Billy Smith (footballer, born 1895)

William Henry Smith (23 May 1895 – 13 April 1951) was a professional footballer who played most of his career at Huddersfield Town.

Billy Smith
Personal information
Full name William Henry Smith
Date of birth (1895-05-23)23 May 1895
Place of birth Tantobie, England
Date of death 13 April 1951(1951-04-13) (aged 55)
Place of death Huddersfield, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s) Outside left
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1914–1934 Huddersfield Town 521 (126)
1934–1935 Rochdale
International career
1922–1928 England 3 (0)
Managerial career
1934–1935 Rochdale (player-manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He is one of Huddersfield's all-time top goal-scorers with 126 goals in his career between 1913 and 1934. Smith scored Huddersfield's winning goal in the 1922 FA Cup Final against Preston North End at Stamford Bridge. He also won three caps for England. He was also the first person ever to score from a corner in a match against Arsenal in October 1924.[2] He made 574 appearances for the Terriers, scoring 126 goals.

Career

For a Huddersfield legend, the story opened in an unlikely manner. It was September 1913 when at a board meeting a letter of W.H. Smith of Tantobie in County Durham was discussed. The content of the note was short and to the point for the writer made it clear he was not prepared to accept terms of less than 50/- a week (£2.50) and for that reason did not wish to present himself to further trials.

During a Division I match against Stoke he had a fight with a Stoke player. They were both sent off and it meant they would both miss a game. This caused Smith to miss the 1920 FA Cup Final against Aston Villa. After Huddersfield went on appeal he would miss the next league game. Huddersfield lost the cup final 1-0 as Billy Kirton scored in extra time.

In the 2nd half of the 1922 F.A. Cup final, Smith was brought down on the edge of the area. The referee pointed to the spot. Smith, shaken stepped up himself to take the penalty. Preston goalkeeper Mitchell jumped around on his line in attempt to distract Smith but Clem Stephenson said, "Never mind the dancing devil, just shove it in the net. Smith did."

Smith was a key member of the team that won a hattrick of First Division titles under Herbert Chapman and Cecil Potter and in the final championship year (in 1926) received his first England cap. He was one of five Huddersfield players who played in the "Wembley Wizards" 5–1 defeat of England. He, Bob Kelly, Roy Goodall and Tom Wilson played for England, and Alex Jackson for Scotland; Jackson scored a hat-trick, while Kelly scored a consolation for England in the 89th minute. On 11 November 1933 he received his fourth benefit from the president of the football league. He later had a small player - manager stint at Rochdale.

Later life

Smith faded out from the game in the 1940s and died of cancer in 1951, after having his left leg amputated due to a mistreated football injury.

He and his son Conway Smith were the first father and son to score 100 goals each. His grandson Robert played in the last ever match at the Leeds Road ground before it was knocked down.

Honours

Huddersfield Town

References
  1. Woolwinder (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Huddersfield Town". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
  2. Marshall-Bailey, Tom (18 July 2014). "Huddersfield Town greats: William 'Billy' Smith". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  3. "1921/22 F.A. Charity Shield". footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2022.

Sources

"Huddersfield Town - 75 Years On. A book by George S. Binns."[1]

  1. "Huddersfield Town 75 Years on. - BINNS, GEORGE S".
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