Arthur Howes first crossed paths with his future Albion manager, John Jackson, in September 1896 when, at the age of 20, he joined his local club Leicester Fosse where Jackson was trainer. After a run of twelve Second Division outings at Filbert Street, the well built goalkeeper moved to Reading in November 1897 for a short spell in the Southern League, but returned to Fosse during the following close season. In May 1899, a year after his appointment as manager of Brighton United, Jackson brought Arthur to the South Coast after he had been ‘the best Fosse man on the field’ in a friendly match between the two clubs a few months earlier; but, although he played in the first four games of 1899-1900, he had to be content with being understudy to Tom Spicer for much of the season. When the United club folded in March 1900 the burly custodian migrated to Scotland to play for Dundee, but in September 1902 Jackson once again obtained his duties, this time with the Albion.
Arthur shared goalkeeping services with Squire Whitehurst in his first season with the club, but then missed only one game in 1903-04, Albion’s first season in the First Division of the Southern League. Released at the end of the campaign, he left for Queen’s Park Rangers to amass a further 53 Southern League and F.A. Cup appearances until 1907 when he disappeared from the first class game.
Arthur played 49 matches for the Seagulls between 1902 and 1904.