Billy Smith (footballer, born 1906)

William Henry Smith (9 June 1906 – 1983) was an English footballer who played as a full-back in the Football League for South Shields, Portsmouth and Stockport County.[1]

Billy Smith
Personal information
Full name William Henry Smith
Date of birth (1906-06-09)9 June 1906
Place of birth Whitburn, County Durham, England
Date of death 27 February 1983
Place of death Whitburn
Position(s) Full-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Whitburn
1924–1925 Tottenham Hotspur 0 (0)
Northfleet (loan)
Whitburn
1926–1928 South Shields 22 (0)
1928–1937 Portsmouth 311 (2)
1937–1940 Stockport County 34 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Smith, who played in either full-back position, spent the majority of his career at Portsmouth, having previously played League football for South Shields.[1] After joining Portsmouth in 1928, he made 311 League appearances, and played in the 1934 FA Cup Final side that lost to Manchester City in April 1934.[1][2]

After leaving Portsmouth in 1937, he joined Stockport County, where he played 36 times in four seasons (although his two appearances in 1939–40 were subsequently struck from the record as League football was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II).[1]

Four of his six brothers were also footballers. Jack also played for South Shields and Portsmouth and the two played together in the 1934 Cup Final.[2][3] Younger brother Sep played for Leicester City, and played against his brothers in the semi-final of the competition.[4] Tom played for South Shields and later played for Manchester United and Northampton Town. Joe played reserve football for Leicester and later played for Watford.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Joyce, Michael (2012) [2002]. Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 272. ISBN 978-1-905891-61-0.
  2. ^ a b "Manchester City 2 Portsmouth 1". fa-cupfinals.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 April 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  3. ^ Wray, Bob. "History". South Shields F.C. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  4. ^ "In pictures: LCFC's memorabilia". BBC Leicester. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Joseph Kirby SMITH". watfordfcarchive.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.