Members News: Another Sky Blue 56 Year Old Today. ‘Happy Birthday’ Howard!!

Bulkington Boys Club 1981, Howard is front row third from left,the keeper is Jonathan Sheffield who went on to play for Norwich and Peterborough

Howard Clark in the Sky Blue

In a very busy day for CCFPA Member’s Birthdays we would like to send ‘Many Happy Returns’ for today to former Sky Blues young eighties wide midfielder  Howard Clark.

Howard is a ‘Cov.Kid’ born in the city on 19th September 1968 exactly the same date and year as another Sky Blue alumni Steve Morgan (see earlier post). This means both are celebrating their 56th Birthday today!

Howard made a total of of 24 first team appearances (fourteen as substitute) scoring once for the Sky Blues between 1986-91. He came to Highfield Road from Wolverhampton Wanderers (where he was a junior) as a YTS and turned professional in September 1986, a momentous year for the Club. It is often forgotten that in season 1986-87 not only did we win the F.A.Cup at Wembley in that memorable 3-2 extra time victory against Tottenham Hotspur but we also achieved a cup double, winning the F.A.Youth Cup against Charlton Athletic over two legs the same season.

Howard was an integral member of that victorious squad of youngsters, managed by fellow CCFPA member Mick Coop and is pictured fifth from left (back row) of the team photo below.  

City Youth FAYC Cup Winners 1986-87

Howard (left) with Claus Bech Jorgensen

Howard made his first team City debut in a 1-1 home draw with West Ham United in November 1988 and his last as a sub in March 1991 at Highfield Road in a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace. After a loan spell with Darlington he moved to Shrewsbury Town on a free in December 1991 where he clocked up over sixty appearances and thence finished his footballing career at Hereford United (1993) and then in non league football at both Nuneaton Borough and Crawley Town in 1995 and finally Hinckley Town.

On hanging up his boots in November 1996 Howard became a serving police officer in the West Midlands (and turned out for their team). He was presented with his official CCFPA tie by then CCFPA committee member and popular former Sky Blue Claus Jorgensen on joining us back in 2012 (left).

Have a great Birthday today Howard, and come back soon to see us!

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.