Geoff Smith (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey "Geoff" Smith is an English
former professional footballer who played 253 league games for Bradford City
as a goalkeeper, including 200 consecutive appearances. When he retired, he held club records for the number of clean sheets in a season and total clean sheets.
Smith was born in Cottingley, Bradford
, moved to nearby Keighley
with his family before serving in Malaya
in the British Army at the end of his teens. His first trial at Bradford City was unsuccessful but after playing amateur football for Lancashire Combination League
sides Nelson
and Rossendale United
, he was signed by Bradford's new manager Ivor Powell
in 1952. He was at Bradford City for seven seasons and played in every league game between the final match of the 1953–54 season and October 1958. He eventually retired in 1959. After his football career, Smith and his wife ran two different off-licences for the remainder of their working life.
on the outskirts of Bradford
, England
, on 14 March 1928. He had a brother Jack and during their childhood, the Smith family moved to Keighley
, where Smith first played football for St Anne's Church. At the age of 18, Smith was called up to the army. He served in an infantry unit in Malaya
for two years before he returned to Keighley.
, who were at the time in the Third Division North
. His trial was unsuccessful and he was released. Instead, Smith joined Lancashire Combination League
side Nelson
. He was still living in Keighley, and travelled to Nelson by bus with his brother Jack, who had previously played for Leeds United
but had been released when Major Frank Buckley
took over as manager and instead also joined Nelson. Smith played for Nelson for three years at a time when the club were competing at the top of the Lancashire Combination and sought re-election back into the Football League. However, Smith initially gave up the game when Nelson could no longer afford to pay him. He was not long out of the game before he signed Rossendale United
, a member of the Lancashire Combination's Second Division. Smith said the journey by bus was a difficult one so he bought a motorbike. However, like Nelson, Rossendale could not afford to pay him, and after another two years, Smith gave up the game once again.
invited Smith back to City for another trial and he played for the reserves against Gainsborough Trinity
and Notts County
. This time, Smith's trial was successful and Bradford City – still a Third Division North side – signed him on amateur forms. Smith had played only seven games for the reserves in the Midland League
and was still unpaid when he was given his first-team debut against Scunthorpe United
on 17 January 1953 coming into the side for Brendan McManus
, whom Smith said was "having a rough time". It was not a good start for Smith, with City losing 4–0, but he followed this with a clean sheet in his second game against Stockport County
and kept his place in the side for the remainder of the season, playing 19 games, before he signed part-time professional terms in July 1953. He had previously worked part-time as a lorry driver, earning £4 10s (£4.50) working 48 hours per week as a lorry driver, but the club did not want him driving around the country and offered him £10 per week plus a £4 win bonus. To supplement his playing contract, the club gave Smith a job looking after their Valley Parade
ground.
During the mid-season break, McManus left City to join Frickley Athletic
. Instead, Powell signed Jimmy Gooch from Preston North End
as his replacement. Gooch, aged 32, was more experienced than Smith and so took over as first-choice goalkeeper at the start of the 1953–54 season
playing the first 20 games. Smith was called up to the first-team in November for a 1–1 draw with Hartlepools United
. He remained in the side and played all but two games for the rest of the season, coming back into the team for the final league game of the season against Gateshead
as City finished fifth. He kept 11 clean sheets, which included equalling a club best five in consecutive matches as City won a record nine straight games, during which they conceded just one goal.
Gooch left City after just one season to join Watford
leaving Smith to take over the "number one" shirt. For the next four seasons, Smith, who became a full-time professional, played every single first-team game for City which eventually led to him making 200 consecutive league appearances – it was a run that coincided with one of 246 league and FA Cup
games by full back George Mulholland. However, for three seasons, City could not match the fifth place gained in 1953–54 and they remained a Third Division North side. In 1957–58, under Powell's replacement as manager Peter Jackson
, City finished in third place but missed out on the title by nine points to Scunthorpe United. During the season, Smith set a new club record of 18 clean sheets, one which was later equalled by Steve Smith
and Eric McManus
.
The following season, Smith's run of consecutive games came to an end against Reading
in October 1958, with Jim McCusker coming into the side to replace him for two games. Smith's number of consecutive appearances is third on the club's list behind Mulholland's 231 games and Charlie Bicknell
. He played 26 further games in the 1958–59 season, in which the club finished 11th in the newy-formed Third Division
. The season proved to be Smith's final season for City as he decided to retire aged 31. His last game was a 2–1 defeat, once again versus Reading, on 28 February 1959. When the season finished, Smith had played a total of 270 games for the club, 253 of which came in the league, keeping a club record 70 clean sheets. His record stood until it was broken by Paul Tomlinson
in the 1990s. When Smith retired, the club granted him and Mulholland each a sum of money rather than the proceeds of a benefit match
.
for 25 years and a newsagents in Keighley for another five years. Smith played bowls
and golf
in his retirement, playing for Skipton Vets in the former sport.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer who played 253 league games for Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
as a goalkeeper, including 200 consecutive appearances. When he retired, he held club records for the number of clean sheets in a season and total clean sheets.
Smith was born in Cottingley, Bradford
Cottingley, Bradford
Cottingley is a suburban village within the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England, situated between Shipley and Bingley. It is perhaps best known for the Cottingley Fairies, which appeared in a series of photographs taken there during the early 20th century.-Governance:Cottingley is part of...
, moved to nearby Keighley
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
with his family before serving in Malaya
Malayan Union
The Malayan Union was a federation of the Malay states and the Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca. It was the successor to British Malaya and was conceived to unify the Malay Peninsula under a single government so as to simplify administration. The Malayan Union later became the independent...
in the British Army at the end of his teens. His first trial at Bradford City was unsuccessful but after playing amateur football for Lancashire Combination League
Lancashire Combination
The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League...
sides Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
and Rossendale United
Rossendale United F.C.
Rossendale United F.C. was an English football club based in Newchurch, near Rawtenstall, Lancashire. The club was formed in 1898 but was expelled from the North West Counties League Premier Division on 18 June 2011....
, he was signed by Bradford's new manager Ivor Powell
Ivor Powell
Ivor Verdun Powell MBE is a Welsh former footballer who gained eight Welsh caps and later became a manager. He was born in Gilfach, Bargoed....
in 1952. He was at Bradford City for seven seasons and played in every league game between the final match of the 1953–54 season and October 1958. He eventually retired in 1959. After his football career, Smith and his wife ran two different off-licences for the remainder of their working life.
Early life
Smith was born in CottingleyCottingley, Bradford
Cottingley is a suburban village within the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England, situated between Shipley and Bingley. It is perhaps best known for the Cottingley Fairies, which appeared in a series of photographs taken there during the early 20th century.-Governance:Cottingley is part of...
on the outskirts of Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on 14 March 1928. He had a brother Jack and during their childhood, the Smith family moved to Keighley
Keighley
Keighley is a town and civil parish within the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth...
, where Smith first played football for St Anne's Church. At the age of 18, Smith was called up to the army. He served in an infantry unit in Malaya
Malayan Union
The Malayan Union was a federation of the Malay states and the Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca. It was the successor to British Malaya and was conceived to unify the Malay Peninsula under a single government so as to simplify administration. The Malayan Union later became the independent...
for two years before he returned to Keighley.
Early career
Smith resumed his football career back at home with Keighley Central Club. A goalkeeper, he was still playing for Keighley Central in 1948 when he was offered a trial with his local Football League side Bradford CityBradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
, who were at the time in the Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
. His trial was unsuccessful and he was released. Instead, Smith joined Lancashire Combination League
Lancashire Combination
The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League...
side Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
. He was still living in Keighley, and travelled to Nelson by bus with his brother Jack, who had previously played for Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
but had been released when Major Frank Buckley
Frank Buckley (footballer)
Franklin Charles Buckley was an English football player and, later, manager. He is the brother of Chris Buckley who played for Aston Villa.-Early life:...
took over as manager and instead also joined Nelson. Smith played for Nelson for three years at a time when the club were competing at the top of the Lancashire Combination and sought re-election back into the Football League. However, Smith initially gave up the game when Nelson could no longer afford to pay him. He was not long out of the game before he signed Rossendale United
Rossendale United F.C.
Rossendale United F.C. was an English football club based in Newchurch, near Rawtenstall, Lancashire. The club was formed in 1898 but was expelled from the North West Counties League Premier Division on 18 June 2011....
, a member of the Lancashire Combination's Second Division. Smith said the journey by bus was a difficult one so he bought a motorbike. However, like Nelson, Rossendale could not afford to pay him, and after another two years, Smith gave up the game once again.
Bradford City
In December 1952, on the advice of Smith's friend Roy Brook, who was in Bradford's second team, new Bradford City manager Ivor PowellIvor Powell
Ivor Verdun Powell MBE is a Welsh former footballer who gained eight Welsh caps and later became a manager. He was born in Gilfach, Bargoed....
invited Smith back to City for another trial and he played for the reserves against Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
and Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. This time, Smith's trial was successful and Bradford City – still a Third Division North side – signed him on amateur forms. Smith had played only seven games for the reserves in the Midland League
Midland Football League
There have been at least two different football competitions in England which used the name Midland Football League.One existed until 1982 before merging with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties League....
and was still unpaid when he was given his first-team debut against Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
on 17 January 1953 coming into the side for Brendan McManus
Brendan McManus
Brendan McManus is a former professional footballer, who played for Newry Town, Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic and Bradford City. He was born in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland...
, whom Smith said was "having a rough time". It was not a good start for Smith, with City losing 4–0, but he followed this with a clean sheet in his second game against Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
and kept his place in the side for the remainder of the season, playing 19 games, before he signed part-time professional terms in July 1953. He had previously worked part-time as a lorry driver, earning £4 10s (£4.50) working 48 hours per week as a lorry driver, but the club did not want him driving around the country and offered him £10 per week plus a £4 win bonus. To supplement his playing contract, the club gave Smith a job looking after their Valley Parade
Valley Parade
Valley Parade, also known as the Coral Windows Stadium through sponsorship rights, is an all-seater football stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1886, and was the home of Manningham Rugby Football Club until 1903, when they changed code from rugby football to association...
ground.
During the mid-season break, McManus left City to join Frickley Athletic
Frickley Athletic F.C.
Frickley Athletic F.C. are a football club based in South Elmsall, in West Yorkshire, England. They were established in 1910 as Frickley Colliery F.C., and changed to their present name in 1974.-History:...
. Instead, Powell signed Jimmy Gooch from Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
as his replacement. Gooch, aged 32, was more experienced than Smith and so took over as first-choice goalkeeper at the start of the 1953–54 season
1953-54 in English football
The 1953–54 season was the 74th season of competitive football in England.-National team:The Marvellous Magyars shocked football by defeating England 6–3 at Wembley Stadium.-Honours:...
playing the first 20 games. Smith was called up to the first-team in November for a 1–1 draw with Hartlepools United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
. He remained in the side and played all but two games for the rest of the season, coming back into the team for the final league game of the season against Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
as City finished fifth. He kept 11 clean sheets, which included equalling a club best five in consecutive matches as City won a record nine straight games, during which they conceded just one goal.
Gooch left City after just one season to join Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
leaving Smith to take over the "number one" shirt. For the next four seasons, Smith, who became a full-time professional, played every single first-team game for City which eventually led to him making 200 consecutive league appearances – it was a run that coincided with one of 246 league and FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
games by full back George Mulholland. However, for three seasons, City could not match the fifth place gained in 1953–54 and they remained a Third Division North side. In 1957–58, under Powell's replacement as manager Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson (footballer born 1905)
Peter Jackson was a football player and manager. His twin sons Peter and David were also professional footballers. Both played under their father at Wrexham and Bradford City.-Playing career:...
, City finished in third place but missed out on the title by nine points to Scunthorpe United. During the season, Smith set a new club record of 18 clean sheets, one which was later equalled by Steve Smith
Steve Smith (footballer born 1957)
Stephen John "Steve" Smith is an English former professional footballer who made 161 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City, Bradford City and Crewe Alexandra....
and Eric McManus
Eric McManus
Eric McManus is a retired Northern Irish footballer who played for Coleraine, Coventry City, Notts County, Stoke City, Lincoln City, Bradford City, Middlesbrough, Peterborough United, Tranmere Rovers and Boston United....
.
The following season, Smith's run of consecutive games came to an end against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in October 1958, with Jim McCusker coming into the side to replace him for two games. Smith's number of consecutive appearances is third on the club's list behind Mulholland's 231 games and Charlie Bicknell
Charlie Bicknell
Charles "Charlie" Bicknell was an English professional footballer who played as a left back. Active between 1928 and 1947, Bicknell made over 450 appearances in the Football League.-Career:...
. He played 26 further games in the 1958–59 season, in which the club finished 11th in the newy-formed Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. The season proved to be Smith's final season for City as he decided to retire aged 31. His last game was a 2–1 defeat, once again versus Reading, on 28 February 1959. When the season finished, Smith had played a total of 270 games for the club, 253 of which came in the league, keeping a club record 70 clean sheets. His record stood until it was broken by Paul Tomlinson
Paul Tomlinson
Paul A. Tomlinson is a retired English football player who played as a goalkeeper for Sheffield United, Birmingham City on loan and Bradford City....
in the 1990s. When Smith retired, the club granted him and Mulholland each a sum of money rather than the proceeds of a benefit match
Benefit (sports)
A benefit or testimonial is a match or season of activities granted by a sporting body to a loyal sportsman to boost their income before retirement. Often this is in the form of a match for which all the ticket proceeds are given to the player in question.There have been occasions when a...
.
Personal life
Smith met his wife Margaret at a ceilidh at St Anne's Social Club, in Keighley, in 1944, when they were both teenagers. They married after Smith returned from his two years in the army on 26 August 1950 at Holy Trinity Church, in Keighley. Together, they had two daughters. Smith had been a motor mechanic before his football career, and after he retired from playing, he and his wife ran an off-licence store in Cross RoadsCross Roads, West Yorkshire
Cross Roads with Lees or Cross Roads cum Lees, is a small village which lies on the main A629 road between the village of Haworth and the town of Keighley in West Yorkshire, England....
for 25 years and a newsagents in Keighley for another five years. Smith played bowls
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
and golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
in his retirement, playing for Skipton Vets in the former sport.
Career statistics
| Club | Division | Season | League | FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... |
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Nelson Nelson F.C. Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:... |
Lancashire Combination Lancashire Combination The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League... |
| | ||||||
| Rossendale United Rossendale United F.C. Rossendale United F.C. was an English football club based in Newchurch, near Rawtenstall, Lancashire. The club was formed in 1898 but was expelled from the North West Counties League Premier Division on 18 June 2011.... |
Lancashire Combination Second Division Lancashire Combination The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League... |
| | ||||||
| Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
Third Division North Football League Third Division North The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position... |
1952–53 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| 1953–54 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
| 1954–55 | 46 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 51 | 0 | ||
| 1955–56 | 46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 49 | 0 | ||
| 1956–57 | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 0 | ||
| 1957–58 | 46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 50 | 0 | ||
| Third Division Football League Third Division The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two... |
1958–59 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| Total | 253 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 270 | 0 | ||
| Career totals | 253 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 270 | 0 | ||