Les Smith (footballer born 1927)
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- For other people named Les or Leslie Smith, see Leslie Smith (disambiguation)
| Les Smith | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joseph Leslie Smith | |
| Date of birth | 24 December 1927 | |
| Place of birth | Halesowen, West Midlands, England | |
| Date of death | 8 March 2008 (aged 80) | |
| Place of death | Stourbridge, West Midlands, England | |
| Playing position | Outside Right | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1947–1956 1956–1960 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers Aston Villa |
88 (22) 115 (24) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Joseph Leslie Smith (24 December 1927 – 8 March 2008) was an English footballer who represented both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa.
Smith began his professional career with Wolves, making his senior debut in April 1947. He was part of the squad that won the league title in 1953/54, although managing only four appearances during the campaign.
He became a regular starter in the following season, replacing the injured Jimmy Mullen as the club finished as runners-up. However, he found himself largely out of contention upon Mullen's return and so moved to Aston Villa in February 1956 for £25,000.
Smith played for Aston Villa in the 1957 FA Cup Final against Manchester United's Busby Babes, where Villa won the game 2-1 to lift the cup. However his career was cut short after an achilles injury forced him into retirement in 1960. In total, he made 130 appearances, scoring 27 goals for Villa. He ran a building firm called L.A.Smith Master Builders
Smith died on 8 March 2008, after suffering for many years from throat and bowel cancer. He is survived by his wife Lynne and son Nigel.
