John Robert Howe (7 October 1915 – 5 April 1987) was an English professional footballer who played as a defender and gained three caps for England in the late 1940s.

[5] Howe made his debut as Derby were finishing eight points behind champions Sunderland and was a regular until the Second World War when he joined the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders[6] with guest stints at Hearts, Falkirk, Aberdeen and St Mirren.

[citation needed] After service in India, he returned in time to play in the FA Cup 1946 semi-final replay, covering for the injured Leon Leuty at centre-half.

He won his winners medal after featuring at left back in the Wembley final, covering for an injured Jack Parr who had broken his arm days before the game.

[8] Howe had expressed a desire to return closer to his homeland in the north of England[9] and was reportedly interviewed by the directors of Mansfield Town for the managerial position in May 1949.

[11] Several months later on 19 October, Gateshead made a formal offer to Howe for their vacant position of player-manager, along with a substantial financial proposal to Derby for his transfer.

[16] He remained with the club, playing for the reserves team at centre-half, and also worked as a public house licensee in King's Lynn during the mid-1950s[17], a position he was reportedly still holding into the 1960s.