Jimmy Smith (footballer born 1889)

Jimmy Smith
Personal information
Full name James Smith
Date of birth c. 1889
Place of birth Stafford, England
Date of death 8 October 1918(1918-10-08) (aged about 29)
Playing position Centre forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
190?–1910 Hanley PSA
1910–1911 Hanley Swifts
1911–1912 Brighton & Hove Albion 59 (37)
1912–1915 Bradford (Park Avenue) 90 (49)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

James "Jimmy" Smith (c. 1889 – 8 October 1918) was an English professional footballer who scored 49 goals from 90 appearances in the Football League playing as a centre forward for Bradford (Park Avenue).[1]

Smith was born in Stafford, Staffordshire.[1] He was a prolific scorer in local football in the Hanley area, but began his professional career with Southern League club Brighton & Hove Albion in January 1911.[2] He was the club's top scorer in the 1911–12 season with 27 goals in all competitions.[3] In November 1912, he moved into the Football League, joining Bradford for the substantial fee of £735 plus inside forward Bobby Simpson.[2] Smith played 90 League games for Bradford, scoring at better than a goal every two games and helping them earn promotion to the First Division in 1914, before the First World War interrupted his career.[2]

He served as a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery, and was killed in action on the Western Front in 1918, a few weeks before he was due to get married. He is buried in the British Cemetery at Ramicourt, Aisne, France.[4][5]

References

  1. ^ a b Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData (Tony Brown). p. 243. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6. 
  2. ^ a b c Carder, Tim; Harris, Roger (1997). Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.. Hove: Goldstone Books. p. 225. ISBN 0-9521337-1-7. 
  3. ^ Carder & Harris, Albion A–Z, p. 338.
  4. ^ "Bradford Park Avenue's Jimmy Smith". Bantamspast: The Bradford City Football Club Museum. 8 June 2011. http://www.bantamspast.co.uk/index.php?id=1029129127352329781. Retrieved 26 November 2011. 
  5. ^ "Casualty details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=182608. Retrieved 26 November 2011.