John Smith (footballer born 1855)
Encyclopedia
Dr.
John Smith (born 12 August 1855 in Mauchline
, Ayrshire
- died 15 December 1937) was a Scottish
footballer
of the 1870s and 1880s.
Smith began playing football at Mauchline F.C.
before transferring to Edinburgh University
while he studied. After completing his studies in the early 1880s he joined Queen's Park
by which time he had already made several appearances for the Scottish national team.
At Queen's Park he won the Scottish Cup
in 1881, 1882 and 1884. He became the first player to score a hat-trick
in a Scottish Cup final when he scored all three of Queen's Park's goals in the 1881 final replay against Dumbarton
. He was not selected to play in the 1882 cup final and no final took place in 1884 but Queen's Park were awarded the trophy after Vale of Leven failed to appear for the final.
Smith often played under the pseudonym
J.C. Miller. He also played occasionally as a guest for the Corinthians, Swifts
and Liverpool Ramblers FC. He was banned from playing for or against any Scottish club or the Scottish national team in 1885 after he played for Corinthians against a professional English club, thus breaching the Scottish Football Association
's amateur regulations.
He earned ten caps
in total for Scotland, scoring 10 goals.
As well as football, Smith also played rugby
. He played for Edinburgh University
and Edinburgh Wanderers
and in 1876 was a reserve for the Scottish national rugby team
.
As a physician, he practised in Brycehall, Kirkcaldy
and sometimes officiated as a football referee.
Doctor (title)
Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...
John Smith (born 12 August 1855 in Mauchline
Mauchline
Mauchline is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a recorded population of 4105. It lies by the Glasgow and South Western Railway line, 8 miles east-southeast of Kilmarnock and 11 miles northeast of Ayr. It is situated on a gentle slope about 1 mile from the River Ayr,...
, Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
- died 15 December 1937) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
of the 1870s and 1880s.
Smith began playing football at Mauchline F.C.
Mauchline F.C.
Mauchline FC was a senior football team based in the small town of Mauchline in East Ayrshire. The club was founded in 1873 and played their homes matches at Connel Park. They played in a blue and white striped shirt with white shorts...
before transferring to Edinburgh University
Edinburgh University F.C.
Edinburgh University A.F.C. is a football club representing the University of Edinburgh. They currently play in the East of Scotland Football League. Established in 1878, they are third oldest club in East of Scotland football and have been a member of the Scottish Football Association since that...
while he studied. After completing his studies in the early 1880s he joined Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
by which time he had already made several appearances for the Scottish national team.
At Queen's Park he won the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
in 1881, 1882 and 1884. He became the first player to score a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in a Scottish Cup final when he scored all three of Queen's Park's goals in the 1881 final replay against Dumbarton
Dumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
. He was not selected to play in the 1882 cup final and no final took place in 1884 but Queen's Park were awarded the trophy after Vale of Leven failed to appear for the final.
Smith often played under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
J.C. Miller. He also played occasionally as a guest for the Corinthians, Swifts
Swifts F.C.
Swifts Football Club were a football team based in Slough, England.The club were founded c.1868 and played their home matches on a ground near The Dolphin public house, Slough...
and Liverpool Ramblers FC. He was banned from playing for or against any Scottish club or the Scottish national team in 1885 after he played for Corinthians against a professional English club, thus breaching the Scottish Football Association
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
's amateur regulations.
He earned ten caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
in total for Scotland, scoring 10 goals.
As well as football, Smith also played rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
. He played for Edinburgh University
Edinburgh University RFC
Edinburgh University Rugby Football Club is a leading rugby union side based in Edinburgh, Scotland which currently plays its fixtures in the top Scottish National League and the British Universities Premiership. It is one of the eight founder members of the Scottish Rugby Union...
and Edinburgh Wanderers
Murrayfield Wanderers RFC
Murrayfield Wanderers Football Club are a rugby union side based in Edinburgh, Scotland.Formed in 1997 after the amalgamation of Murrayfield RFC and Edinburgh Wanderers FC, both clubs brought together a long history of rugby excellence which can trace its roots back to 1868 when the Edinburgh...
and in 1876 was a reserve for the Scottish national rugby team
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
.
As a physician, he practised in Brycehall, Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The town lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth; SSE of Glenrothes, ENE of Dunfermline, WSW of Dundee and NNE of Edinburgh...
and sometimes officiated as a football referee.
International goals
- Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 April 5, 1879 Kennington Oval, London LondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
3-1 4-5 Friendly 2 April 7, 1879 Acton Park, Wrexham WrexhamWrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
2-0 3-0 Friendly 3 April 7, 1879 Acton Park, Wrexham WrexhamWrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
3-0 3-0 Friendly 4 March 12, 1881 Kennington Oval, London LondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
1-0 6-1 Friendly 5 March 12, 1881 Kennington Oval, London LondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
3-1 6-1 Friendly 6 March 12, 1881 Kennington Oval, London LondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
5-1 6-1 Friendly 7 March 10, 1883 Bramall Lane Bramall Lane-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
, SheffieldSheffieldSheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
1-0 3-2 Friendly 8 March 10, 1883 Bramall Lane Bramall Lane-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
, SheffieldSheffieldSheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
2-1 3-2 Friendly 9 March 12, 1883 Acton Park, Wrexham WrexhamWrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
1-0 3-0 Friendly 10 March 15, 1884 Cathkin Park Cathkin ParkCathkin Park is a municipal park in Glasgow, Scotland. The park is maintained by the city's parks department, and it is a public place where football is still played...
, GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
1-0 1-0 Friendly