Claude Howland’s family ran a laundry business in Fulham Cross and while playing for West Norwood he earned this accolade from the local newspaper

“of all the many full-backs who have donned the West Norwood colours Claude Howland must take rank as the cleverest of them all and has a rare reputation for his masterly work”.

He played for the London FA v United Hospitals in Dec 1901 while he had two subsequent seasons in the Southern League’s Second Division with Fulham – for whom his brother Jack had captained in the 1880s – but had left football and was working as a secretary in Hereford, when he was invited for a trial at The Dell. His performances at left-back in a couple of games against Bristol Rovers earned him a contract, but he was not selected again.

After a short spell at Brentford, he re-signed for Fulham without making their first team in 1903 and was next heard of working for the South London Brewery Company in Southwark. Claude spent the First World War in the army, joining as a private in the Honourable Artillery Company Infantry and  becoming a 2nd lieutenant in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Demobbed in March 1919 he became a cashier.