How fate gave Brighton's cousins Hinshelwood and Howell ‘surreal' moment to treasure

New York Times

21-05-2025

It was a 'pinch me' moment for a footballing dynasty when Jack Hinshelwood slotted Brighton & Hove Albion's late winner against Liverpool at the Amex Stadium on Monday night.
Hinshelwood's cousin, Harry Howell, was just a few yards away, in the penalty area, when the midfielder converted Matt O'Riley's cross in the 85th minute to snatch a 3-2 victory against the Premier League champions.
Just a minute earlier the family members had been standing on the touchline together, side by side, as head coach Fabian Hurzeler simultaneously brought on the pair of homegrown players, both of whom started at the club in the under-7s.
The moment Harry Howell come on alongside his cousin, Jack to become our youngest-ever #PL player at the age of 17 years and 29 days old. ✨ pic.twitter.com/FcOCEskOVB
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 20, 2025
It was 20-year-old midfielder and occasional right-back Hinshelwood's 48th first-team appearance since he made his debut two years ago, but it was a first-team debut for 17-year-old Howell.
'It was a really nice moment coming on with my cousin,' said Hinshelwood afterwards to Sky Sports. 'We've been working so hard since we were kids, playing together since we were just born, kicking balls with each other.
'He made a great run across the front post to open the gap for me. I'll be thanking him later.'
Jack's late winner in front of the North Stand! Our @MonsterEnergy Moment of the Match! pic.twitter.com/wRENkh4Xm7
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 20, 2025
The scene played out in front of other family members who were sat in the east stand at the Amex — those watching included Harry's dad, Jamie, his mum, Carly, Jamie's wife and one of Jack and Harry's grandmothers. 'We were quite mob-handed,' Jamie told The Athletic. 'It was quite surreal — a fantastic evening for us.'
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Hinshelwood's effort was initially ruled out but the decision was reversed by VAR, with semi-automated offside technology showing O'Riley was marginally onside when he provided the assist.
Hinshelwood tucked a spare ball under his shirt in delayed celebration. It completed a special weekend after a baby shower with his partner on Saturday — he will soon be a first-time dad, adding another generation to the footballing family.
Wally Hinshelwood, Jack's late great-grandfather, represented Chelsea and Fulham in the old First Division in the 1950s. His late grandad, Paul, and great-uncle, Martin, also both played in the top tier, for Crystal Palace in the 1970s.
Jack's dad, Adam, made 100 appearances for Brighton as a defender in the second, third and fourth tiers between 2002 and 2009. Adam is now manager of National League side York City. Adam suffered contrasting disappointment on Tuesday night, as York City, who had finished the season second, were beaten 3-0 at home by Oldham Athletic in the semi-finals of the fifth tier play-offs.
Jack has been a father figure to Harry, who is a versatile attacker. 'He has been brilliant for Harry,' said Jamie, an FA Youth Cup winner with Arsenal in 1993-94 who is now joint manager of seventh-tier Bognor Regis Town in the Isthmian Premier League. 'Their temperaments are slightly different. That is where Harry has been really lucky. Jack has been through the process.
'He understands it's not just about being a good footballer; it's your temperament and being patient — little knockbacks here and there. Harry's always had that where he can speak to him.
'The transition into the first team has been brilliant. Freddie Simmonds (17-year-old central defender) lives with us as well, so where he has been involved with the first team as well they have travelled in together.
'They are learning the ropes together, but they have got Jack as that role model. He is only 20, but he sometimes behaves like a 30-year-old who has been around forever, so he's a great role model for them.'
Fate played a helping hand in making the special moment against Liverpool happen.
Hurzeler had been about to bring Hinshelwood on in a triple change with O'Riley and Diego Gomez when substitute Kaoru Mitoma's 69th-minute equaliser prompted a rethink. O'Riley and Gomez went on five minutes later before Hinshelwood's belated entry with cousin Harry.
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'He adapted in an impressive way to the first-team environment,' Hurzeler told reporters afterwards about the introduction of Howell. 'He showed impressive performances in training sessions and I am not afraid of putting young players in.
'Iit's not a question of age, it's a question of quality. And if you deserve to play, if you show a really good attitude in training sessions, show what you are capable of in every training session, then you deserve to play and he had a great start to his Premier League career. He played like he was here for 10 years.'
Hinshelwood and Howell could be in the squad together again for Sunday's final game of the season away to Tottenham, with Hurzeler's side in contention to claim a place in the Conference League.
For that to happen they need to stay in eighth position, combined with Chelsea dropping out of the Champions League spots to seventh but then winning the Conference League final against Real Betis in Poland next Wednesday.
Brentford are the only team that can take eighth place from Brighton following a 3-1 defeat for Bournemouth away to Manchester City on Tuesday evening. Three points behind in ninth but with a better goal difference, Brentford finish the campaign away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Europe or not, the closing minutes of the win against Liverpool will be a memory to treasure forever for the cousins who entered the pitch together.