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Frederick Smith (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Frederick "Fred" Smith was an English
professional rugby league
footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at representative level played for Yorkshire, and at club level for Leeds
, and Wakefield Trinity
, playing at , i.e. number 2 or 5.
in Wakefield Trinity
's 38-5 victory over Hull in the 1959–60 Challenge Cup
final at Wembley Stadium on 14 May 1960, and played in the 12-6 victory over Huddersfield
in the 1961–62 Challenge Cup
final at Wembley Stadium on 12 May 1962.
in Wakefield Trinity
's 16-10 victory over Huddersfield
in the 1960–61 Yorkshire Cup
final at Headingley Stadium, Leeds
on 29 October 1960.
moved to Leeds
in January 1956, Fred Smith came to Belle Vue
as part of the transfer agreement. In his first full season of 1956/7 he scored 30 tries – only one other player had ever scored more for the Club
. In 1958/9 he extended Denis Boocker
’s and Neil Fox
’s joint record to 37 and in 1959/60 took his seasons total to 38. Also holds the record of tries in a match – seven against Keighley
in 1958/9".
to Wakefield Trinity
in January 1956, with Don Robinson
going the other way. In addition, Wakefield Trinity
also received £3,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £143,000 in 2009).
in the 1973-74 season, but fifty years on, both of Fred Smith’s records remain unbeaten.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at representative level played for Yorkshire, and at club level for Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
, and Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
, playing at , i.e. number 2 or 5.
Challenge Cup final appearances
Fred Smith played Right-, i.e. number 2, and scored a tryTry
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
's 38-5 victory over Hull in the 1959–60 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final at Wembley Stadium on 14 May 1960, and played in the 12-6 victory over Huddersfield
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
in the 1961–62 Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final at Wembley Stadium on 12 May 1962.
County Cup Final Appearances
Fred Smith played Right-, i.e. number 2, and scored a tryTry
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
in Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
's 16-10 victory over Huddersfield
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
in the 1960–61 Yorkshire Cup
Rugby league county cups
Historically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
final at Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
on 29 October 1960.
Contemporaneous Article Extract
"Fred Smith: When Don RobinsonDon Robinson (rugby league)
Donald "Don" Robinson is an English former professional Rugby League World Cup winning footballer of the 1940s, '50s and '60s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, England, Yorkshire, and Rugby League XIII, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, and Leeds, playing at , or , i.e...
moved to Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
in January 1956, Fred Smith came to Belle Vue
Belle Vue (Wakefield)
Belle Vue is a rugby league stadium in Wakefield, England. It is the home stadium of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. It is located beside the A638 Doncaster Road, approximately one mile south of Wakefield City Centre.- Description :Currently, the East stand has a covered stand with seating, with some...
as part of the transfer agreement. In his first full season of 1956/7 he scored 30 tries – only one other player had ever scored more for the Club
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
. In 1958/9 he extended Denis Boocker
Denis John Boocker
Denis John "Dinny" Boocker was a professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at representative level played for Wales, and at club level for Newtown Bluebags, and Wakefield Trinity, playing at , or , i.e...
’s and Neil Fox
Neil Fox (rugby league)
Neil Fox MBE is an English former rugby league footballer and player-coach of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. A goal-kicking , he is one of the most prominent figures in the history of the sport because he holds the all-time points record, scoring 6,220 points during his career...
’s joint record to 37 and in 1959/60 took his seasons total to 38. Also holds the record of tries in a match – seven against Keighley
Keighley Cougars
Keighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...
in 1958/9".
Transfer From Leeds To Wakefield Trinity
Fred Smith was transferred from LeedsLeeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
to Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
in January 1956, with Don Robinson
Don Robinson (rugby league)
Donald "Don" Robinson is an English former professional Rugby League World Cup winning footballer of the 1940s, '50s and '60s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, England, Yorkshire, and Rugby League XIII, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, and Leeds, playing at , or , i.e...
going the other way. In addition, Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
also received £3,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £143,000 in 2009).
Career Records
Fred Smith’s record for the most tries for Wakefield Trinity in a match set against Keighley in 1959 with 7-tries has since been equalled by Keith Slater in 1971, and the record for the most tries for Wakefield Trinity in a season set during the 1959-60 season with 38-tries has since been equalled by David SmithDavid Smith (rugby league)
David Smith is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at representative level has played for England, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, Leeds, and Bradford Northern, playing at , i.e...
in the 1973-74 season, but fifty years on, both of Fred Smith’s records remain unbeaten.