Howarth’s Hall of Fame honour
By Alison Zell
Barnaby Howarth’s story is a remarkable one, and not just for his outstanding football achievements.
A Pennant Hills junior from Under-9s to Under-17s, Howarth was a promising local Sydney footballer and member of the inaugural NSW/ACT RAMS team in 1996 and captain in 1997.
He won the Ken McRae Shield as Pennant Hills’ Best First Year Player in 1996 and was on the Sydney Swans rookie list in 1998.
He was invited to do a pre-season with the Melbourne Demons in 2002 and represented NSW in the National Country Championships in Western Australia in 2004 before being named Pennant Hills’ captain in 2004.
But it was in 2005 that Howarth’s life changed forever.
While on a night out with mates, Barnaby was king hit from behind and suffered a stroke.
“I woke up a couple of minutes after the fight and my life carried on perfectly normally for the next seven days,” Howarth said.
“(But it) turns out somewhere during the fight an artery in my brain stem had been torn … somewhere during footy I copped a knock that dislodged a bit of the gunk and caused the stroke.
“That’s when I was rushed to ICU and my parents were told they might have to turn off my life support, my family and friends were told to come and say goodbye.”
Howarth survived the stroke but the movement in the left side of his body was permanently affected and he had a long road to recovery.
“When I had the stroke I was on 96 games for my local club but I’d put a line through my footy career,” he said.
Eight years later, it was Ian Parker – Vice-President of Pennant Hills – who decided he wanted to help Howarth reach the 100-game milestone.
“Barnaby came out of hospital, survived and he’s progressed and been involved with the club ever since – running water and doing all the other things around the club,” Parker said.
“Earlier this year he started his motivational speaking and at the game against East Coast … he wanted to do a motivational talk.
“When I was introducing him I suddenly thought about his games record where he was on 96 and at the end of the speech I said to him … I’m going to get you back on the ground and you’re going to play your 100th.”
Howarth got a medical clearance to return to football within days, but his road back wasn’t without challenges.
“I wasn’t particularly fussed about him doing it to be honest,” said Howarth’s mum, Denise.
“I thought he couldn’t see well enough, it could be dangerous, he might get hurt.
“But from the first night he went to practice and came home with a spark in his eye and a smile on his dial about being in the change rooms and being on the ground with the boys … It was quite emotional, he was so excited.”
As Howarth ticked off his 97th, 98th and 99th game, the 100 games suddenly became a reality. Hundreds of people turned out to Pennant Hills’ spiritual home, Ern Holmes Oval, on July 5 as the Pennant Hills Demons’ Division Four side took on Manly-Warringah.
The crowd included Howarth’s parents and three siblings, including his sister who had flown from England just for the game, with everyone decked out in commemorative t-shirts.
Howarth ran out to a guard of honour and kicked two inspirational goals to lead his side to victory before immediately announcing his retirement and being chaired from the field.
“It’s pretty impressive … given where has come from was life support, at one stage, and wheelchairs and rehab and learning how to do everything again,” said Adam Howarth, Barnaby’s brother.
“I don’t think people really appreciate how difficult it is for him just to pick up a football and throw it on to his boot or get a handball.”
Howarth said the 100th game for his beloved club was the most significant thing he’s done since having the stroke.
“The emotion of it has just snowballed and it meant a lot more than I thought it would, coming back,” he said.
“Probably the five minutes before the game was the best part of it, just being in the change rooms with the boys, talking about tactics and trying to psyche ourselves up.
“Then running out with them all in that Demons jersey was one of the best things I’ve done in the last eight years.
“This, to me, just proves that normal is good enough.”
And on Monday night at AFL Sydney’s night of nights, Barnaby Howarth’s remarkable journey was capped off with his induction in to the AFL Sydney Hall of Fame, to a standing ovation from more than 500 people at the Phelan Medal.
Click here to see more of Barnaby’s amazing story
