Robert Victor Howlett (born 12 December 1948) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League as a defender for Southend United and Colchester United. He began his career at Chelsea where he failed to make a first-team appearance.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Victor Howlett[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1948-12-12) 12 December 1948 (age 73)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | West Ham, Essex, England[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Chelsea | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1967–1969 | Southend United | 6 | (0) |
| 1969–1970 | Colchester United | 16 | (0) |
| Total | 22 | (0) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Born in West Ham, Essex, Howlett signed for Chelsea as a youth, prior to signing for Southend United. He failed to make an appearance at Chelsea, and played in just six league games for Southend between 1967 and 1969,[2] starting four league games and coming on as a substitute for the other two, also making one FA Cup start.[3]
Howlett signed for Essex rivals Colchester United in July 1969,[3] and made his debut on 9 August 1969 at Sincil Bank during a 3–3 draw with Lincoln City.[4] He made a further 15 league appearances for the U's.[5] On 18 April 1970, Howlett was to play his last professional game, after coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Ray Whittaker, he suffered a career-ending broken leg in a challenge with Peter Gelson in the 88th minute of a 2–0 away defeat to Brentford.[6] He was forced to retire on medical grounds after this injury.[1]