Sammy Smyth

This article is about the footballer. For the Northern Irish loyalist, see Sammy Smyth (loyalist).
Sammy Smyth
Personal information
Full nameSamuel Smyth[1]
Date of birth25 February 1925[1]
Place of birthBelfast, Northern Ireland[1]
Playing positionStriker
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1942–1945Distillery
1945–1947Linfield32(25)
1947Dundela
1947–1951Wolverhampton Wanderers102(34)
1951–1953Stoke City40(17)
1953–1955Liverpool44(20)
1955–1957Bangor?(23)
Total186(71)
National team
1948–1952Northern Ireland9(5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Samuel "Sammy" Smyth (born 25 February 1925) is a former Northern Irish footballer who played in the Football League for Liverpool, Stoke City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.[1]

Career

Smyth was born in Belfast and played for local clubs Distillery, Linfield and Dundela in the Irish League before being signed by English Football League side Wolverhampton Wanderers in July 1947 for a fee of £1,100.[1] Despite taking Wolves to third place in the 1946–47 season manager Ted Vizard was replaced by his assistant Stan Cullis in June 1948. The following year Cullis led Wolves to the FA Cup final against Leicester City, Jesse Pye scoring two goals in the first-half and Smyth netting another in the 68th minute.[1] The following season Wolves finished in 2nd place in the First Division. He had scored 43 goals in 116 cup and league appearances for Wolves.[1]

In September 1951 Stoke City paid a club record fee of £25,000 to Wolves for Smyth in a bid to help them avoid relegation after an awful start to the 1951–52 season.[1] Smyth had the desired impact at the Victoria Ground as he scored 12 vital goals as Stoke escaped the drop by three points.[1] He scored five goals in 14 matches in 1952–53 before being sold to Liverpool in January 1953 for a fee of £12,000.[1] Smyth made his debut for his new club against the side he just departed, Stoke just days later. He spent two seasons at Anfield scoring 20 goals in 44 appearances.[1]

After football

Smyth returned to Belfast where he played for Bangor and also worked as a bookmaker. He Later he opened his own sports shop business.[1]

Career statistics

Club Season League FA Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1947–48 30800308
1948–49 3916764621
1949–50 299633512
1950–51 300030
1951–52 110011
Total 1023413911542
Stoke City 1951–52 2612423014
1952–53 14500145
Total 4017424419
Liverpool 1952–53 18700187
1953–54 261300263
Total 4420004420
Career Total 18671171120382

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.

External links