Gordon Smith (Hibernian)
Encyclopedia
Gordon Smith was a Scottish
association football player. He is perhaps best known as being the only player to have won a Scottish league championship
with three different clubs, Hibernian
, Heart of Midlothian
and Dundee
. Smith also represented Scotland
and the Scottish League XI
.
and showed great footballing promise playing for Montrose Roselea
and Dundee North End
. Smith was to return to Edinburgh to pursue a career as a professional. It wasn't to be with his boyhood favourites Heart of Midlothian
, but their cross-town rivals Hibernian
. The "Gay Gordon" soon established himself as an idol for a whole generation of post-war football fans. Smith had been due to sign for Hearts, but the 16 year old was signed by Hibs and played against their Edinburgh rivals
on his debut, scoring a hat-trick in a 5–3 victory on 28 April 1941.
Alongside Bobby Johnstone
, Lawrie Reilly
, Eddie Turnbull
, and Willie Ormond
, Smith became part of the "Famous Five", the most celebrated forward line in Hibs' history. During the late 1940s and 1950s Smith and the Famous Five ensured Hibs were one of the most successful sides in Scotland, both sporting-wise and at the turnstiles. The League title was captured three times (1948
, 1951
, 1952
), while 1953
saw Rangers
pip Hibs only through the goal average system. Smith was less successful in cup competition however, reaching only one Scottish Cup Final with Hibs, which they lost 2–1 to Aberdeen
in 1947
.
A recurring ankle injury led to Hibs releasing him in 1959, even though Smith believed that an operation could cure the injury. Smith paid for an operation on the offending ankle himself, and then he signed for Hearts. He was to enjoy immediate success at Tynecastle
, winning both the league and the League Cup
in his first season
with the club.
After an injury-plagued second season with Hearts, Smith was released and again the football writers prepared obituaries for the veteran's career. Smith was to again confound contemporary wisdom, signing for Dundee
and forming a part of their league winning side in 1962
. At the age of 38, Smith had achieved the unique distinction of being the only player to win the league title with three different teams, none of them with either half of the traditionallly dominant Old Firm
.
In the following season
Smith was paired in a forward line with Alan Gilzean
. They helped Dundee to the European Cup
semi-finals, where they performed gallantly in an aggregate defeat to A.C. Milan
. After leaving Dundee, he played briefly for Drumcondra in the Republic of Ireland
, before finally retiring at the end of the 1963–64 season.
During his playing career, Gordon Smith was capped 19 times by Scotland
, scoring four goals. Smith was compared with his English contemporaries Stanley Matthews
and Tom Finney
, but he did not appear to have a "big-match temperament". Smith had to compete for selection with Rangers
winger Willie Waddell, who was capped 17 times in the same period. In addition to his appearances for the national team, Smith appeared 11 times for the Scottish League XI
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
association football player. He is perhaps best known as being the only player to have won a Scottish league championship
Scottish football champions
The Scottish football champions are the winners of the highest league in Scottish football, namely the Scottish Football League from 1890 until 1998 and the Scottish Premier League thereafter....
with three different clubs, Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
and Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
. Smith also represented Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
and the Scottish League XI
Scottish League XI
The Scottish League XI is a representative side of the Scottish Football League. The team regularly played against the Football League and other national league select teams between 1892 and 1980. For a long period the annual fixture between the English and Scottish leagues was only second in...
.
Career
Smith spent much of his childhood in AngusAngus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
and showed great footballing promise playing for Montrose Roselea
Montrose Roselea F.C.
Montrose Roselea Football Club are a Scottish Junior football club based in the town of Montrose, Angus. Formed in 1930 and nicknamed "the Lea", they play their home games at Broomfield Park, a relatively undeveloped facility in the north of the town which has room for around 1,800 spectators...
and Dundee North End
Dundee North End F.C.
Dundee North End Football Club are a Scottish junior football club based in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1895 and nicknamed the Dokens, they play their home games at North End Park which has room for around 2,000 spectators and is within the vicinity of the grounds of both Dundee and Dundee...
. Smith was to return to Edinburgh to pursue a career as a professional. It wasn't to be with his boyhood favourites Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
, but their cross-town rivals Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. The "Gay Gordon" soon established himself as an idol for a whole generation of post-war football fans. Smith had been due to sign for Hearts, but the 16 year old was signed by Hibs and played against their Edinburgh rivals
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
on his debut, scoring a hat-trick in a 5–3 victory on 28 April 1941.
Alongside Bobby Johnstone
Bobby Johnstone
Robert "Bobby" Johnstone was a Scottish association football player, mainly remembered as one of the Famous Five forward line of Hibernian....
, Lawrie Reilly
Lawrie Reilly
Lawrance "Lawrie" Reilly is a former Scottish association football player. He was one of the "Famous Five", the Hibernian forward line during the 1950s. The others were Bobby Johnstone, Gordon Smith, Eddie Turnbull, and Willie Ormond...
, Eddie Turnbull
Eddie Turnbull
Edward Hunter Turnbull was a Scottish professional football player and manager.During the late 1940s and 1950s he was one of the Famous Five, the noted Hibernian forward line, along with Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, and Willie Ormond...
, and Willie Ormond
Willie Ormond
William 'Willie' Esplin Ormond OBE was a Scottish football player and manager. As a player, Ormond was well known as one of Hibernian's Famous Five forward line, winning three league championships in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He then returned to prominence as a manager, first with a...
, Smith became part of the "Famous Five", the most celebrated forward line in Hibs' history. During the late 1940s and 1950s Smith and the Famous Five ensured Hibs were one of the most successful sides in Scotland, both sporting-wise and at the turnstiles. The League title was captured three times (1948
1947-48 in Scottish football
The 1947–48 season was the 51st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Hibernian Relegated: Airdrie, Queen's Park-Scottish League Division B:Champions: East Fife, Albion Rovers...
, 1951
1950-51 in Scottish football
The 1950–51 season was the 54th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: HibernianRelegated: Clyde, Falkirk-Scottish League Division B:Promoted: Queen of the South, Stirling Albion...
, 1952
1951-52 in Scottish football
The 1951–52 season was the 55th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: HibernianRelegated: Greenock Morton, Stirling Albion-Scottish League Division B:Promoted: Clyde, Falkirk...
), while 1953
1952-53 in Scottish football
The 1952–53 season was the 56th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Rangers won the title with a 1–1 draw in their last match, away to Queen of the South...
saw Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
pip Hibs only through the goal average system. Smith was less successful in cup competition however, reaching only one Scottish Cup Final with Hibs, which they lost 2–1 to Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
in 1947
1946-47 in Scottish football
The 1946–47 season was the 50th season of competitive football in Scotland, and the first since the 1938–39 season.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Rangers-Scottish League Division B:-Scottish League Division C:...
.
A recurring ankle injury led to Hibs releasing him in 1959, even though Smith believed that an operation could cure the injury. Smith paid for an operation on the offending ankle himself, and then he signed for Hearts. He was to enjoy immediate success at Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
, winning both the league and the League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
in his first season
1959-60 in Scottish football
The 1959–60 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: HeartsRelegated: Stirling Albion, Arbroath-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: St...
with the club.
After an injury-plagued second season with Hearts, Smith was released and again the football writers prepared obituaries for the veteran's career. Smith was to again confound contemporary wisdom, signing for Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
and forming a part of their league winning side in 1962
1961-62 in Scottish football
The 1961–62 season was the 65th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Dundee had an excellent start to the season, including a 5–1 win away to Rangers, and having a seemingly invincible lead by Christmas. A poorrun of form in the new year, including a...
. At the age of 38, Smith had achieved the unique distinction of being the only player to win the league title with three different teams, none of them with either half of the traditionallly dominant Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
.
In the following season
1962-63 in Scottish football
The 1962–63 season was the 66th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Clyde, Raith Rovers-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: St...
Smith was paired in a forward line with Alan Gilzean
Alan Gilzean
Alan John Gilzean is a former professional footballer from the 1960s and 1970s and played for Dundee in his native country and English club Tottenham Hotspur.-Dundee:...
. They helped Dundee to the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
semi-finals, where they performed gallantly in an aggregate defeat to A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
. After leaving Dundee, he played briefly for Drumcondra in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, before finally retiring at the end of the 1963–64 season.
During his playing career, Gordon Smith was capped 19 times by Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, scoring four goals. Smith was compared with his English contemporaries Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
and Tom Finney
Tom Finney
Sir Thomas Finney, OBE is a former English footballer, famous for his loyalty to his league club, Preston North End, and for his performances in the English national side....
, but he did not appear to have a "big-match temperament". Smith had to compete for selection with Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
winger Willie Waddell, who was capped 17 times in the same period. In addition to his appearances for the national team, Smith appeared 11 times for the Scottish League XI
Scottish League XI
The Scottish League XI is a representative side of the Scottish Football League. The team regularly played against the Football League and other national league select teams between 1892 and 1980. For a long period the annual fixture between the English and Scottish leagues was only second in...
.