Mark Howard’s numbers on the pitch – eight clean sheets from 17 appearances – are more important than another one: his age. Carlisle United’s experienced goalkeeper has just signed a deal until the end of the season but wants to prolong his first-team career well beyond that.
“I know people will say I’m 35 and I’m ageing, but I’ve still got a desire to play week-in, week-out," Howard says.
“I don’t see myself hanging up the gloves any time soon. Wherever I end up playing football I just want to be in the team. I don’t see myself hanging around as a training goalie or making that transition into coaching or my next pathway just yet. I’ve still got plenty of games left in me.”
Howard, who finally agreed new terms at Brunton Park last week, admits he had been open to a longer deal. In the end he signed up until the summer; a piece of business welcomed by supporters, given the reassuring presence the keeper has proved in tough times.
“That [a longer stay] was something I talked [about] and something I wanted to do. I was happy for something a bit more longer-term and it was one of the things that was stalling it, really,” he says.
“I’m enjoying my time and as you get to my age you just want to play as many games as possible. The chats I was having with the gaffer were about the fact I want play as many games as I can.
"Hopefully that’s at Carlisle. If that’s longer-term, that’s brilliant for me."
Howard says that, although there were “other possibilities” for him as his initial deal ticked down, he always wanted to remain with United. That feeling was mutual where the Blues’ supporters were concerned. “I got quite a few messages and a few emojis on social media of a pen and a piece of paper,” he says. “That was funny for me to read and a lot of the lads were giving me stick in the dressing room.
“It’s all good banter as well. I enjoy that sort of stuff. The rapport I’m building up with the fans is brilliant. It helps me and helps them as well.”
Howard joined United in October as a free agent, shortly after the sacking of Chris Beech. He came in at a time Magnus Norman, who started the campaign as No1, was injured, while Lukas Jensen, the Burnley loanee, would also be sidelined.
Howard’s unfussy performances between the sticks and his vocal nature on and off the pitch have helped restore some calm to a part of the team which was looking brittle.
United have been a different proposition in the winter, winning four of their last five and going nearly six hours without conceding a league goal.
Howard says the change has been noticeable. “[My] first three games with Gav [Skelton] in [caretaker] charge, that was like a transition period for the team.
“The gaffer [Keith Millen] has come in and really put in place the discipline in our performances. I think in the way we’ve turned it around on the pitch he’s letting us be a bit more expressive, but from a good defensive base. That’s benefiting the whole team as a structure.”
Howard, in his first interviews after joining, noticed United’s squad was not the most vocal of groups. Has that also changed?
“Definitely. That just comes from results. The more games you win, the louder the dressing room gets.
“I’ve had that throughout my career – when you’re not playing well or results aren’t going for you, it’s always going to be a quiet dressing room, because people are just reflecting on how to improve the team, how to improve their own performances.
“When you’re winning, your emotions are a lot higher and everyone’s got that enjoyment factor.
“Having been in the dressing room for a while now I can tell that [being vocal] helped. I like talking to the lads and trying to pass on my knowledge on how I think we should be playing a game.
“I’m quite calm and that reflects through the team, particularly if we’re playing out from the back. I think they’ve benefited from that, so it’s good for all of us.”
United’s defensive improvement recently has led to their burst of better results – something they will try to consolidate against Crawley tomorrow.
What has gone into the extra solidity? “It’s literally the work that we do, day in day out, on the training pitch, the shape work we do,” Howard says.
“Everyone’s got a picture of what happens next, how to cover each other…it goes down to just doing the basics very well and hopefully that will continue.”
Howard is vastly experienced from spells with clubs such as Sheffield United, Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool, St Mirren and, last season, Scunthorpe United, who he helped stay up.
A few more nils against their name will certainly aid the Blues’ cause in the second half of 2021/22. If they keep Crawley at bay tomorrow it will be the first time since 2008 that they’ve put four shut-outs together.
“I didn’t know that, but now you’ve said it that’s something we’ll aim for,” he says. “It’s something I pride myself on – I’ve kept eight in a row in the past – so I’ve got big targets.
“It’s an old cliché but I always target the next game, then the next game, so Saturday is another we can now look forward to.”
Howard says he takes pride in his stats, and says his career shows roughly one clean sheet in three appearances. “Not that I count…”
“My goal every game is to keep a quiet goal, because that’s my job,” he adds. “I don’t really like it when people talk about me or give me plaudits, and things like that, because I want to have a game where the focus is on the other lads and what they’ve done.
“Going under the radar is what I prefer because it means we’ve defended well. Obviously as the keeper people talk about you more when it’s a clean sheet but the defence in front of me have been brilliant. We are defending crosses now and blocking shots, and all of that helps me to do my job.
“The last couple of games have helped me to have that quiet game in goal, and that’s credit to the team and the back four. From the front we’re defending superbly, the strikers are working their socks off, and that’s good to see.”
United are six points above the relegation zone, a position which seemed unlikely during their autumn struggles. How do they build on this improvement?
“By not getting carried away is the simplest answer to that,” Howard says. “The gaffer has instilled in us that it’s one game at a time, and that’s what we’re focused on.
“We’re not looking at anyone around us in the league; everything’s pushed towards that next game.”
Howard says he feels at home at United and has a good rapport with his team-mates. “I’m a bit of a character as well and I think a lot of them will agree with that,” he says.
“I’m not a quiet person in that dressing room but I do think I fit in quite well, and they all seem to respond quite well to me. That’s good to have.”
Howard says Norman is “pushing me hard” having recently returned from injury and, having seen team and fans unite positively at Brunton Park to defeat Bradford City last time out, the keeper would like to see the stadium a stronghold again this weekend.
“Crawley are similar to us – they’ve won the last three and they’re doing well. No game is easy but nobody should like coming to Carlisle. We want to make this a fortress and make it difficult for them.”
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