Derek Smethurst
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Derek Smethurst (c. 1948 in Durban) is a former professional soccer player from South Africa who played with Chelsea F.C., in the early 1970s, and then with the Tampa Bay Rowdies from 1975 to 1977.
Now an accomplished author and sports consultant, Derek lives in Valrico, FL, and runs a soccer camp. Derek led the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL in goals scored for the three years he played with them. In the early 70’s, he scored a key[who?] goal for Chelsea helping them win a semi-final match in the 1970/71 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. He later played with Millwall as well before joining the NASL.
Derel Smethurst also played in the NFL pre-season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a placekicker and wore the jersey #3 in 1977.
Smethurst played soccer in his native South Africa with Addington and Durban City. From a sporting family, his father Norman was a soccer Springbok in the 1930s and brother Peter played for Johannesburg Ramblers and Blackpool.
First South African to win a European championship - first foreign born player to win a European championship in England - scored 75 goals in just over 100 games in the NASL
