
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















































































































































































































































































































































































