineer, but an accident led him to enlist in the Royal Navy in 1917. He spent four years as a sailor and took part in organised football for the first time, having previously played on the streets with most of his time spent assisting his father.[1][4]

Playing career edit

Club edit

In 1921, Howieson purchased his release from the Navy and joined Rutherglen Glencairn. Later that year, he moved to Airdrieonians (they won the Scottish Cup during his time there and he played a part in the run, but was not involved in the final itself). In 1924, he transferred to St Johnstone and appeared in most of the Perth club's league games, but an arrangement was made for him to play for St Mirren in the Paisley team's cup games – however this did not include replays, and in his absence they were eliminated at the third attempt by eventual winners Celtic.[4] At the end of that season, Howieson moved to Dundee United;[5] in October 1925, Dundee United sold his contract to St Mirren for £1,000.[6] He won the 1926 Scottish Cup with St Mirren, scoring the winning goal.[4][7] In March 1927, St Mirren sent him south to Hull City for £3,200.[8]

A season later, he left the British Isles to join the New Bedford Whalers for the 1928–29 American Soccer League season. That season saw the outbreak of the "Soccer War" between the ASL and the United States Football Association over control of the sport. As part of that dispute, the USFA and FIFA declared the ASL and outlaw league and created a competing league, the Eastern Professional Soccer League. Although the Whalers remained in the ASL for most of the season, it moved to the EPSL in the spring of 1929. Howieson played thirty-five games, scoring nine goals in the ASL, then another eight games, scoring eight goals, in the EPSL. With four games left in the season, the Whalers sent Howieson to the New York Giants for four games.[9]

At the end of the season, Howieson returned to Hull City.[4] In 1930, they sent him to Dublin club Shelbourne for £3,200. He then played for another two teams in Scotland (including boyhood favourites Clyde) and two in Northern Ireland until his career ended in 1936.

International edit

On 26 February 1927, Howieson earned his only Scotland cap in a 1–0 victory over Ireland.

After football edit

Following his retirement, Howieson co-owned the Railway Tavern in Gorbals, Glasgow with his brother.[1][4][3]

Honours edit

St Mirren
Shelbourne

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Mitchell, Andy (2021). The men who made Scotland: The definitive Who's Who of Scottish Football Internationalists 1872-1939. Amazon. ISBN 9798513846642.
  2. ^ John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ a b Railway Tavern | International footballer fae the Gorbals, Old Glasgow Pubs
  4. ^ a b c d e Jimmy Howieson, Cairter's Corner
  5. ^ Jimmy Howieson Player Profile, Arab Archive
  6. ^ Gracie, Steve (2008). A Passion for Survival : Dundee United FC, A Comprehensive History 1909-1945. Dundee: Arabest Publishing. p. 235. ISBN 9780955834103.
  7. ^ St Mirren's Victory | Celtic Lose Scottish Cup at Hampden, The Glasgow Herald, 12 April 1926
  8. ^ Jimmy Howieson, On Cloud Seven
  9. ^ Jimmy Howieson, Soccerstats.us

External links edit