Brian Richard William Brotherton Howard (born 23 January 1983) is an English footballer who last played as a midfielder for Whitehawk.

[6][7] Howard trained with Chelsea,[8] who offered him a contract, but while he was away with the England under-20 team, the club was taken over by Roman Abramovich and several top players were signed.

[31] However, Budget restrictions meant manager Andy King chose not to offer Howard a new contract;[32] he expressed his disappointment that a team with potential was being broken up because of finance.

[4][29][41] The pair played in all three play-off games, and Daniel Nardiello's equalising free kick, that took the final against Swansea City into extra time, resulted from a foul on Howard.

[42] In March 2007, Howard was one of three Barnsley players released without charge following arrest in connection with an alleged racially motivated assault.

[43] He was named Barnsley's player of the year for the 2006–07 season, as the team successfully avoided relegation, and signed a new two-year contract.

[49] After reported interest from clubs including Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Everton,[50] and Sheffield United, the club's owner, Patrick Cryne, suggested Howard was a better player than Sheffield United's Michael Tonge, and if Tonge were valued at £3 to £4 million, then Howard would be worth £10m.

[51] United manager Kevin Blackwell denied any interest in signing Howard,[52] Davey confirmed no bid had been received from the club,[53] and Sky Sports quoted Howard as saying: "I feel I have given great service to this club, and I would like them to recognise that by doing one of two things – either give me the contract I am worth or sell me.

"[54] At the end of September, Howard was left out of Barnsley's squad ahead of an expected loan move to Sheffield United,[55] completed on 2 October.

[57] Howard played regularly in the Blades midfield from that point but had to wait until 9 December before he scored his first goal, netting the winner in a 1–0 away win over Nottingham Forest.

[59] He contributed to the club reaching the play-offs, and scored in the semi-final against Preston North End,[60] but was "largely anonymous" in the final as United lost 1–0 to Burnley.

[61] Howard began the 2009–10 season in Sheffield United's starting eleven, but on 2 September 2009, he signed for Championship rivals Reading on a three-year contract for a fee of £500,000; James Harper went the other way on loan.

[63] During the match against Derby County on 28 November, Howard suffered mild concussion and a fractured jaw in a clash of heads.

[72][73] He said he expected to leave Reading in the January transfer window,[74] but no move took place, and he was released when his contract expired in June 2012.

[78] Howard scored his first goal in a Football League Trophy match at home to Bournemouth on 4 September,[79] but was relieved of penalty-taking duties in October after missing twice in a week.

[87] Howard played 13 games, 11 in the League,[88] before he returning to England during the mid-season break, having left CSKA Sofia in December 2013.

[95] The next day, he made his debut for the club, starting a match and played 67 minutes before being substituted, and set up the opening goal of the game, in a 3–1 win against Accrington Stanley.

[105] He moved to Romsey Town for the start of the 2016–17 season[106] before switching in January 2017 to Brighton-based National League South club Whitehawk.

[2] In November 2003, Howard chose to not represent the England U20 for the FIFA World Youth Championship in United Arab Emirates in favour of focus on Swindon Town.

[111] Howard, whose father is from Glasgow, was called up by Scotland manager George Burley for their friendly match against Croatia on 26 March 2008; however he was deemed ineligible by FIFA as he had not registered his availability at a young enough age.