Derek Smethurst
Encyclopedia
Derek Smethurst is a retired South African soccer forward
who played professionally in South Africa, England and the United States.
He spent the remainder of the 1968-1969 and the entire 1969-1970 season with the Chelsea Reserves. Despite missing a large part of the 1969-1970 season with an injury, Smethurst still compiled 20 goals in 42 games with the reserves. He made his first team debut on September 1, 1970. Smethurst was the first South African to win a European championship when Chelsea won the 1970–71 European Cup Winners' Cup. He was the first foreign born player to win a European championship in England. Two games into the 1971-1972 season, Chelsea transferred Smethurst to Millwall F.C.
for £35,000 at his request. He spent four seasons with Millwall. In 1975, Smethurst moved to the United States where he played for the newly established Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League
, where he became their all time leading goal scorer with 57 goals in 65 games and a NASL all star. In 1978, he began the season with Tampa Bay, but in May 1978 at his own request, he was traded to the San Diego Sockers in exchange for Peter Andersen
. He led the Tampa Bay Rowdies in goals scored for the three years he played with them. The Sockers traded him in July 1978. In 1979, he signed with the Seattle Sounders
. He spent two outdoor and one NASL indoor seasons with the Sounders before moving to the Memphis Americans
for the 1981-1982 Major Indoor Soccer League season. He scored a hat-trick for the Sounders in a home game against the Portland Timbers on June 30, 1979. Smethurst scored 75 goals in just over 100 games in the NASL. In the spring of 1982, he joined the Carolina Lightnin'
of the American Soccer League
, and after six games retired from outdoor football. Smethurst's goal scoring rate in professional first team football was an astonishing goal for every 1.85 games. Played in the "First" English League game to be played on a Sunday on his debut for Millwall v Fulham, 1971.
He also played in the 1977 NFL pre-season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
as a placekicker wearing jersey #3.
Now an accomplished author and sports consultant, Derek lives in Valrico, FL, and runs a professional soccer training academy (soccerforwinning.com).
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who played professionally in South Africa, England and the United States.
Bio
Born into a sporting family, both his father Norman and brother Peter played professionally. Smethurst spent time with three amateur teams, Glenwood, Berea Park and Addington, in his early career. He began his professional career with Durban City F.C. In December 1968, he transferred to Chelsea F.C.Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
He spent the remainder of the 1968-1969 and the entire 1969-1970 season with the Chelsea Reserves. Despite missing a large part of the 1969-1970 season with an injury, Smethurst still compiled 20 goals in 42 games with the reserves. He made his first team debut on September 1, 1970. Smethurst was the first South African to win a European championship when Chelsea won the 1970–71 European Cup Winners' Cup. He was the first foreign born player to win a European championship in England. Two games into the 1971-1972 season, Chelsea transferred Smethurst to Millwall F.C.
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
for £35,000 at his request. He spent four seasons with Millwall. In 1975, Smethurst moved to the United States where he played for the newly established Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, where he became their all time leading goal scorer with 57 goals in 65 games and a NASL all star. In 1978, he began the season with Tampa Bay, but in May 1978 at his own request, he was traded to the San Diego Sockers in exchange for Peter Andersen
Peter Anderson (footballer born 1949)
Peter Thomas Anderson is a former English football midfielder and manager.Anderson began his career in the Hendon F.C. Academy, turning professional with the club in 1968. In 1970, he transferred to Luton Town. His first match came on February 13, 1971 in a 1-0 victory over Watford F.C...
. He led the Tampa Bay Rowdies in goals scored for the three years he played with them. The Sockers traded him in July 1978. In 1979, he signed with the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
. He spent two outdoor and one NASL indoor seasons with the Sounders before moving to the Memphis Americans
Memphis Americans
The Memphis Americans were a soccer team based out of Memphis, Tennessee that played in the old Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1981 to 1984. Their home arena was the Mid-South Coliseum....
for the 1981-1982 Major Indoor Soccer League season. He scored a hat-trick for the Sounders in a home game against the Portland Timbers on June 30, 1979. Smethurst scored 75 goals in just over 100 games in the NASL. In the spring of 1982, he joined the Carolina Lightnin'
Carolina Lightnin'
The Carolina Lightnin was an American soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina that was a member of the American Soccer League. The Lightnin' played home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Attendance at home games averaged 6,000 spectators...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
, and after six games retired from outdoor football. Smethurst's goal scoring rate in professional first team football was an astonishing goal for every 1.85 games. Played in the "First" English League game to be played on a Sunday on his debut for Millwall v Fulham, 1971.
He also played in the 1977 NFL pre-season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
as a placekicker wearing jersey #3.
Now an accomplished author and sports consultant, Derek lives in Valrico, FL, and runs a professional soccer training academy (soccerforwinning.com).
Achievements
- First African to win a European Championship
- First South African to win a European Championship
- First foreign born player to win a European Championship in England
- First foreign player to score for Chelsea in a European Championship
- First foreign player to win a European Championship with Chelsea FC
- First foreign player to play in a European Championship Final for Chelsea
- First player to score 4 goals in one game for the Tampa Bay Rowdies - NASL
- First Seattle Sounder to score 3 goals in one game - NASL
- First Seattle Sounder to score 4 goals in one game - NASL
- First and only South African to score 3 goals in a Currie Cup Final in South Africa.