Bobby Howfield

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Bobby Howfield
Born (1936-12-03) 3 December 1936 (age 87)
Watford, England
Association football career
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1957 Millwall
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1957–1959 Watford 47 (9)
1959 Crewe Alexandra 5 (0)
1959–1962 Aldershot 76 (44)
1962–1963 Watford 45 (13)
1963–1965 Fulham 26 (9)
1965 New York Americans ? (?)
1965–1967 Aldershot 34 (10)
1967–1968 Chelmsford City ? (?)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Football career
Career information
Position(s)Placekicker
Career history
As player
1968–1970Denver Broncos
1971–1974New York Jets

Robert Michael Howfield (born 3 December 1936) is an English former professional sportsman who played both association football and American football.[1]

Early and personal life[edit]

Howfield was born in Watford. His son Ian Howfield kicked for the Houston Oilers in 1991.

Career[edit]

Association football[edit]

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.[1] He became a professional with Watford in September 1957, playing for the club until July 1959, when he moved to Crewe Alexandra.[1] 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.[1] He played for the club until July 1962 when he returned to Watford for a "substantial fee".[1]

Howfield moved to Fulham in November 1965 for £6000, having made 101 appearances and scored 25 goals in his two spells with the club.[1] He scored three goals for Fulham in the last ten goal performance by a top-flight club.[1]

During 1965 Howfield went to play with the New York Americans of the International Soccer League.[1] He returned to Aldershot in August 1965, playing for the Hampshire club until 1967,[1] before playing non-League football with Chelmsford City.[2]

American football[edit]

Known for his powerful kicks,[1] Howfield returned to America to take up American football as a placekicker. Between 1968 and 1970 he played for the Denver Broncos. Following the 1970 season, the Broncos traded Howfield to the New York Jets for Jim Turner.[3] He played for the Jets until 1974.

Later life[edit]

After his retirement from sport, Howfield worked in the insurance department of a Denver bank, and he still lives close to the city.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jones, Trefor (1996). The Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. Surrey: T.G Jones. p. 125. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1.
  2. ^ Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
  3. ^ "Jets Send Turner to Broncos for Howfield in Deal for Kicking Specialists - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. 28 January 1971. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  4. ^ Where are they now?, wfc.net