John Smith – SkyBlueArchive

Position

Midfielder

Nationality

Place Of Birth

Shoreditch

Date Of Birth

January 4, 1939

Date Of Death

February 1, 1988 (49)

Games Played

Per Game

Games Started

1.0

Per Game

Minutes

3442

88.3

Per Game

Goals

0.03

Per Game

Assists

Per Game

Jimmy Hill signed the cockney Smith from Tottenham for £9,000 on the transfer deadline in March 1964 to boost the club’s promotion hopes after a post-Christmas slump. Smith was a product of the West Ham youth set-up, was a first team regular in his teens and looked set for an England cap. In 1960 after 136 games for the Hammers he crossed London in a big-money move to Tottenham and was a squad member in Spurs’ 1961 Double-winning side. A classy midfield player with good ball skills and passing ability, Smith made only 21 appearances in four seasons at White Hart Lane due to the high quality of their team. At Coventry he helped steady the ship and promotion was achieved. The following season he was in excellent form until injury struck. After regaining fitness he failed to win back his place and in October 1965 joined Leyton Orient. A year later he moved to Torquay before his career was rejuvenated in 1968 with a transfer to Third Division Swindon. For three years he was part of an amazing period of success at the County Ground. In 1969 the Robins beat Arsenal in the League Cup final, defeating City along the way, and won promotion from the Third Division, and the following season almost won promotion to Division 1. In his three years at the County Ground the team lost only four home games and Smith was a major influence.

In 1971 he joined Walsall and a year later was appointed player-manager for one season and later of Irish club Dundalk. At the time of his death he was the steward of the McVitie’s Social Club in Park Royal, North London.

League Cup (England)

1965-1966

90′

1964-1965

270′

360′

0 (0)

Football League Second Division (England)

1965-1966

112′

1964-1965

2160′

1 (0)

2272′

1 (0)

Football League Third Division (England)

1963-1964

810′

0 (0)

Totals:

3442′

1 (0)