Wilf Smith

Position
Defender
Nationality
Place Of Birth
Neumunster
Date Of Birth
September 3, 1946
Age
78
Height (cm)
178
Games Played
160
-
Per Game
Games Started
157
1.0
Per Game
Minutes
14033
87.7
Per Game
Goals
2
0.01
Per Game
Assists
4
0.03
Per Game
Notes
Stats
Matches
Transfers
Gallery
Internationals

Noel Cantwell lashed out £100,000, a British record for a full-back, to sign Wilf Smith in August 1970 after the Sheffield Wednesday defender rejected Chelsea in favour of the Sky Blues. Smith, although only 24, was an experienced player who had played for the Owls in the 1966 FA Cup final, losing to Everton 3-2, and had won six England Under 23 caps as well as playing for the Football League. A quick, determined strong tackler, he was a serious contender for full England honours. Any doubts that City fans had that the club were not ambitious were dismissed with this signing. Wilf’s debut at Derby was one of the shortest in history – he was carried off with an ankle injury after less than ten minutes but in his absence City came from 2-0 down to win a famous 4-3 victory.

He was soon back in action and became the regular right back for the Sky Blues and was a virtual ever-present for four seasons. Always a solid defender with good tackling and passing skills he never really touched the heights he had scaled at Hillsborough. In 1972-73 he was successfully converted to a midfield ball-winning role and made a big impression during City’s good FA Cup run that season. He lost his place to Les Cartwright during the 1973-74 season and reverted to right-back. In 1974 he had short loan periods with Brighton and Millwall before his former Wednesday full-back partner Don Megson signed him for Bristol Rovers. Eighteen months later he moved back to Yorkshire for a spell with Chesterfield under Arthur Cox before retiring from the game in 1977.

He built up a chain of shops in the Leicester area before retirement and lives at Leire in Leicestershire.

Own goals (1)
1974-75
28 December 1974 v Tottenham Hotspur A

Football League First Division (England)
1974-1975
Coventry City
7
7
630′
1
1
1973-1974
Coventry City
24
23
1
2102′
1
1972-1973
Coventry City
34
32
2
2884′
3
1
1971-1972
Coventry City
42
42
3780′
3
1 (0)
1970-1971
Coventry City
28
28
2435′
1
135
132
3
11831′
7
0
0
1 (0)
3
1
FA Cup (England)
1973-1974
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1972-1973
Coventry City
4
4
315′
1
1971-1972
Coventry City
2
2
172′
1970-1971
Coventry City
1
1
90′
9
9
0
757′
1
0
0
0 (0)
0
0
League Cup (England)
1973-1974
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1 (0)
1972-1973
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1
1
1971-1972
Coventry City
1
1
90′
1970-1971
Coventry City
2
2
180′
7
7
0
630′
1
0
0
1 (0)
1
0
The Texaco Cup (England)
1973-1974
Coventry City
2
2
180′
1972-1973
Coventry City
1
1
65′
1971-1972
Coventry City
4
4
390′
7
7
0
635′
0
0
0
0 (0)
0
0
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (Europe)
1970-1971
Coventry City
2
2
180′
2
2
0
180′
0
0
0
0 (0)
0
0
Totals:
160
157
3
14033′
9
0
0
2 (0)
4
1
Date
For
Against
H/A
Result
Football League First Division 1974-1975
Football League First Division 1974-1975
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield United
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
L 2:0
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
A
L 3:2
90`
Football League First Division 1973-1974
Football League First Division 1973-1974
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
D 3:3
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield United
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
W 2:3
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Everton
A
L 1:0
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
L 3:0
32`
Coventry City
Stoke City
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Everton
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
A
W 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
H
W 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Chelsea
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Burnley
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
W 1:0
90`
FA Cup 1973-1974
FA Cup 1973-1974
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
L 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
H
D 0:0
90`
League Cup 1973-1974
League Cup 1973-1974
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
D 2:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Darlington
H
W 5:1
90`
The Texaco Cup 1973-1974
The Texaco Cup 1973-1974
Coventry City
Motherwell
A
L 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Motherwell
H
L 0:1
90`
Football League First Division 1972-1973
Football League First Division 1972-1973
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Chelsea
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield United
A
L 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
L 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Everton
A
L 2:0
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
L 0:1
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
W 2:1
45`
Coventry City
Stoke City
A
L 2:1
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
H
W 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 2:0
36`
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Everton
H
W 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Sheffield United
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
W 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
W 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Chelsea
H
L 1:3
38`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
L 0:3
65`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 2:1
FA Cup 1972-1973
FA Cup 1972-1973
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
L 2:0
45`
Coventry City
Hull City
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Grimsby Town
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Leyton Orient
A
W 1:4
90`
League Cup 1972-1973
League Cup 1972-1973
Coventry City
Birmingham City
A
L 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Hartlepool
H
W 1:0
90`
The Texaco Cup 1972-1973
The Texaco Cup 1972-1973
Coventry City
Motherwell
H
D 3:3
65`
Football League First Division 1971-1972
Football League First Division 1971-1972
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield United
H
W 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Everton
H
W 4:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
L 2:3
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
A
L 4:2
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Chelsea
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield United
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Huddersfield Town
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
W 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Everton
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
L 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Chelsea
A
D 3:3
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
L 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
H
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 3:1
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
D 1:1
90`
FA Cup 1971-1972
FA Cup 1971-1972
Coventry City
Hull City
H
L 0:1
82`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
W 1:2
90`
The Texaco Cup 1971-1972
The Texaco Cup 1971-1972
Coventry City
Newcastle United
A
L 5:1
90`
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Falkirk
H
W 3:0
120`
Coventry City
Falkirk
A
L 1:0
90`
League Cup 1971-1972
League Cup 1971-1972
Coventry City
Burnley
H
L 0:1
90`
Football League First Division 1970-1971
Football League First Division 1970-1971
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Chelsea
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Burnley
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
A
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
W 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Blackpool
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Blackpool
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
West Ham United
A
W 1:2
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Manchester City
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Leeds United
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Arsenal
H
L 1:3
90`
Coventry City
Chelsea
H
L 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
A
W 3:4
5`
FA Cup 1970-1971
FA Cup 1970-1971
Coventry City
Rochdale
A
L 2:1
90`
League Cup 1970-1971
League Cup 1970-1971
Coventry City
Tottenham Hotspur
A
L 4:1
90`
Coventry City
Derby County
H
W 1:0
90`
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1970-71
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1970-71
Coventry City
Bayern Munich
H
W 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Trakia Plovdiv
H
W 2:0
Coventry City
Trakia Plovdiv
A
W 1:4
90`
Club Out
Club In
Transfer Date
Fee
Club Out / Club In
Transfer Date / Fee
Coventry City
Millwall
Wed, 01 Jan, 1975
Loan
Coventry City
Millwall
Wed, 01 Jan, 1975
Loan
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
Tue, 01 Oct, 1974
Loan
Coventry City
Brighton & Hove Albion
Tue, 01 Oct, 1974
Loan
Coventry City
Bristol Rovers
Fri, 01 Mar, 1974
Coventry City
Bristol Rovers
Fri, 01 Mar, 1974
Sheffield Wednesday
Coventry City
Sat, 01 Aug, 1970
Sheffield Wednesday
Coventry City
Sat, 01 Aug, 1970