Joey Foggan – Ouse Valley Football

For the Bulls programme we caught up with rookie linebacker Joey Foggan to get his thoughts on life with the Eagles so far…

Name: Joey Foggan
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6ft 1ins
Weight: 220lbs
Hometown: Watford, Hertfordshire
Age: 23
Favourite NFL team: Atlanta Falcons
Favourite NFL player: Lawrence Taylor

How did you get involved with American football?

I have family in America and have been traveling back and forth from a young age and football has just become apart of my life.

Following from quite a young age I had a massive frustration as the sport was not big over here so I could never get to play or find people to talk about it with, but over recent years it has absolutely boomed across the UK which is great.

Has anything taken you by surprise so far?

The level of commitment and work you put in for the sport. Be that at the gym, playbooks, training. All these things make you a better player.

What is your favourite thing about playing for the Eagles so far?

My favourite thing about the Eagles so far would be the mini camps before the season started, the level of commitment and the time and effort put in by the coaches and players to get us ready for the season was outstanding.

I knew after the first camp this is where I wanted to be as a player. To create success you need to be around people who are like minded in achieving the same goals.

What are your aims for the rest of this season?

As a rookie I’m still trying to make plays when I’m on the field, this season I need to show my coaches that I can be that guy that when called on can step up and deliver.

But the time I’ve spent on field the opponents have not scored so my goal for the rest of the season now is that every opportunity I get to go on the field the other team does not score.

If you had one piece of advice for anyone considering playing American Football for the first time, what would it be?

Just do it! You won’t feel more alive, any problems outside of football, bills, work, nagging missus all go away and it’s just football!

There’s no better feeling than padding up and entering the field to do battle with another man! Follow the Eagles on Facebook or Twitter to find out when practice is or when the rookie days are and give it a try.

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The Eagles went down swinging 13-12 in a thrilling encounter with the Birmingham Bulls at Bedford International Athletics Stadium yesterday.

Birmingham returned the opening kick-off to their 45-yard line and eventually opened the scoring with a pass from 17-yards out on a drive that used up almost half of the opening quarter.

The Eagles drove into opposition territory but a fumble by running back Richard Thompson gave the ball back to the Bulls on around halfway.

Despite a number of penalties the Bull’s next possession looked threatening until line backer Bryan Mullally forced and recovered a fumble to regain possession, and that gave the Eagles offense the impetus it needed to spark into life.

Completions to Ross Hubbard and Ryan Bowtell gave the Eagles first and goal on the five, and on second and goal Zach Wodaege ran the ball into the end zone to reduce the deficit although the extra point attempt was blocked – a missed opportunity that would prove very costly come the end of the game.

More offensive penalties delayed the Bulls on their next possession to open up the second quarter although they eventually made it into the red zone, but when Mullally sacked the QB on third and long the Bulls were forced to punt from the Eagles 39.

Dom Taylor’s interception for Birmingham gave them the ball back on the 21 soon afterwards and after yet more penalties gave them fourth and very long once again the hosts had another chance to try and strike back before the end of the half, only for Taylor to make another, very impressive interception deep in Eagles territory.

Birmingham soon had first and goal at the two-yard line which became second and goal on the three after the run attempt was stopped in the back field at the two-minute warning, and when Joey Foggan picked off the pass on third down the Eagles had gotten away with one.

The offense was able to drive to halfway before going four and out, and the half finished with Birmingham unable to capitalise.

Half-Time: Eagles 6 Bulls 7

The third quarter was a cagey affair as both teams exchanged possession, the only real action of note being Oliver Latimer’s fumble recovery for the Eagles and the Bulls missing a 35-yard field goal attempt, but the game sprang into life at the start of the fourth quarter.

Latimer forced another fumble which was recovered by Foggan to give the Eagles the ball back on their own 30-yard line, and a completed pass to Vasquez took them into Birmingham territory before the drive stalled, and the Bulls took over on downs.

The Bulls were also unable to make the most of their next possession and following a flag on the play during the punt the Eagles started again on their 7.

A twenty-yard completion to Alex Smith followed but the drive again stalled, but possession was regained following a huge hit by Kevin Vasquez on the punt returner.

The Eagles went four and out and the Bulls responded in the perfect way, driving down the field and extending their lead with a 20-yard run. Importantly for the hosts the PAT was blocked, keeping it a one-score game with three minutes to play.

Starting again on the 20 following the kick off, Wodaege connected with a bomb to Smith to take offense all the way to the Bulls 32-yard line, and had second and short at the two-minute warning.

Another big pass completed to Smith gave the Eagles first and goal on the one-yard line, and after an incomplete pass Wodaege ran it in himself to take it to 13-12 with 50 seconds to play.

The coaches had a big decision to make – a successful PAT would tie the game and most-likely lead to overtime or a successful two-point attempt would most-likely win it, whereas if either were to fail the Bulls would almost certainly take the win.

They decided to go for two but as Wodaege rolled out to his right his deflected pass fell incomplete, and after successfully fielding an onside kick attempt Birmingham took a knee to seal their first win of the season and deny the Eagles what would have been a remarkable victory.

The Eagles are back in BAFANL action this Sunday (12th June) away to the Nottingham Caesars.

Picture courtesy of Steve Guy.