Editing Tim Howard (section)

==Early life==
Howard was born in [[New Brunswick, New Jersey]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/34158/tim-howard |title=Tim Howard |work=ESPN |access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref> the son of African-American truck driver Matthew Howard and his Hungarian wife Esther (née Fekete), who worked for a container packing distributor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nemzetisport.hu/angol_labdarugas/20050512/tim_howard/|title=Nemzeti Sport: Tim Howard|publisher=Nemzetisport.hu|date=February 21, 2010|access-date=August 27, 2011|archive-date=August 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828145914/http://www.nemzetisport.hu/angol_labdarugas/20050512/tim_howard/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Howard10>Howard (2014), p. 10.</ref> His father moved out "before [Howard] formed [his] first memory"<ref name=Howard10/> and his parents divorced when Howard was three.<ref name=ESPNNewYork/> Afterwards, Howard lived with his mother.<ref name=Howard11>Howard (2014), p. 11.</ref> Howard was diagnosed with [[Tourette syndrome]] and [[OCD]] when he was in the sixth grade.<ref name=ESPNNewYork>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/newyork/news/story?id=5300243|title=ESPN New York: Biggest fan backs Howard on big stage|publisher=ESPN|date=June 18, 2010|access-date=August 27, 2011|archive-date=June 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628101201/http://sports.espn.go.com/newyork/news/story?id=5300243|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Keeper/><ref name=PSA>{{cite press release|title=New Public Service Announcement for Tourette Syndrome awareness features soccer star Tim Howard|publisher=Tourette Syndrome Association|url=http://www.tsa-usa.org/news/TimHowardPSA.htm|date=January 18, 2005|location=Bayside, New York|archive-date=April 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401232604/http://www.tsa-usa.org/news/TimHowardPSA.htm}}</ref>

In 1991, before Howard was a teenager, [[Tim Mulqueen]], a one-time assistant coach for the [[United States men's national under-17 soccer team|U.S. under-17 soccer team]], saw Howard's potential at a single $25 soccer coaching session. He took Howard under his wing, offering him free soccer coaching.<ref name=Howard3537>Howard (2014), pp. 35–37.</ref> When Howard was 14 and 15 years old, [[Peter Mellor]], the former professional goalkeeper who was coaching for the [[United States Soccer Federation]] and writing the curriculum for the first U.S. Soccer National Goalkeeping License for coaches, saw the 14-year-old Howard in an Olympic Development Player camp, identified him as a star of the future, and placed him in the Olympic Development Program.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{Cite web|url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/peter-mellor-the-big-interview-1-7087805|title=Peter Mellor: The Big Interview|website=www.portsmouth.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/distinguished-us-national-team-mls-coach-peter-mellor-joins-usl/n-3967492|title=Distinguished Us National Team, MLS Coach Peter Mellor Joins USL|date=February 23, 2010|website=OurSports Central}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=James |last=Edward |title=Mellor happy to be coaching for RSL |url=https://www.deseret.com/2005/8/9/19906224/mellor-happy-to-be-coaching-for-rsl/ |work=Deseret News  |date=August 9, 2005 |access-date=January 9, 2019 }}</ref> Mellor also helped Howard obtain his work permit appeal after he joined Manchester United from the MetroStars in 2003.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

Howard attended [[North Brunswick Township High School]].<ref>Sargeant, Keith. [http://www.nj.com/rutgers/index.ssf/2015/05/soccer_star_tim_howard_returning_to_nj_roots_to_address_tourette_syndrome_awareness_at_rutgers.html "Soccer star Tim Howard returning to N.J. roots to address Tourette syndrome awareness at Rutgers"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], May 1, 2015. Accessed January 2, 2018. "A North Brunswick High School product, Howard was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at age 10."</ref> Howard proved a star not only in soccer as a [[midfielder]], but also on the basketball court, where he averaged 15 points per game and helped bring his team to the state finals in his senior year.<ref>Carino, Jerry. [http://www.app.com/story/sports/soccer/2014/06/17/north-brunswicks-howard-everything-big-time-athlete/10713783/ "U.S. goalkeeper recalled fondly in NJ hometown"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', June 17, 2014. Accessed January 2, 2018. "The 35-year-old Howard is widely respected as one of the world's best goalkeepers, but back in his old neighborhood, they still talk about the time he defended Jay Williams in the county basketball final. For most of the 1997 season, Breheney put Howard at the head of the Raiders' 1–3–1 zone press, and the point guard made life miserable for ball-handlers.... 'So Timmy in high school played central midfielder.'"</ref> During high school, he played for Central Jersey Cosmos.<ref name=Howard44>Howard (2014), p. 44.</ref> In 1995, Howard was part of the U.S. under-17 squad.<ref name=Howard44/>