Blackburn's Mr Football dies
1:47pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
A WELL-loved character from local league football in Blackburn has died after a short illness.
Jim Howarth, 76, had been fixture secretary for the Blackburn Combination league for more than 20 years and had been involved in the sport since he was a boy.
The popular administrator hung up his boots in 1951 at St Luke's youth club in Blackburn aged just 19 but that was only the beginning for him.
He managed St Luke's, which became Witton Athletic, and was also involved with Witton Carpets and Clifton Athletic.
But it is his role with Blackburn Combination that he is best known.
Mr Howarth, who lived in a care home in Preston New Road, Blackburn, but was formerly of Dawlish Close, was married to Lilian and was a father of three and a grandfather of four. He had suffered from Alzheimers for the past two years and his health had gradually deteriorated.
Mrs Howarth said she had been overwhelmed with messages of support since he died.
She said: "Jim was a lovely man and very popular. He was perfect in his role with Blackburn Combination because he was always calm. He never flapped under pressure.
"There are cards all over the place here from people who Jim knew.
"Alzheimers is an awful thing. Jim's memory started to go a few years ago and then he had to give up his role in football."
Mr Howarth was a church warden at St Luke's in Bank Top and also a member of the church choir for 52 years. Recently he was awarded a medal from the Lancashire Football Association for 50 years service.
Mrs Howarth said that her husband was also a fanatical Blackburn Rovers supporter and only recently gave up his season ticket in the Blackburn End.
In an interview in the Lancashire Telegraph six years ago Mr Howarth said: "I wasn't a bad player but I was always more interested in the running of teams and the administration side of things.
"I used to play for the youth club until I was too old. So when the opportunity arose to become secretary of the team I jumped at the chance."
He said that while he picked up a lot of friends along the way, his eye for detail and firm approach also helped him pick up a few enemies.
He said: "I remember one Saturday when I was altering the board at Pleasington. One particular team had a bit of a fixture pile-up and I was making sure they got a game.
"Someone said I thought I was God. I told him that when it came to fixtures I was more powerful than God!"
One of his proudest achievements he said was guiding Witton Athletic from Division Four to Division One in the 1970s. In one season the team scored an incredible 252 goals - a Combination record.
Mr Howarth's funeral will take place on thursday at St Luke's Church at 11.15am before cremation at Pleasington.