Herb Howson
1891-1908
152 games
Captain 1906
Coach 1918-1919
Premiership Coach 1918

Football clubs are built upon the foundations laid by their forebears. Fortunately, for Swans supporters, ‘Bert’ Howson was on the tools.

Sadly, in 1948, Howson unexpectedly passed away following a stroke. As a symbol of his standing, The Record published a three-page tribute. It began with “Mr Herbert Howson, a man whose life could well serve as a model to all, whose absolute and fearless integrity, whose honesty, generosity, kindness and complete selflessness made him respected, admired and loved wherever he went; a man who can justly be classed as worthy of ranking with the foremost of those who have made South Melbourne’s history.”

Howson dedicated a lifetime to the club, in which he served as a player, captain, committeeman, secretary and coach. Born in the club’s foundation year of 1874, he became a South Melbournite by adoption when the Howson family of nine moved from Seymour to South Yarra.

It didn’t take long for the youngster to make himself known to his heroes. Whether at training or on match days, Howson could be regularly found perched high upon the branches of the trees surrounding the South Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The influential Southerners possessed a galaxy of star players, winning acclaim for their play during the 1880s, and with Howson just 17, he became one of them in 1891. While small in stature, the studious nature of his spectating enabled him to make an immediate impression as a dashing wingster.

Before long, he’d built a reputation as one of the VFA’s finest exponents of wing play. His encounters with Collingwood rival Charlie Pannam were unmissable occasions for lovers of the game, with the pair vying for the title of ‘prince of wingmen’ over many years.

Their duels were reported as being scrupulously fair. On one occasion, Pannam learned that Howson was suffering from a shoulder injury, and Howson told The Record the tale of that day. “Pannam said, tell me which shoulder is hurt, Bert, and I will play on the other side so as not to bump it.” The pair became lifelong friends.

The early days of what would become a 19-year playing career coincided with the depression of the 1890s. During the previous decade, Australia emerged as an industrialised powerhouse, and Melbourne had become the country’s financial epicentre.

As one of the city’s oldest villages, South Melbourne received a vast increase in population, with 43 streets added to the suburb during 1884-85. This influx brought financial clout to the football club, but by 1893, the recession was global, causing the total collapse of the Australian economy.

South’s fortunes mirrored those of the nation. Although Howson’s football progressed strongly, becoming a critical component in a side that had lost much of its star power. He represented Victoria in numerous matches against touring state teams, displaying a controlled and clever approach to the game.

During the summer, Howson used cricket as a form of relaxation; an escape from football and running. However, what started as a leisurely pursuit soon took on a seriousness, as he became one of the few sportsmen to play both football and cricket for his state, which he did while playing both sports for South Melbourne.

In 1897, after growing unrest within the VFA, South Melbourne joined Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fitzroy, Geelong, Melbourne and St Kilda to form the breakaway Victorian Football League. Howson played every match of that historic season.

South had been declining for a while, and as the 1904 season approached, the club looked to refresh its leadership. Henry Skinner was appointed president, and Howson, while still playing, took on the club secretary role—a position he famously made his own for 17 years.

At 33 years of age, in 1906, the players elected Howson as South Melbourne captain. The new role also led to a change in position, as he moved from the wing to the half-back line, prompting The Herald to explain, “Herb Howson, after having played on the wing for 13 years, takes his place on the half-back line henceforward—the position which to a captain is like the conning tower of a battleship.”

Howson eventually retired after the 1906 season but made a brief comeback, playing one game the next year and another in 1908, when the team was a player short. Filling in on the forward line, he kicked the second goal of his career, but in doing so, he badly injured his foot and never played again.

With his playing days over, Howson threw himself into his club secretary duties, and few were as sharp-witted or could identify football talent as he was able. When former Southerner Jim O’Meara alerted Howson of the impending arrival of a star ruckman from Western Australia, Bert swung into action.

Getting the jump on his competitors, Howson made his way onto a Customs launch, which took him well down the bay before he climbed the ‘Jacob’s ladder’ onto the ship carrying the player. According to The Record, Howson bellowed, “Is Bert Franks about?” to which a well-built young giant said, “I’m Franks, who are you?”.

Howson told him, “I’m the secretary of the South Melbourne Football Club, and I want you to join my club, will you?” So impressed by Howson’s initiative, Franks immediately agreed to join. When the ship berthed, Howson proudly escorted his prized recruit past a group of bewildered opposition club secretaries into a cab and onto a fine premiership-winning career with the club.

Howson always pursued the improvement of his club. During the war years of 1914-1918, South struggled to field a team—not entering a side in the 1916 VFL season at all. Ahead of the 1918 season, he and former teammate Henry ‘Sonny’ Elms came to the rescue, becoming honorary coaches.

Later, Howson told The Sporting Globe of the remarkable feats that the team achieved. “Perhaps South’s greatest triumph came in 1917 when we went out into the parks and gathered a team of juniors to resume our football. With those youngsters, we won the 1918 premiership, and they went on to develop into champions.”

It wasn’t Howson’s only contribution to the club during those harrowing years. He regularly corresponded with every South member serving in the war, sending food parcels and magazines to each of them. During and after the war, he collected thousands of books for the Red Cross for distribution to those in need.

Howson enjoyed the simple things in life. Spending time outdoors was one of his great sources of joy. A keen fisherman, one of his proudest achievements was landing the biggest Murray cod ever taken from the Buffalo River—a spot where he spent 40 Christmases camping.

Following his sudden death, South Melbourne Mayor, Cr. Jamieson addressed the council, stating, “We can ill afford to lose men of Bert Howson’s type. He was a notable sportsman and an ideal citizen.”

The impact of Howson’s noble life was felt far and wide. In a heartfelt tribute sent to The Record, a South supporter wrote, “Bert gave of his best over the years to the club he loved so deeply. The present generation will never know the amount of good work he did for South Melbourne, but we of the older brigade who did, do not forget, and will ever cherish his memory.”