Cambridge United are saddened to hear of the death of former player Fred Howell, who sadly passed away in February after a long illness at the age of 73.

Fred had followed the Club's fortunes with interest since leaving the Abbey Stadium and had lived in the same house since 1962, which he had affectionately called 'Cambu'.

The Board of Directors would like to thank his son Stuart, who recently contacted the Club with the news, and passed onto United a small legacy from his father's will.

Fans Director Brian Attmore pays tribute with the following extract from the book '100 Greats Cambridge United' written by himself and Graham Nurse.

Fred Howell
Wing-half, centre-back 1958-1963

Only Jackie Scurr and Rodney Slack played more Southern League games for Cambridge United than Fred Howell. Born in 1934, he began his career with Yarmouth Boys' team in Norfolk and joined Yarmouth Town on leaving school. Here he played in their youth team until his call-up for National Service, during which he was Physical Training Instructor in the RAF.

When he completed this in 1954, Fred Howell rejoined Yarmouth and became a regular in their first team after just one game for their reserves. It was in 1958 when the ex-Charlton and England player Bert Johnson, now player-manager at Cambridge, took him to the Abbey Stadium, and in the next five years Fred Howell was to make over 250 first team starts.

Fans and officials recognised him as a great club man and a versatile player. He was a centre-back good enough to play at wing-half when Roy Kirk was leading from the heart of defence. In those days a team had only one centre half. Fred Howell was a 90 minutes man who always kept going whatever the state of the game. Affectionately known as 'Chopper' to the fans, he was also the free kick specialist.

Before he left, the Directors awarded him and goalkeeper Andy Smith a joint testimonial. This was against an International XI that included Ted Ditchburn, Wally Barnes, Bill McGarry and Jimmy Hill. That final season saw the never to be repeated final table in the Southern League Premier Division with Cambridge City the champions and Cambridge United as runners-up.

In the summer of 1963 Fred Howell joined Wisbech, lured away by their manager Jesse Pye, the ex-Wolves player with whom negotiations were said to take an age because of his very bad stutter.

During his career Fred Howell, who was married with two young children at the time, received offers to join Norwich City, Colchester and Peterborough, all of whom he turned down as he preferred to stay with the club he was playing for. The fact that bigger clubs were looking to sign him is an indication of his abilities and of the standing in which Fred Howell was held within the game.

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