Len Smith (footballer)
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth | February 9, 1912, |
| Recruited from | Northcote (VFA) |
| Height and weight | 180cm / 74.5kg |
| Death | 1967, |
| Playing career¹ | |
| Debut | 1934, Melbourne vs. , at |
| Team(s) | Melbourne (1934-1935)
18 games, 3 goals Fitzroy (1937-1943; 1945) 75 games, 57 goals |
| Coaching career¹ | |
| Team(s) | Fitzroy (1958-1962)
Richmond (1964-1965) |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 2006 season | |
| Career highlights | |
Victorian Coach 1961 |
|
Len Smith was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the VFL from 1934 to 1935 and and then for the Fitzroy Football Club from 1937 to 1943. Due to service during World War II with the RAAF he missed the 1944 season altogether but returned for a final year in 1945. Like his younger brother, the legendary Norm Smith, it is as a coach that Len is best remembered.
During his first stint as a coach, of the Fitzroy Under 19s (1948-1957), he guided the side to the 1955 Premiership. His first senior coaching role was with Fitzroy, taking them to the finals in 1958 and 1960. He then coached Coburg in the VFA for the 1963 season before heading to Richmond. He suffered a heart attack in 1964 and further health concerns saw him relinquish the coaching reins at The Tigers early in 1965. Len died of a heart attack in 1967.
[edit] References
- Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old , Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996
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