Howell fans Wealdstone flames

Dec 9 2009 By Tim Edwards, Harrow Observer

DAVID Howell has stoked the fires ahead of Harrow Borough's league trip to local rivals Wealdstone later this month by accusing some of the Stones' fans of sickening abuse about him and his dead brother.

The manager was playing for Harrow in 1983 when his younger brother, Michael, was playing for the opponents, Hayes. Michael headed to the changing rooms for treatment to a cut eye but tragically died of a heart attack aged just 23.

Two years later Howell played for Enfield against Wealdstone's double-winning side of 1985 where he says he heard some fans taunt him with shouts of 'you should be six feet under like your brother'. He claims the alleged remarks have been made every time his Borough side have faced the Stones and is concerned that the 'needless hatred' by a few cowards has failed to dissipate over the years.

Howell made the comments in an online blog about derby games and the passions such games stir amongst players and fans.

"Every time I've been involved in any of these Harrow v Wealdstone derbies, unfortunately, there are still some supporters who feel the need to shout out the exact same comments," he claimed. "These people are almost invisible as well as being cowards. They are in the minority but in this case, they bring shame on your average passionate Wealdstone supporter."

The comments are certain to add an extra edge to their first league meeting of the season at the Vale on December 28.

David Albert, chairman of Wealdstone FC Supporters Club, believes Howell's comments are wide of the mark but says fans of any side can make inappropriate comments in the heat of the moment during a local derby.

"I am very surprised that David Howell has made these comments as I have been to many of these derby matches and I certainly do not recall hearing any such remarks," said Mr Albert.

"The tragic incident that David refers to was back in the early 80s and many of our supporters would be too young to have been around then.

"We at Wealdstone were as shocked at the time as any other people in the game were and we sent our condolences.

"I do agree that passions at derby matches can run high as they always do between our two sides, and sometimes things are maybe said that shouldn't be - but that applies to both sets of supporters. I think we should all move on and focus on the football side of our derby matches." * Harrow Borough bowed out of the Middlesex Senior Cup with a 3-0 second round defeat to Zamaretto Division 1 South & West outfit Bedfont Green on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, the YouTube video clip of Rocky Baptiste’s hapless open-goal miss during Harrow’s recent 5-3 win over Waltham Abbey has been viewed more than a staggering 3.5million times, prompting manager Howell to claim Borough are now the ‘best supported nonleague team online.’