THE newly-formed American Football club East Kent Falcons, after a surprise win in their first game, are recruiting new players for the 2004 season.

The Canterbury-based club will be holding rookie/open days on Sundays, July 20 and August 3 where anyone interested can attend and have an introduction to American football free of charge. Anyone interested may contact Glenn on 07950 203029.

The Falcons were formed two years ago as the Canterbury Coyotes flag football team. Flag football is a semi-contact version of American Football, played without protective equipment.

The Coyotes competed for two successful seasons, winning the league in their first year and narrowly losing to London in the cup, then finishing second in the league in their second year, but again losing the cup, this time to Bournmouth.

They chose the name change partly because a number of their players came from the Falcons University team - and also because they were offered a set of team jerseys at a discounted rate with the Falcons logo on it!

The team have players from Dover, Folkstone, Thanet and Herne Bay as well as Canterbury.

The step up from semi contact league to the full contact kitted league is big one.

Most flag teams have a squad of around 12-14 players but at least 25 are needed to compete in the full contact league.

Falcons are also looking for sponsorship for the team and individuals as well as needing volunteers with an interest in American Football to assist in the administrative side of running a club as well as helping with game day duties.

Falcons made a good start to their new incarnation, beating the University of Kent in their first full match. The University side, who made the play-offs this season and finished second in the league were suprised by the new team made up of a few ex-university students but mainly inexperienced new players.

Things were close n the first half with neither team managing a score. The second half stated dramatically with East Kent’s quarterback Jack Garnsey hitting wideout Jon O’Connor with a 60-yard bomb for a score on their first play but missing the point after attempt to give the Falcons an unexpected 6-0 lead.

The University responded quickly with QB Gibbon Wright completing five quick passes before handing the ball to rookie running back Lexington Steele for a 68-yard run to the end zone, with the extra point then putting the University into the lead 7-6.

With just four minutes remaining East Kent back-up QB Jon lewman completed a short pass to O’Connor for the game winning score to make it 12-7.