Fred Smith (full back)

Fred Smith
Personal information
Full name Frederick Smith
Date of birth 16 May 1887(1887-05-16)
Place of birth Buxton, England
Date of death 23 December 1957(1957-12-23) (aged 70)
Place of death Macclesfield, England
Playing position Full back
Youth career
1904–1906 Buxton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1906–1909 Stockport County 27 (0)
1909–1910 Derby County 5 (0)
1910–1913 Macclesfield
1913–1914 Southampton 16 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Frederick Smith (16 May 1887 – 23 December 1957) was an English footballer who played as a full back in the period prior to World War I.

Football career

He was born in Buxton and played League football for Stockport County and Derby County before giving up playing full-time to concentrate on his job as a motor mechanic in Macclesfield.

In May 1913, he was recruited by Southern Football League Southampton, by when he was at the "veteran" stage of his career. He initially played for the reserve team, where he was appointed captain. His "clean cut, up-standing image"[1] had a beneficial effect on the youngsters. Following three successive defeats in October 1913, he made his first-team debut in a 2–0 defeat at reading on 1 November, replacing Bert Lee at right-back. His "determination and speed"[1] enabled him to retain his place for the next ten games, before giving way to Richard Brooks in January. Smith made a further five appearances in the latter part of the season.[2]

At the end of the season, he was struggling to retain full fitness and decided to retire to concentrate on his motor career and returned to Macclesfield.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. p. 314. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3. 
  2. ^ Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. pp. 54–55. ISBN 0-907969-22-4.