Stones sign Hammers star keeper Sam Howes on loan

With regular goalkeeper Jonathan North due to enter hospital very soon for a knee operation, Wealdstone have signed England U18 keeper SAM HOWES on a month’s loan from Premiership side West Ham United

Eighteen year old Sam is a commanding goalkeeper who joined West Ham United at U10 level from Crystal Palace. He made his Barclays U18 Premier League debut by starting at Blackburn Rovers on 1 December 2012, just three weeks past his 15th birthday Sam totalled five Barclays U18 Premier League starts in 2012/13, when he was just an U15 schoolboy and took over as U18s No1 while still an U16 schoolboy in 2013/14 and totalled 23 appearances.

Sam made five Development Squad appearances in 2013/14 – three in the Barclays U21 Premier League and two in the Barclays U21 Premier League Cup and then capped a superb 2013/14 season by winning the Young Hammer of the Year award. He joined the first-team squad on their Football United Tour of New Zealand in July 2014

He was part of the England squad which won the UEFA European U17 Championship title in Malta in summer 2014.

Last season the England U18 international goalkeeper had another fine campaign between the sticks, moving between the U18 and U21s, making a total of 32 starts.

Howes’ crowning glory came in a penalty shootout against arch rivals Millwall in the Barclays U21 Premier League Cup. In a drab game, Howes made several impressive saves in extra time before saving the crucial spot kick after the shootout had reached sudden death.

Welcome to the Stones……

(Picture courtesy of West Ham United Website)

Meanwhile full-back Matt Bevans who featured in a number of our fixtures earlier this season has left the club and signed for fellow Vanarama National league South side Oxford City. We offer Matt our thanks and best wishes.