European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 29, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse For England s super kicker by Bob Hoyer is . Bureau chief in the fading Light of London White City stadium the Las of the kickers were p 1 a c i n g footballs on yellow plastic were just 10 men left from a Long procession of soccer an Rugby performers who had tested their skill at the Craft of place kicking an american a dozen paces in front of the tees Henry Louis Hank warn master of ceremonies studied the pencilled figures Ona clip Board in the hands of a Brunet recorder. To Stram dressed in the car anal sweat pants and Matching jacket of the Kansas City chiefs me figures were important. The survivors of this Marathon kick ing Bee were the men who had belted the Ball a minimum of Yards. At the outset he had said he Kicy ki"8 for no Ordinary ? is an Experiment. We Reg for a super Wicker Stram head coach of Thean american football won the league a k-1n7 t to be any henu8tnen Hui s a racing Stram turned to a publicity Man and said right now it does t look like Well take anybody. Well know in a few , cupping his hands to his Mouth he said in a Clarion Bari tone All right men you be been kicking for distance. We re no going to test your accuracy. I want you to kick the Ball Over the Cross the Rig holding the bar Simu lating american football goal posts was set at 40 Yards an the kickers known to Stram Only As numbers took aim at the bar. At 50 Yards five More fall with the bar at 50 Yards five More fell by the Wayside. Among them was a 20-year-Oldsoccer player with Jesse James sideburns who kept reminding his fellow competitors How rough american football really is. He had witnessed a season of this dangerous Impact sporting s All. Thank you very and finished Sec t much Stram said As each kicker flunked his Chance for an$8,000 contract. Through four and a half hours hundreds of kicks and 80 kick ers most of whom obviously did t have 4he physical. Equip meat or Talent demanded to be come super kickers Stram Nev d we Haye a super kicker now thin Tous to us. S got to demonstrate of anyone if i Sake of Mocenter of Cha the � British greyhound May 29, 1968 or lost his enthusiasm or patience with the bar at 55 Yards an with Stram holding the Ball three More failed to make be been kicking for four hours and i m just tuckered out said a big Man with a Crew Cut and Crow s feet showing around the eyes like the fellow with the Jesse James sideburns he knew something about Ameri can football. When 1 was with the British forces 1 practice with a yank team in Africa. I never got a Hance to play because my commander told me i was covered by insurance. Bui let me Tell you mates them pads they Wear is Neces sary. This is a mighty rough sport. You know they kill a lot of people every year in Ameri can fellow kickers listened wit wide eyed fascination whenever the big fellow Down to the final two men Stram for the first Tim asked personal questions and Begar to address the men by their first names. It was now obvious he had been impressed by their 55-Yard efforts. Both men were kicking in soft Bowcut soccer shoes. In an aside Stram said think Well take these two. But we want to do a Little from a Sharp Angle to the right at 40 Yards Stram told the kickers to shorten their stride. In game conditions you begot just 1.5 seconds to get the Ball Howfield 30, a soccer player from Watford England seemed to thrive on pressure. With two Quick Steps and using the powerful instep kick of a soccer Man he split the crossbar three straight times with Yards to spare 3 in a Row 2 dead Center Rugby player John a has Lam. 24, catteral Lancashire taking just a bit More time hit three in a Row Over the bar two of them at dead 29 Yards and at a Sharp Angle to the right Howfield the stars and strikes booting right footed drove three More Over the bar with the mechanical precision of a duplicated Howfield s feat with a trifle More Delibera Tion. Then from 25 Yards and a Shar Pangle to the left. Howfield kick ing left footed punched three More across and Haslam Fol Lowed with three shots at the same Angle. A smiling Stram now told themen they would be signed to con tracts and would report to the chiefs training Camp july 10. Will Howfield s ability to kick with either foot be an asset Stram was asked. It could be said Stram smiling it could be in certain situations Stram said with a smile. He seemed pleased with the Way Howfield and Haslam had reacted under the rain began to fall and Stram headed for the dressing room two disappointed kickers came out to say Good Bye. The had come Down from Scotland for the Day to take part in the final trials. One of them had consistently booted the Ball past the 60-Yard Stripe in practice but when hews tested for accuracy his kicks were All wide of the these with you and prac Tice Stram said As he handed each of the scots a new Ameri can football you boys have Good legs and you kick for distance but you have to develop More accuracy keep in touch and thanks for that gesture. Stram closed out five Days of trials in Whit City Wales Manchester and Glasgow. More than 250 kicker answered is summons. There were kids in their teens and there were Guys crowding 40with launches and Gray showing at the temples. They were anode assortment of soccer and Rugby players but Strain kept no record on the breakdown. He would t have cared if they had been specialists in table Tennis. His Only concern was their ability to kick a football. Stram chose Britain for his Experiment because of the wealth of soccer and Rugby material inthe . And because of the proven Merit of the soccer style kicker in american football. And who were the men who took part in trials for the most part they remained some top Rugby players were among them. But the trials May have had less Appeal to soccer stars. First league men receive up to $12,500 a year in Britain. At the conclusion of an initial workout in the wind and rain of White City stadium Stram invited eight men to return for a final test. His visits to Wales Manchester and Glasgow resulted in similar invitations. Haslam the Best of those who participated at Manchester trials bad to get up in the Middle of the night to make it in time for the finals at White 6-foot-ll and. 220 pounds he could become the Only placekicker in pro football with the build of a basketball Center. I definitely like the states Howfield a 5-9$. 180-Pounder,has played soccer for Watford and Fulham in Britain and in1965 he played for the now defunct new yorkers in new definitely like the states and the american people. I Hope this continued on Page 1$j Page 11
