William Howarth (born 1875) was an English professional footballer who predominantly played as an inside forward, but also appeared in various other positions.
[1] Howarth played in the Burnley reserves for the remainder of the 1900–01 season, and he was unable to break into the first team at the beginning of the following campaign.
He made his first appearance of the season on 18 January 1902 in the 0–0 draw with Woolwich Arsenal at Turf Moor, deputising for Harry Ross in an unfamiliar right-back position.
[2] He was more involved in first team matches throughout the 1902–03 season, making a total of seven league appearances, including a three-game spell at right-half following the departure of Tommy Morrison to Manchester United.
The team finished bottom of the league in the 1902–03 season and manager Ernest Mangnall subsequently released several players, and Howarth was one of the men to leave the club in April 1903.