In 1895 Rabbi Howell made history as the first Romany footballer to play for
England, but 119 years on the pioneering player lies buried in an unmarked grave.
Now as an appeal to raise funds for a headstone begins, what is the story behind
Howell’s ground-breaking career and have sporting attitudes to the Romany
community changed?
Howell was born in 1867 in a Gypsy camp in Dore, Sheffield.
Steven Kay, who has written a book on Howell, said: "His birth certificate
suggests he was born in a tent as there were no houses at the address given.
"He must have been an itinerant at the time."
Howell’s family then moved to Ecclesfield, to the north of Sheffield, where
he went on to earn a living as a miner and play football with the local amateur
side, playing in central defence.
