{{Short description|Northern Irish footballer (born 1986)}} {{use British English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = David Howland | image = | caption = | fullname = David Howland<ref name="Hugman2009/10">{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10 |year=2009 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |location=Edinburgh |isbn=978-1-84596-474-0}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|9|17|df=y}}<ref name="Hugman2009/10"/> | birth_place = Ballynahinch,<ref name="HugmanSite">{{Hugman|23464|accessdate=21 November 2019}}</ref> Northern Ireland | height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}<ref name="Hugman2009/10"/> | position = Midfielder | youthyears1 = 2002–2004| youthclubs1 = Birmingham City | years1 = 2004–2008| clubs1 = Birmingham City| caps1 = 0| goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2008 | clubs2 = → Port Vale (loan) | caps2 = 17| goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2008–2010| clubs3 = Port Vale | caps3 = 45| goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2010–2016| clubs4 = Glentoran | caps4 = 95| goals4 = 12 | totalcaps = 157| totalgoals = 15 | nationalyears1 = 2006–2008| nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland U21| nationalcaps1 = 4| nationalgoals1 = 0 }} '''David Howland''' (born 17 September 1986) is a Northern Irish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He scored 17 goals in 171 league and cup appearances in an eleven-year career in professional and semi-professional football in England and Northern Ireland.
A Northern Ireland under-21 international, he started his career at Birmingham City. In January 2008, he was loaned out to Port Vale and joined the club permanently at the end of the season. He was released by Port Vale in the summer of 2010, at which point he signed with Glentoran. He helped the club win the Irish Cup in 2013 before he retired due to an injury in August 2016.
==Club career== ===Birmingham City=== Howland was born in Ballynahinch, County Down, and joined Birmingham City's Academy in 2002. He signed his first one-year professional contract in 2005, which was renewed for another year.<ref name=profile>{{cite web |url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10412~34033,00.html |title=Player Profiles: David Howland |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |accessdate=22 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411163925/http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10412~34033,00.html |archive-date=11 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was allocated a first-team squad number for the first time during the 2006–07 season and signed a further year's contract before the 2007–08 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/6656903.stm |title=Birmingham sign youngster Howland |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2007 |access-date=22 January 2008}}</ref> A central midfielder, he played regularly for Birmingham's reserve team but did not make an appearance for the first team.
He was an unused substitute in the League Cup fourth-round tie against Blackburn Rovers in September 2007 in unusual circumstances. Birmingham had selected the 15-year-old Jordon Mutch, having obtained confirmation from the Premier League that it was within the rules for a boy of that age to play, but were informed less than two hours before kick-off that due to the Football Association's child protection rules, Mutch would not be eligible. Special dispensation was granted for Howland, who had not been assigned a squad number for the 2007–08 season, to take his place on the bench wearing a numberless shirt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1121300,00.html |title=Statement regarding Jordon Mutch |publisher=Birmingham City F.C |date=26 September 2007 |accessdate=22 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210205342/http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10412~1121300%2C00.html |archivedate=10 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/tm_method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D19856460%26siteid%3D50002-name_page.html |title=Howland comes to the rescue for Blues |work=Birmingham Mail |author=Tattum, Colin |date=27 September 2007 |accessdate=22 January 2008 |archive-date=28 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728082647/http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/tm_method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D19856460%26siteid%3D50002-name_page.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Port Vale=== In January 2008, he joined Port Vale of League One on loan for the remainder of the season<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/7204637.stm |title=Birmingham youngster joins Vale |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 January 2008 |access-date=23 January 2008}}</ref> and made his debut in the Football League on 26 January 2008, against AFC Bournemouth.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7197693.stm |title=Port Vale 1–3 Bournemouth |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 January 2008 |access-date=26 January 2008}}</ref> At the end of the season, he was released by Birmingham,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1311708,00.html |title=Young quartet released |publisher=Birmingham City F.C |date=13 May 2008 |accessdate=13 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828164325/http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1311708,00.html |archive-date=28 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but his performance while on loan at Port Vale was sufficient to earn him a two-year permanent deal.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/7417012.stm |title= Howland to stay with the Valiants |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 May 2008 |access-date=23 May 2008}}</ref>
He was among the few Vale players to hit 40 games in the 2008–09 season. He enjoyed his time under Dean Glover,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/7708746.stm|title=Howland flourishing under Glover |date=4 November 2008|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=6 June 2009}}</ref> especially in games with Glover's five-man midfield tactic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/7957841.stm|title=Attacking freedom helps Howland |date=23 March 2009|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=6 June 2009}}</ref> However, he was transfer-listed by new manager Micky Adams in August 2009, along with five others, having failed to impress in the pre-season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/portvale/Port-Vale-Valiants-transfer-list-players/article-1231046-detail/article.html|title=Port Vale: Valiants transfer list six players|last=Shaw|first=Steve|date=6 August 2009|work=The Sentinel|accessdate=6 August 2009}}</ref> After a month on the transfer list, he was the only one of the six to have received no inquiries from any clubs,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/portvale/Breaking-News-Davidson-set-extend-Stafford-stay/article-1304280-detail/article.html|title=Breaking News: Davidson set to extend Stafford stay|last=Shaw|first=Steve|date=2 September 2009|work=The Sentinel|accessdate=2 September 2009}}</ref> which came as a surprise to many Vale fans. He returned to the Vale first team in mid-September after impressing in training, though he remained transfer-listed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10381~1802904,00.html|title=Manager: Howland Has Earned Chance |date=20 September 2009|work=port-vale.co.uk|accessdate=21 September 2009}}</ref> In April 2010, he learned that he would not be offered a new contract by manager Micky Adams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/8647616.stm|title=Port Vale release Lawrie, Howland, Richman & Edwards |date=27 April 2010|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=27 April 2010}}</ref>
===Glentoran=== In September 2010, Howland left England for Belfast, signing a season-long contract with IFA Premiership club Glentoran.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glentoran.com/news/536/glens-sign-david-howland |title=Glens sign David Howland |date=19 September 2010 |work=glentoran.com |accessdate=19 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923130712/http://www.glentoran.com/news/536/glens-sign-david-howland |archivedate=23 September 2010 }}</ref> He made his debut in the televised Sky Sports match at home to Linfield. He was utilised in the playmaker role in the heart of the midfield. The "Glens" finished in third place in 2010–11, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League. In January 2011, he signed a contract to keep him at the club until 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/9380060.stm|title=Glentoran duo Callacher and Howland sign new Oval deals |date=28 January 2011|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=1 July 2011}}</ref> Glentoran then finished sixth in 2011–12.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/glentoran/2011-2012/table |title=Glentoran 2011–2012 : Northern Irish Premier League Table |publisher=Statto Organisation |accessdate=17 November 2012}}</ref> They finished fourth in 2012–13 and qualified for the Europa League. Glentoran also won the Irish Cup, and Howland played in the 3–1 final victory over Cliftonville.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Lyle|title=Waterworth double as Glentoran beat Cliftonville|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22411421|access-date=30 April 2014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 May 2013}}</ref> Howland also featured in the club's Europa League qualification defeat to Icelandic club KR.<ref>{{cite web|title=Glentoran 0–3 KR|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2012241--glentoran-vs-kr/|publisher=UEFA|access-date=30 April 2014}}</ref> The "Glens" finished the 2013–14 season in fifth place, though Howland missed much of the campaign after injuring cartilage in his knee.<ref>{{cite news|title=Glentoran midfielder Howland faces spell on sidelines|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24378893|access-date=30 April 2014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 October 2013}}</ref> He featured ten times in the 2014–15 campaign and just once in the 2015–16 season before he announced his retirement in August 2016, owing to a long-standing injury.<ref name="mbtto">{{cite web|title=David Howland {{!}} Glentoran FC|url=http://www.glentoran.com/news/david-howland-0|website=glentoran.com|accessdate=5 August 2016}}</ref>
==International career== Howland represented Northern Ireland at junior levels and was first selected for the under-21 squad in February 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irishfa.com/the-ifa/news/1957/under-21-squad-announced/ |title=Under-21 squad announced |publisher=Irish Football Association |first=Martin |last=Harris |date=2 February 2006 |accessdate=22 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318012641/http://www.irishfa.com/the-ifa/news/1957/under-21-squad-announced/ |archivedate=18 March 2006}}</ref> He won four caps at under-21 level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/2299/under-21/david-howland/ |title=Squad Profiles – Under 21: David Howland |publisher=Irish Football Association |accessdate=22 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820222358/http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/2299/under-21/david-howland/ |archivedate=20 August 2009}} Note this source says 3 appearances, which was correct when accessed in January 2008; it was not updated for the match he played in March of that year.<br>{{cite web |url=http://www.irishfa.com/international/item/3838/u21s-no-match-for-strong-romanians/ |title=U21s no match for strong Romanians |first=Martin |last=Harris |publisher=Irish Football Association |date=26 March 2008 |accessdate=11 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613194131/http://www.irishfa.com/international/item/3838/u21s-no-match-for-strong-romanians/ |archivedate=13 June 2011}}<br>{{cite web |url=http://nifootball.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/david-howland.html |title=David Howland |website=Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats (NIFG) |accessdate=6 September 2017}}</ref>
==Physiotherapy career== Howland graduated as a physiotherapist and secured a job at the Crewe Alexandra Academy in 2016.<ref name="mbtto"/>
==Career statistics== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, Irish Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Football League Cup, Northern Ireland Football League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Birmingham City||2005–06<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=41647|season=2005|accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |2006–07<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=41647|season=2006|accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>||Championship||0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0 |- |2007–08<ref name="07/08">{{Soccerbase season|id=41647|season=2007|accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0 |- |rowspan="4"|Port Vale||2007–08<ref name="07/08" />||League One||17||1||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||17||1 |- |2008–09<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=41647|season=2008|accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>||League Two||40||2||1||1||0||0||0||0||41||3 |- |2009–10<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=41647|season=2009|accessdate=1 January 2017}}</ref>||League Two||5||0||1||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=efl|Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.}}||0||7||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !62!!3!!2!!1!!0!!0!!1!!0!!65!!4 |- |rowspan="7"|Glentoran||2010–11<ref name=Stats>{{cite web|title=Stats|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/david-howland/16024/|work=Soccerway|accessdate=30 April 2014}}</ref>||NIFL Premiership||20||2||0||0||3||0||0||0||23||2 |- |2011–12<ref name=Stats/>||NIFL Premiership||26||4||0||0||2||0||0||0||28||4 |- |2012–13<ref name=Stats/>||NIFL Premiership||29||5||4||1||2||0||0||0||35||6 |- |2013–14<ref name=Stats/>||NIFL Premiership||9||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||9||1 |- |2014–15<ref name=Stats/>||NIFL Premiership||10||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||10||0 |- |2015–16<ref name=Stats/>||NIFL Premiership||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !95!!12!!4!!1!!7!!0!!0!!0!!106!!13 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !157!!15!!6!!2!!7!!0!!1!!0!!171!!17 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Glentoran''' *Irish Cup: 2012–13<ref name="mbtto"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howland, David}} Category:People from Ballynahinch, County Down Category:Association footballers from County Down Category:Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland Category:Northern Ireland men's under-21 international footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Birmingham City F.C. players Category:Port Vale F.C. players Category:Glentoran F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Association football physiotherapists Category:Irish physiotherapists Category:British physiotherapists Category:Crewe Alexandra F.C. non-playing staff Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century sportsmen from Northern Ireland Category:NIFL Premiership players