Editing Eddie Howe (section)

==Playing career==
Howe was born in [[Amersham]], Buckinghamshire.<ref name="howereturn" /> When very young, he moved to [[Verwood]] in Dorset, and later began his footballing career with local youth teams Phoenix Sports YFC, later to be known as Verwood Town YFC<ref name="howereturn">{{cite web |url=http://www.afcb.co.uk/news/article/2012-10-15-the-return-of-eddie-howe-423795.aspx |title=The return of Eddie Howe |publisher=AFC Bournemouth |access-date=28 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222121438/http://www.afcb.co.uk/news/article/2012-10-15-the-return-of-eddie-howe-423795.aspx |archive-date=22 December 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and Dexter Sports<ref>{{cite news|title=What's Cherries manager Eddie Howe really like? |url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/8791516.What_s_Cherries_manager_Eddie_Howe_really_like_/before/ |access-date=22 August 2015 |newspaper=Bournemouth Echo |date=14 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222083104/http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/8791516.What_s_Cherries_manager_Eddie_Howe_really_like_/before/ |archive-date=22 December 2015}}</ref> before starting his professional career at [[AFC Bournemouth]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afcb.co.uk/team/staff-profiles/ |title=Eddie Howe |publisher=AFC Bournemouth |access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref> He made his first-team debut in December 1995 against [[Hull City]].<ref name=howereturn/> Howe established himself as an important player in Bournemouth's defence, and in 1998, he was selected for the England Under-21 team in the [[Toulon Tournament]].<ref name=howereturn/>

In March 2002, [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] signed Howe for £400,000, making him new manager [[Harry Redknapp]]'s first signing. Shortly after signing, a knee injury on his debut against [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1898585.stm |title=Preston 2–0 Portsmouth |website=BBC Sport |date=30 March 2002 |access-date=23 March 2012}}</ref> ended his season.

He returned for the opening game of the [[2002-03 in English football|2002–03]] season against [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]], but he injured his knee again after only nine minutes<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2181122.stm |title=Portsmouth 2–0 N Forest |website=BBC Sport |date=10 August 2002 |access-date=23 March 2012}}</ref> and was ruled out for the entire campaign. He did not return to full fitness until January 2004 after 18 months out. He was loaned to [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] on transfer deadline day in March, although he did not feature for the club.

Portsmouth loaned Howe back to Bournemouth for the first three months of the [[2004-05 in English football|2004–05]] season. He proved to be successful on his return to his first club after two injury-ravaged seasons with Portsmouth. With the club in a very poor financial state, supporters joined to create "Eddieshare" to fund a transfer fee. Days later, £21,000 was raised to fund the required permanent transfer fee.<ref name=howereturn/> After a further three seasons and over 270 appearances, injuries forced his retirement as a player in 2007 and he then moved into coaching with the reserve squad.<ref name=howereturn/>