Billy Smith (footballer born 1895)
Encyclopedia
William Henry "Billy" Smith (born 23 May 1895 in Tantobie
, England
; died 13 April 1951) was a professional
footballer who played most of his career at Huddersfield Town
.
He is one of Huddersfield's all-time goal-scorers with 126 goals in his career between 1913 and 1934.
He scored Huddersfield's winning goal in the 1922 FA Cup Final
against Preston North End
at Stamford Bridge
.
He also won three caps for England
. He was also the first person ever to score from a corner.
He and his son Conway Smith
were the first father and son to score 100 goals each. His grandson Robert played in the last ever match at the Leeds Road
ground before it was knocked down.
He made 574 appearances for the Terriers, scoring 126 goals on the way. During a Division I match against Stoke he had a fight with a Stoke player. They were both sent off and it meant they would both miss a game. This caused Smith to miss the 1920 FA Cup Final
against Aston Villa. After Huddersfield went on appeal he would miss the next league game. Huddersfield lost the cup final 1-0 as Billy Kirton
scored in extra time.
In the 2nd half Smith was brought down on the edge of the area.The referee pointed to the spot. Smith, shaken stepped up himself to take the penalty but the Preston goalkeeper Mitchell jumped around on his line in attempt to distract Smith but Clem Stephenson
said "Never mind the dancing devil, just shove it in the net. Smith did.
Smith was a key member of Herbert Chapman's famous team and in the final championship year (in 1926) received his first England cap.
He was one of five Huddersfield players who played in the "Wembley wizards" 5-1 demolition of England. He, Bob Kelly
, Roy Goodall
and Tom Wilson
played for England, and Alex Jackson
for Scotland; Jackson scored a hat-trick, while Kelly scored a consolation for England in the 89th minute. On 11 November 1933 he received his fourth benefit from the president of the football league. He later had a small player - manager stint at Rochdale.
Tantobie
Tantobie is a former colliery village in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the south of Stanley and Annfield Plain.The etymology is doubtful: it looks as if it ends in Old Norse by "village", "farm", like Lockerbie and Formby, but the meaning is uncertain.To the east is a small housing...
, 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...
; died 13 April 1951) was a professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer who played most of his career at Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
.
He is one of Huddersfield's all-time goal-scorers with 126 goals in his career between 1913 and 1934.
He scored Huddersfield's winning goal in the 1922 FA Cup Final
1922 FA Cup Final
The 1922 FA Cup Final was contested by Huddersfield Town and Preston North End at Stamford Bridge. Huddersfield won by a single goal, a penalty scored by Billy Smith....
against 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...
at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
.
He also won three caps for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. He was also the first person ever to score from a corner.
He and his son Conway Smith
Conway Smith
William Conway Smith , known as Conway Smith, was an English footballer born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, who played as an inside forward for Huddersfield Town, Queens Park Rangers and Halifax Town in the Football League, and in non-league football for Nelson.Smith, the son of Huddersfield Town and...
were the first father and son to score 100 goals each. His grandson Robert played in the last ever match at the Leeds Road
Leeds Road
Leeds Road may refer to:* Leeds Road, former football and rugby league stadium in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England* A660 road, West Yorkshire, England, between Golden Acre Park and the Otley bypass...
ground before it was knocked down.
He made 574 appearances for the Terriers, scoring 126 goals on the way. During a Division I match against Stoke he had a fight with a Stoke player. They were both sent off and it meant they would both miss a game. This caused Smith to miss the 1920 FA Cup Final
1920 FA Cup Final
The 1920 FA Cup Final, the first since the end of the First World War, was contested by Aston Villa and Huddersfield at Stamford Bridge. Aston Villa won 1–0, with the goal coming in extra time from Billy Kirton, to clinch the trophy for a record sixth time....
against Aston Villa. After Huddersfield went on appeal he would miss the next league game. Huddersfield lost the cup final 1-0 as Billy Kirton
Billy Kirton
William John 'Billy' Kirton was a footballer in the early years of professional football in England, who played over 200 games for Aston Villa.-Football career:...
scored in extra time.
Career
For a Huddersfield legend, the story opened in an unlikely manner. It was September 1913 when at a board meeting a letter of W.H. Smith of Tantobie in County Durham was discussed. The content of the note was short and to the point the point for the writer made it clear he was not prepared to accept terms of less than 50/- a week (£2.50) and for that reason did not wish to present himself to further trials.In the 2nd half Smith was brought down on the edge of the area.The referee pointed to the spot. Smith, shaken stepped up himself to take the penalty but the Preston goalkeeper Mitchell jumped around on his line in attempt to distract Smith but Clem Stephenson
Clem Stephenson
Clement "Clem" Stephenson was an England national team captain whose 20 year career at Aston Villa and Huddersfield Town included emphatic successes in both the FA Cup and League Championships...
said "Never mind the dancing devil, just shove it in the net. Smith did.
Smith was a key member of Herbert Chapman's famous team and in the final championship year (in 1926) received his first England cap.
He was one of five Huddersfield players who played in the "Wembley wizards" 5-1 demolition of England. He, Bob Kelly
Bob Kelly (footballer)
Robert "Bob" Kelly was an English professional football player. He broke the British football transfer record when he moved from Burnley to Sunderland for £6,550 in 1925. He spent two years at the Roker Park Club before joining Huddersfield Town...
, Roy Goodall
Roy Goodall
Frederick Roy Goodall was a professional footballer, who played for Huddersfield Town for 16 years and played 25 games for England, 12 as captain....
and Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson (footballer)
Thomas "Tom" Wilson was a footballer who was a member of the Huddersfield Town team that won the Football League three times in the 1920s.-Playing career:...
played for England, and Alex Jackson
Alex Jackson
Alexander Skinner Jackson was a Scottish footballer.Alex Jackson was born in Renton in 1905. A highly-talented winger, known as the Gay Cavalier, he was particularly adept at dribbling and free kicks. He initially played for Renton Victoria Football Club but was transferred to Dumbarton F.C. in...
for Scotland; Jackson scored a hat-trick, while Kelly scored a consolation for England in the 89th minute. On 11 November 1933 he received his fourth benefit from the president of the football league. He later had a small player - manager stint at Rochdale.