This year’s Super Bowl and the city of Southampton are more closely linked than you think.

John Smith was the leading points scorer for the whole of the 1979/80 and 1980/81 NFL seasons - only eight years after leaving Southampton to pursue a teaching career in the states, writes CHARLES CRANSTONE.

A well renowned soccer player, Smith graduated with a degree in Education from the University of Southampton. During that time he also played for Swindon reserves and Winchester City.

To gain teaching experience, spent his summers between 1970-72 developed soccer programmes at two different summer camps in western Massachusetts.

The New England Patriots - who face the Atlanta Falcons in this Sunday's Super Bowl - heard of his kicking ability and invited him to a week's trial in May 1973.

Smith has recalled: “My wife and I both wanted to travel, so we thought, what the heck, let’s go over and see what it’s all about”

After a year learning the rules at New England Colonials, he finally stepped up to the NFL with the Patriots.

“The first game of football I ever saw was the first game I was in. They didn’t even tell me what a down was. I had no clue what was going on.”

Eventually Smith did grasp the concept of the sport and played for the Patriots for the entirety of his nine year career.

He became their fourth all-time leading point scorer for the franchise with 692 points. In the 1979/80 season he got 115 points and the following campaign 129.

He was duly rewarded for his success.

“Professional [soccer] players in the old First Division were getting about $10,000. They offered me $18,000 and a three-year contract.

“My best buddy Mick Mellows - who played for Portsmouth - came to visit me and tried to get me to go back. I was very successful in the NFL and earning a lot more than he was at Pompey.”

It was his role in the highly contentious match dubbed the “Snowplough game” against the Miami Dolphins in 1982 that he’s remembered for the most.

In a game that neither team scored in due to the adverse weather conditions, Smith had the chance to win the game with a field goal.

Before he could kick it, though, a tractor came onto the field to get rid of all the snow and ice where the kick was going to be made.

This left Smith with an easy kick for a 3-0 victory - to every Dolphins fan’s dismay.

“When we next went down to Miami to play, in the end zone there’s a big pile of snow with a guy on a tractor," he remembered.

“Every time I kicked in the warm up the crowd would boo.”

Smith still lives in Massachusetts, managing the John Smith Soccer Academy for eight to 18 year olds.