Breaking up (a defence) is hard to do
We say goodbye to two centre-backs who played a big role in City's recent success
York’s opening goal in the 3-0 home win over Wealdstone back in March 2025 isn’t one that will live long in the memory. Be honest, you’ve already forgotten it. But it’s something of a collector’s item: the only time Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Callum Howe combined for a goal in their two seasons together at the club. And while it’s no goal of the season contender, in a way it encapsulates what each of them brought to the club. A corner is swung in towards the back post, Howe rises high to win the first contact, then after a meek attempt at a headed clearance by a Wealdstone player, Fagan-Walcott sets himself before sending a well executed volley into the net from close range.
Both have departed the club over the past few days, and both will be difficult to replace. Howe, the old-school leader from the back, rarely beaten in the air, a warrior. Fagan-Walcott, the modern overlapping centre-back, rapid and skilful, equally comfortable in both boxes. They leave at different stages of their career, and with different destinations (no-one has ever mistaken Scunthorpe for Edinburgh, and Glanford Park won’t be hosting European football any time soon), but both deserve a tribute for the part they played in helping us back into the football league.
Let’s start with Callum Howe. His signing ahead of the 2023/24 season went somewhat under the radar, with the arrival of fellow centre-back Tyler Cordner for a six-figure sum attracting more attention. He was one of only a handful of players to emerge from that campaign with any credit, cementing himself in the back line and proving a reliable presence alongside a rotating cast of defenders.
It was the following season under Adam Hinshelwood that Howe really began to flourish, though, adapting better than many expected to the high-risk possession style favoured by the new manager and chipping in with a few goals. The most memorable has to be his strike in the 7-2 thrashing of Aldershot. It starts, naturally, with Howe winning a header. What comes next is a little more unexpected: he advances forward unopposed, plays a pass to Ollie Pearce then transforms suddenly into prime Gareth Bale, arcing his run from the left flank into the box to receive the return pass then dropping his shoulder before curling an inch-perfect finish into the far corner.
Last season didn't go quite as smoothly, as successive spells out due to concussion meant that Howe lost his place at the centre of the back three, and was restricted to cameos off the bench. It's testament to his character that he still managed to make a valuable contribution, coming on late to protect a vital 1-0 lead in a slugfest at Tamworth, then memorably on the last day at Spotland forcing the save that led to Stones’ equaliser after he'd rallied the troops by insisting we'd get “one more chance”. A fitting end to his time with the club, and no-one could begrudge him deciding that a chance to potentially play a part in another National League promotion challenge alongside his brother at Scunthorpe would be preferable to staying at York with his playing time in all likelihood limited.
One major reason why Howe was able to hit such fine form over the last two seasons was the arrival of a new partner in defence, in the form of Malachi Fagan-Walcott. Arriving from Cardiff initially on loan in September 2024, it was clear quite quickly that here was a player with a level of natural ability rarely seen in non-league. We've had some solid enough centre-backs at York over the years, but how many do we see nutmegging opposing defenders for fun, or throwing in a few stepovers as they saunter into the area and get a shot away? Fagan-Walcott did all of this for York, often without seeming to break a sweat. But that's not to say he didn't do the old-fashioned bits of defending too - it's hard to remember too many occasions when he was beaten by an attacker, either in the air or on the ground.
Fagan-Walcott impressed in his first season with the club, but if anything the arrival of Stuart Maynard and subsequent switch to a back three allowed him to hit even greater heights as he was afforded even more freedom to join the attacks. A favourite moment of mine, understandably overshadowed by the goal that followed, came in the 4-0 home win over Tamworth when he made a superb tackle that both prevented a quick Tamworth counter-attack and set up Alex Hunt to leather another one into the net from distance. His most memorable contribution in a York shirt, though, will probably be the stoppage time header against Altrincham that sealed a 2-1 win. Not the most important late goal we scored last season, but still pretty special.
It felt inevitable that Fagan-Walcott would work his way back up to a higher level, so his move to Hearts for a reported club record fee did not come as a huge surprise. The real question is why Cardiff didn’t realise what they had and were willing to let him leave permanently for (presumably) a fraction of that fee 18 months ago. Having already made a Champions League appearance as a teenager at Spurs, he'll now have another chance to play in Europe with Hearts, and City fans will have a Scottish side to keep an eye out for.
Comparisons could be made with the last time City lost a key player to an Edinburgh team, when Clayton Donaldson moved to Hibs nearly two decades ago. But, unlike then, the club will be handsomely compensated this time. While it may seem counterintuitive, selling players can actually be a sign of a successful club, creating a virtuous cycle as more top prospects see it as a stepping stone to greater things and the profits from player sales can be reinvested in finding the next gem. Credit must go to the owners for firstly identifying the potential in Fagan-Walcott and secondly tying him down to a lengthy contract so that a large fee was needed to prise him away.
Go well, then, Cal and Mal. You’ll be a tough double act to follow.
Great balanced article particularly on how players leaving for bigger clubs is evidence of the quality of City's operation. The process which brought in MFW, and Howe, will no doubt produce replacements. Outstanding though both were, we mustn't forget that we were still champions despite them missing long periods
through injury.