=Bobby Howfield

[Dodgin]

The connection with Jacksonville Jaguars reminded me Bobby Howfield, who played for us back in the Sixties, could hit the ball quite a distance. He joined the Denver Bronco's as a place kicker. Still lives in the USA

[Fernhurst]

I remember Bobby - he also had a connection with Aldershot, was that before or after playing for us

[Stoneleigh Loyalist]

Bobby Howfield scored three or four goals in the famous 10-1 victory over Ipswich.

Not a brilliant singer, but he could do nothing wrong tha day.

[cmg]

Not sure about his voice! But he did score direct from a corner in that Ipswich match.

Not many can claim to have lined up with Johnny Haynes and against Bobby Moore and also with Joe Namath (he played for the NY Jets after Denver) and against OJ Simpson.

[Woolly Mammoth]

Bobby Howfield scored three or four goals in the famous 10-1 victory over Ipswich.

Not a brilliant singer, but he could do nothing wrong tha day.

Bobby Howfield did score a hatrick, Graham Leggett scores 4, and Alan Mullery also scored, but I cannot remember who scored the other 2.   

[Dodgin]

Hatfield Mr Stoneleigh

[Stoneleigh Loyalist]

I may have made a mistake with 'singer' instead of 'winger', but the other two goal scorers were Maurice Cook, and I think .Bobby Robson.
Joe Baker's brother Gerry scored for Ipswich.
I drove to the away match a few days later and could not believe it when we lost.
Apparently the Ipswich players had enjoyed Christmas in a manner which would not be permitted today.

[HatterDon]

He was the first successful "soccer-style kicker" in the NFL. These days, that's all you see from 12 years old and up.

[MikeW]

This is a piece I wrote for David Lloyd's TOOFIF a few years back that might fill in a few gaps .... enjoy

Leaning to the left ...

Mike Waring recalls a Fulham player who tried his luck abroad ...

Reading that Clive Allen had signed for and is apparently doing the business with the London Monarchs (by my reckoning his ninth London club, by what quirk of luck did he never made it to the Cottage!) it reminded me that as a specialist goal kicker, it was one of our lads who lead the way in this odd art.

Bobby Howfield - remember him?

I first recall seeing him at Watford in the early 60's where he was a gloriously one footed left winger in the days of 5,3,2,1 line up's.  Seemingly out of the blue he arrived at the Cottage in November '63 and of course played a key role in that famous First Division 10-1 whipping of Ipswich, notching a hat-trick into the bargain.  (It should be remembered that 2 days later they reversed the fixture and Fulham lost 4-2 in East Anglia - nothing changes does it!)

Howfield arrived at the Cottage in an attempt to solve a long standing left wing problem but in truth was probably one of a dying breed and being of the Chamberlain/Langley era, was so one pegged that makes you wonder how he ever survived.

Many years later I recall a player in a similar mould who played in the Southern League at Cheltenham.  Adrien Thorne was 100% left footed, could only run in straight lines and couldn't pass or head the ball.  He was also bloody quick and scored a hat-full of goals.  Take him off his rails though and he was a goner .... but I digress.

In his couple of years at the Cottage Howfield played only 26 games and notched 9 goals - a useful contribution from one who arrived for a song from a Third Division club and spent most of his life hugging the touch line in pursuit of pin-point passes from Haynes.

He drifted away to Aldershot before being persuaded to try his luck in the then unknown pastures of American football - remember this was pre-Channel Four and long before the Monarchs were thought of. 

Dennis Turner and Alex White recall in 'Fulham, the complete record' that Howfield "found most success in the USA where he kicked goals for the New York Jets," but whether he made sufficient to retire in Florida luxury is not recorded.

It must have been a major move for Bobby Howfield.  A new game, a new country, a new culture and armed only with a trusty left boot.  A brave man - let's pay tribute to another Fulham pioneer! 

[Logicalman]

One for thre golden oldies: bobby-keetch-bobby-robson-george-cohen-tony-macedo-fred

he still lives in Colorado, it appears after retiring from banking work.

[sunburywhite]

Howfield played as a forward, known for his volatility.[1] Howfield began his association football career with local side Bushey F.C., before signing amateur terms with Millwall in May 1957. He became a professional with Watford in September 1957, playing for the club until July 1959, when he moved to Crewe Alexandra.In October 1959, however, he moved to Aldershot, where his 23 league goals in the 1961–62 season were a club record for a number of years. He played for the club until July 1962 when he returned to Watford for a "substantial fee"

Howfield moved to Fulham in November 1965 for £6000, having made 101 appearances and scored 25 goals in his two spells with the club. He scored three goals for Fulham in the last ten goal performance by a top-flight club.

During 1965 Howfield went to play with the New York Americans of the International Soccer League. He returned to Aldershot in August 1965, playing for the Hampshire club until 1967,before playing non-League football with Chelmsford City.[2]

American football


Date of birth
3 December 1936 (age 80)

1968–1970
Denver Broncos

1971–1974
New York Jets

Known for his powerful shooting, Howfield returned to America to take up American football as a place kicker. Between 1968 and 1970 he played for the Denver Broncos, before moving to the New York Jets in 1971, playing for them until 1974.

Later life

After his retirement from sport he worked in the insurance department of a Denver bank, and he still lives close to the city.

[sunburywhite]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xNANayMz_U

[Logicalman]

Howfield played as a forward, known for his volatility.[1] Howfield began his association football career with local side Bushey F.C., before signing amateur terms with Millwall in May 1957. He became a professional with Watford in September 1957, playing for the club until July 1959, when he moved to Crewe Alexandra.In October 1959, however, he moved to Aldershot, where his 23 league goals in the 1961–62 season were a club record for a number of years. He played for the club until July 1962 when he returned to Watford for a "substantial fee"

Howfield moved to Fulham in November 1965 for £6000, having made 101 appearances and scored 25 goals in his two spells with the club. He scored three goals for Fulham in the last ten goal performance by a top-flight club.

During 1965 Howfield went to play with the New York Americans of the International Soccer League. He returned to Aldershot in August 1965, playing for the Hampshire club until 1967,before playing non-League football with Chelmsford City.[2]

American football


Date of birth
3 December 1936 (age 80)

1968–1970
Denver Broncos

1971–1974
New York Jets

Known for his powerful shooting, Howfield returned to America to take up American football as a place kicker. Between 1968 and 1970 he played for the Denver Broncos, before moving to the New York Jets in 1971, playing for them until 1974.

Later life

After his retirement from sport he worked in the insurance department of a Denver bank, and he still lives close to the city.

His lad went to columbine High School (yep, the same as that infamous one) in the SE sector of Denver, which fits in that Bobby still lives in that area.