Howe is Back Home for 26/27

Darren Holmes

Owen Howe, whose name is etched firmly in the club's history, is back at Ladysmead. The striker made his Tiverton debut as a 16 year old and is one of the most talented players to emerge from the local area.

Speaking about his return, if he felt this was time? and being back where his senior career started, he commented;

“This has always been home for me, and I'm glad to be back. Previously, I've had different conversations with different managers about coming back, but at this stage in my career, I think this is the right time to come back.”

His colourful playing career began with him in his formative years becoming part of Exeter's youth system and trialling at fellow EFL club Blackpool. The nomadic frontman first wore the yellow of his hometown club in the 2010/11 season and cemented his place in the side.

He returned after spells away at Bideford and Willand and helped fire Martyn Roger's class of 2016/17 to the Southern Premier League South division, with 16 league goals and formed a deadly partnership with the hugely prolific Tivvy Talisman Levi Landricombe.

Recalling those memorable days with the club media team, he remarked;

“To do it with any club is special, but to do it with your hometown club is even more so. We had a good team, we were all friends and that makes such a difference, like a team in the dressing room.” 

He reasoned, “If you have a friendship off the pitch, then it creates special memories, on it and I think that’s what we done.”

The frontman moved on to fellow Premier League South side Salisbury during the following campaign, and Howe's impressive combined total for the 2017/18 season was 38 games played, 21 goals scored.

A first spell at Bristol Manor Farm was next for the Tiverton native and new director of football Lee Lashenko has linked up with him a lot in the intervening years.

However, in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 season's Howe was very much a sought after player at Step Three and a high profile move to Weston Super Mare, was followed by a return to Steve Claridge's Salisbury and then he joined up with his former assistant manager at Bideford Rob Dray, at Taunton.

For the 2021/22 campaign he was back at Manor Farm, before a brief stint at Tivvy and ending the season with Barnstaple. Despite the upheavals he was in good scoring form and in 35 league games, acquired 25 league goals.

He continued prolifically the following term with Bristol Manor Farm, notching a notable 19 from only 32 games. (missing games through suspension). The 31 year old made a move closer to home to Willand in the 2023/24 season, where he continued to find the net regularly. 

A much-publicised departure from Willand in the 2024/25 campaign saw him revisit the Manor Farm connection, and last term he was with Western League side Bridgwater and Melksham, who play in our current division.

In his thoughts about joining up with his new teammates for the upcoming 2026/27 campaign, he said;

“I’ve been around the block now, I’m 31, and I’ve been in a lot of dressing rooms. I’ve heard some good things about the lads, I’m excited to meet them, and hopefully we’ll kick on this season.”

The striker will reunite with Yellows’ fans, Lee Lashenko, David Steele, Steve Orchard and other members of this term’s squad.

A warm welcome back, Owen!