GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY’S very own Jamie Vardy may have swapped Hollywood for non-league but is still desperate to see his name up in lights on the big screen tonight.
Only it is Doncaster Rovers rather than Manchester United or Arsenal that striker Declan Howe, 26, is dreaming about facing in the FA Cup third round.
PitchingIn Northern Premier League Trinity, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, are into the second round for the first time in 72 years and head to Harrogate Town.
And they go into their clash with the League Two outfit full of confidence – particularly hotshot Howe.
The ace, a sales consultant by day, moved to the Kal Group Stadium last September with the club down the bottom.
However, his 21 goals helped them to finish eighth and secured him the golden boot and he is already on 18 this term.
But his scoring exploits are a far cry from his days swanning about alongside movie stars after moving to live with his brother, who is now a manager of team operations at LA Galaxy II, in California to coach football.
He told SunSport: “I went over there just as I was turning 21 and spent a couple of years in California coaching.
“You’d see a few famous people about and if you went over to Hollywood then you’d see some faces.
“I remember seeing Adam Sandler at an LA Lakers basketball game, which was a bit surreal.
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“I had to come back every year to renew my visa, but in 2020 the embassy was shut because of Covid when I came home and that was the main reason I never went back out.
“Then I got back into football and rediscovered my love for it again, started scoring goals and it’s taken off from there.”
Howe was on the books of both Scunthorpe United and Doncaster, where he grew up, as a YTS before being released and dipping his toe into non-league and then heading Stateside.
Despite leaving the glitz and glamour of Tinsel Town, Howe has now become a star in his own right at Trinity following spells at Staveley MW, Darlington, Cleethorpes Town, Alfreton and Ilkeston.
And while he knows not even Hollywood’s boldest writers could get away with a story that ended in Trinity going all the way to Wembley, he still could.
Eliminated Ashford United’s Gary Lockyer, on ten, tops the race for the Mitre Golden Ball as top scorer in the FA Cup.
But Howe, currently on eight, knows a hat-trick on Friday would see him surpass that tally and put him in pole position to collect his award and land a VIP day out at the final in May.
He said: “That would be lovely. I’ve spoken to a couple of people related to the Mitre Golden Ball award and they mentioned how last year a trip to Wembley was involved. So it’s definitely an aim for me to try and be at the top of those goalscoring charts.
“We all wanted the TV fixture for the great exposure. There’ll be a lot of people watching with it being on a Friday night and family and friends who weren’t able to get a ticket will be able to tune in.
“We can’t let any of that get to us, it’s just got to be a normal day at the office and go out to try and get out there.
“It’s been a long time since we reached the third round and it’s a great opportunity to put our names in the history books of the club.”
However, rather than one of the giants, Howe would be just as happy to land Doncaster, the team he used to watch from the stands, in the next round if they get past Harrogate.
He said: “I was surprised we didn’t get them in this round with both names still being in the hat. All my friends are Doncaster supporters and they were convinced that it was destined to happen.
“Obviously if you get through you want a Premier League team, but if it isn’t then Doncaster would be a nice one.”
And it is not just his goals that have made him a huge hit with supporters. His tireless running and work-rate has also seen him being compared by fans to Vardy.
The Leicester legend, 37, went from non-league to Premier League and FA Cup winner in his own fairytale story.
And Howe admits he has still not given up on his dream of turning pro – and he knows there is no better stage than to show what he’s capable of than in front of the cameras later.
He added: “At the start of the season I said to my girlfriend that promotion was obviously the target but the one thing I’d always wanted to have was a nice FA Cup run and here we are.
“Growing up it was every kid’s dream to be pro and I think that it is maybe getting a bit more reachable to myself now.
I’ve definitely been thinking over the past couple of years that is where I want to end up and you never know.
“Jamie Vardy himself didn’t breakthrough as a pro until late and he’s had an incredible career since and that is still a huge ambition of mine.
“The Hollywood script ending for me and the club would be a dream. You just never know what’s in store.”
