Tom Smith (footballer born 1877)
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Smith was a professional English footballer who played at outside-right for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century.
, Lancashire
and played his early football for Ashton Athletic and Ashton Town
in their pre-league era.
In May 1897, he joined Preston North End
where another player of the same name was already playing, also as an outside-forward. Smith made four appearances in the Football League First Division
, plus one in the FA Cup
, before Preston made both players available at the end of the season. The directors of Southampton
agreed to sign him, apparently under the misapprehension that they were signing the other player, who had established a reputation for being a "star". (The other Tom Smith went on to have a long career with Tottenham Hotspur
, including scoring the second goal as the "Spurs" defeated Sheffield United
to win the 1901 FA Cup Final
.)
At the "Saints", Smith won the 100 yard sprint in the club's annual sports day, encouraging the directors to believe that they had signed the right player. The "Saints" were about to embark on their first season
in their new stadium and Smith made his debut for Southampton in the opening match at The Dell, against Brighton United
on 3 September 1898. Smith scored the final goal in a 4–1 victory - the goal was described as "just such a goal as there is no doubt about – a shot which beats the goalkeeper almost before it is made".
Despite this auspicious start, Smith's subsequent indifferent form led the directors to realise that they had acquired the services of the wrong player, and by February Smith had lost his place, initially to Tom Nicol
and then to Jimmy Yates
. Smith left the Saints in the summer of 1899, to join Queens Park Rangers
for their first season
in the Southern League
.
He returned to Preston in 1900 and spent one further season in the Football League, making two more appearances.
Football career
Smith was born in Ashton-in-MakerfieldAshton-in-Makerfield
Ashton-in-Makerfield is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester. It is situated south of Wigan, north-northwest of Warrington and west of the city of Manchester. In 2001 it had a population of 28,505....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and played his early football for Ashton Athletic and Ashton Town
Ashton Town A.F.C.
Ashton Town Association Football Club is an English football club based in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester. The club are currently members of Division One of the North West Counties League and play at Edge Green Street-History:...
in their pre-league era.
In May 1897, he joined 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...
where another player of the same name was already playing, also as an outside-forward. Smith made four appearances in the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, plus one in the 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...
, before Preston made both players available at the end of the season. The directors of Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
agreed to sign him, apparently under the misapprehension that they were signing the other player, who had established a reputation for being a "star". (The other Tom Smith went on to have a long career with Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, including scoring the second goal as the "Spurs" defeated Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
to win the 1901 FA Cup Final
1901 FA Cup Final
The 1901 FA Cup Final was played at Crystal Palace between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United–and the first FA Cup Final to be filmed by Pathé News.-Match details:-Replay:-Match Rules:*90 minutes....
.)
At the "Saints", Smith won the 100 yard sprint in the club's annual sports day, encouraging the directors to believe that they had signed the right player. The "Saints" were about to embark on their first season
Southern Football League 1898-99
The 1898-99 season was the fifth in the history of the Southern League. Southampton were Division One champions for the third season in a row. Division Two was split into two regional leagues, with the overall Division Two champions being decided in a playoff in which Thames Ironworks defeated...
in their new stadium and Smith made his debut for Southampton in the opening match at The Dell, against Brighton United
Brighton United F.C.
Brighton United F.C. were an association football club based in Brighton, Sussex who were active for a few years at the end of the 19th century....
on 3 September 1898. Smith scored the final goal in a 4–1 victory - the goal was described as "just such a goal as there is no doubt about – a shot which beats the goalkeeper almost before it is made".
Despite this auspicious start, Smith's subsequent indifferent form led the directors to realise that they had acquired the services of the wrong player, and by February Smith had lost his place, initially to Tom Nicol
Tom Nicol
Thomas H. "Tom" Nicol was a Scottish footballer who played for Burnley first as a centre forward and then as a full back in the 1890s, before later becoming a bowls champion in Southampton.-Burnley:...
and then to Jimmy Yates
Jimmy Yates
Jimmy Yates was an English professional footballer who played as a right winger in the 1900 FA Cup Final for Southampton.-Playing career:...
. Smith left the Saints in the summer of 1899, to join Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
for their first season
Southern Football League 1899-00
The 1898-99 season was the fifth in the history of the Southern League. Tottenham Hotspur were Division One champions, but no Southern League clubs applied for election to the Football League.-Division One:Division One featured four new clubs:...
in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
.
He returned to Preston in 1900 and spent one further season in the Football League, making two more appearances.
Honours
SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
champions: 1898–99Southern Football League 1898-99The 1898-99 season was the fifth in the history of the Southern League. Southampton were Division One champions for the third season in a row. Division Two was split into two regional leagues, with the overall Division Two champions being decided in a playoff in which Thames Ironworks defeated...