Bill Smith (footballer, born 1926)

William Henry Smith (7 September 1926 – December 2014) was an English professional footballer born in Plymouth, Devon, who played as a forward or wing half. He made 237 appearances and scored 40 goals in the Football League playing for Reading, Northampton Town, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers and Accrington Stanley.[2][3]

Bill Smith
Personal information
Full name William Henry Smith
Date of birth (1926-09-07)7 September 1926
Place of birth Plymouth, England
Date of death December 2014 (aged 88)
Place of death Lancashire, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Forward / Wing half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Royal Marines
1944–1945 Plymouth United
1945–1947 Plymouth Argyle 0 (0)
1947–1948 Reading 3 (0)
1948–1950 Northampton Town 26 (6)
1950–1952 Birmingham City 55 (21)
1952–1960 Blackburn Rovers 119 (10)
1960–1962 Accrington Stanley 34 (3)
Managerial career
1961–1962 Accrington Stanley (caretaker manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He contributed to Blackburn's promotion to the First Division in the 1957–58 season, before moving to Accrington Stanley as player-coach in 1960. Appointed joint caretaker manager with trainer Harry Hubbick in late 1961, he retired from football when Stanley resigned from the Football League in March 1962.[1]

References

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General

  • Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 125. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.

Specific

  1. ^ a b "The last league season 1961–62". Accrington Stanley History. Greger Lindberg. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Bill Smith". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Bill Smith". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 25 September 2015.