Ron Smith (footballer) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Ronald "Ron" Smith is a former English

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...

footballer who played on the left-wing

Midfielder

A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...

. He scored 62 goals in 426 appearances over a thirteen year career.

Failing to make the grade at Liverpool

Liverpool F.C.

Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...

, he transferred to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic

A.F.C. Bournemouth

A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....

in 1959. He spent two years with the cub before moving to Crewe Alexandra

Crewe Alexandra F.C.

Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...

in July 1961. He helped Crewe to win promotion out of the Fourth Division

Football League Fourth Division

The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...

in 1962–63, before he was sold on to Port Vale

Port Vale F.C.

Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...

for a £6,500 fee in October 1963. In April 1965 he was allowed to join Southport

Southport F.C.

Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...

, where he again won promotion out of the fourth tier in 1966–67. Following this he joined Altrincham

Altrincham F.C.

Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...

, where he lifted the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup

Northern Premier League Challenge Cup

The Northern Premier League Challenge Cup is a knock-out cup competition organised by the Northern Premier League....

in 1970.

Playing career

Smith had trials with Stoke City

Stoke City F.C.

Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...

, but after his discharge from National service

National service

National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...

he was signed to Liverpool

Liverpool F.C.

on amateur terms in 1955. He turned professional in 1957, but left the club for Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic

A.F.C. Bournemouth

in 1959, having never turned out for the first team. He made his debut for Bournemouth in the 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...

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 1959. He scored three goals in ten games in 1959–60, two goals coming from penalty kick

Penalty kick

A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...

s. He scored four times in thirty games in 1960–61, before he was transferred to Fourth Division

Football League Fourth Division

side Crewe Alexandra

Crewe Alexandra F.C.

in July 1961.

Establishing himself in the first team at Gresty Road

Alexandra Stadium

The Alexandra Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Crewe, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Crewe Alexandra...

in 1961–62 by missing just three league games, he helped the club to win promotion in third place in 1962–63, scoring five goals in forty league games. He played nine games in 1963–64 before he was once again moved on.

He was signed by Freddie Steele

Freddie Steele (footballer)

Frederick Charles Steele was a footballer who played as a forward for Stoke City and was a former England international. He also had spells at Mansfield Town and Port Vale as a player-manager, leading Vale to a league title...

's Third Division Port Vale

Port Vale F.C.

for £6,500 in October 1963. He was a regular from his inception in the side, and posted 39 appearances in 1963–64

1963–64 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1963–64 season was Port Vale's fifty-second season of football in the Football League, and their fifth season in the Third Division. Freddie Steele spent big on transfers, bringing in players such as Billy Bingham, Albert Cheesebrough, and Jackie Mudie. However it was a disappointing season in...

, scoring five goals. He lost his first team place on Boxing Day

Boxing Day

Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...

1964, when he damaged an eye in a 3–0 defeat to Hull City

Hull City A.F.C.

Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...

. Upon his recovery he failed to regain his spot and was given a free transfer in April 1965, having scored twice in 28 appearances in 1964–65

1964–65 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1964–65 season was Port Vale's fifty-third season of football in the Football League, and their sixth season in the Third Division. They went on a club record streak of 13 home games without a clean sheet from 26 September to 15 March...

.

He moved on to Fourth Division Southport

Southport F.C.

, who were managed by his former Vale teammate Billy Bingham

Billy Bingham

William Laurence "Billy" Bingham, MBE is a former international footballer and football manager. He is currently a scout for English Football League Championship side Burnley....

. He was an ever-present in 1965–66, before he helped the "Sandgrounders" to win promotion as runners-up in 1966–67.

He was given a free transfer to Cheshire County League

Cheshire County League

The Cheshire County League was a football league founded in the north west of England in 1919, drawing its teams largely from Cheshire, surrounding English counties and North Wales....

side Altrincham

Altrincham F.C.

in 1967. After a second place finish in 1967–68, the club became founder members of the Northern Premier League

Northern Premier League

The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...

. He played 34 league games of the inaugural 1968–69 season, before he won the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup

Northern Premier League Challenge Cup

The Northern Premier League Challenge Cup is a knock-out cup competition organised by the Northern Premier League....

with the club in 1970, after victory over Macclesfield Town

Macclesfield Town F.C.

Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...

. He left the club at the end of the 1969–70 campaign. Upon leaving Moss Lane

Moss Lane

Moss Lane is a multi-purpose stadium in Altrincham, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Altrincham and Manchester United Reserves...

he turned out for Netherfield

Kendal Town F.C.

Kendal Town F.C. is an English football club based in Kendal, Cumbria. The club are currently members of the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League and play at Parkside.-History:...

, Formby

Formby F.C.

Formby F.C. are an English football club based in Formby, Merseyside. They currently play in the North West Counties Football League Division One and are members of the Liverpool County Football Association...

, and Fleetwood Hesketh.

Honours

with Crewe Alexandra

Football League Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...

third-place promotion winner: 1962–63

with Southport

Football League Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...

runner-up: 1966–67

with Altrincham

Cheshire County League
Cheshire County League
The Cheshire County League was a football league founded in the north west of England in 1919, drawing its teams largely from Cheshire, surrounding English counties and North Wales....

runner-up: 1967–68
Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
The Northern Premier League Challenge Cup is a knock-out cup competition organised by the Northern Premier League....

winner: 1970

Statistics

|-
|1957–58||Liverpool

Liverpool F.C.

||Second Division

Football League Second Division

From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...

||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|1958–59||Liverpool

Liverpool F.C.

||Second Division

Football League Second Division

||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|1959–60||Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic

A.F.C. Bournemouth

||Third Division

Football League Third Division

||9||3||1||0||0||0||10||3
|-
|1960–61||Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic

A.F.C. Bournemouth

||Third Division

Football League Third Division

||27||3||2||1||1||0||30||4
|-
|1961–62||Crewe Alexandra

Crewe Alexandra F.C.

||Fourth Division

Football League Fourth Division

||41||6||3||2||1||0||44||8
|-
|1962–63||Crewe Alexandra

Crewe Alexandra F.C.

||Fourth Division

Football League Fourth Division

||40||5||3||0||0||0||43||5
|-
|1963–64||Crewe Alexandra

Crewe Alexandra F.C.

||Third Division

Football League Third Division

||9||0||0||0||0||0||9||0
|-
|1963–64

1963–64 Port Vale F.C. season

||Port Vale

Port Vale F.C.

||Third Division

Football League Third Division

||34||5||5||0||0||0||39||5
|-
|1964–65

1964–65 Port Vale F.C. season

||Port Vale

Port Vale F.C.

||Third Division

Football League Third Division

||25||1||1||1||1||0||28||1
|-
|1965–66||Southport

Southport F.C.

||Fourth Division

Football League Fourth Division

||46||8||7||3||0||1||54||11
|-
|1966–67||Southport

Southport F.C.

||Fourth Division

Football League Fourth Division

||33||6||1||0||0||0||34||6
|-
|1967–68||Altrincham

Altrincham F.C.

||Cheshire County League

Cheshire County League

The Cheshire County League was a football league founded in the north west of England in 1919, drawing its teams largely from Cheshire, surrounding English counties and North Wales....

||34||8||1||0||0||0||47||8
|-
|1968–69||Altrincham

Altrincham F.C.

||Northern Premier League

Northern Premier League

||34||2||2||0||0||0||48||6
|-
|1969–70||Altrincham

Altrincham F.C.

||Northern Premier League

Northern Premier League

||25||4||1||0||0||0||40||5
|-
357||51||27||7||3||0||426||62
357||51||27||7||3||0||426||62

Notes:

FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...

, Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
The Northern Premier League Challenge Cup is a knock-out cup competition organised by the Northern Premier League....

& Cheshire Senior Cup
Cheshire Senior Cup
The Cheshire County Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Cheshire Senior Cup, is a football knockout tournament founded in the 1879–80 season and involves teams from Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, England. It is the County Cup competition of the Cheshire FA and...

results included in totals.

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