Leonard Howell

Leonard Howell was born in Herne Hill, a younger son of Frederick Howell, Esq. He and his elder brother Frederick Broke Howell (1846–1901), who became a clergyman, entered Winchester College together in Short Half 1861. Both were assigned to the college's house in Kingsgate Street (B), of which the Revd. Henry Moberly had become housemaster in 1859. Moberley was a strong cricketer, having played for the Oxford University eleven several times between 1842 and 1845. During his student years, Leonard Howell represented Winchester College at various sports, including "soccer", cricket and athletics, winning the 100 yds, 300 yds and 110 yds hurdles in 1866.

Football career

After leaving the college, Howell joined the Wanderers and helped them retain the FA Cup which they had won 1872 final. Under the competition rules, Wanderers were given a "bye" to the final, where they met Oxford University at Lillie Bridge on 29 March 1873. In the early stages of the final, Oxford "made the running... with Howell and Thompson performing admirably in the Wanderers defence to keep the University students at bay". Despite the students' efforts, Wanderers won the game 2–0, and thus retained the trophy. This was Howell's first match for the Wanderers; he is, thus, one of the few players to have made his debut in an FA Cup Final. His solitary appearance for England had come three weeks before the Cup Final, in the second international match against Scotland played at Kennington Oval,…

After leaving Winchester College, he became a malt factor. He died at Lausanne in Switzerland on 7 September 1895, aged 47.