Jimmy Smith (footballer born 1911)
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Smith was a Scottish
professional footballer
who played for East Stirlingshire
and Rangers
. During his time at Rangers he scored 249 goals in 259 games.
in March 1929. He only featured twice in his first season
at Ibrox
and only played once the following season, and scored in a 3-1 win against Dundee
. In season 1930-31
, he scored a remarkable 21 goals in 21 games, including 5 in an 8-0 defeat of Clyde
, as Rangers won the League championship for the fifth season running.
After Rangers missed out on their sixth successive League championship in season 1931-32
, during which Smith had scored 5 goals in 8 games, the championship returned to Ibrox the following season
and Smith finished top scorer with 34 goals, including 4 hat-trick
s.
In season 1933-34
, Smith and striking partner Bob McPhail
, notched up 72 goals between them in 47 games as Rangers continued their dominance of Scottish football. Smith also collected his first Scottish Cup
medal, scoring in a 5-0 defeat of St Mirren in the final at Hampden
.
Success for Smith and Rangers continued. The League title was again won in 1934-35
with Smith scoring 43 goals in 38 matches, including 6 in a 7-1 defeat of Dunfermline Athletic
. He also collected his second Scottish Cup medal, scoring twice in the 2-1 against Hamilton Academical
in the final. Rangers went on to win two of the next four League championships before World War II
and Smith was Rangers' top scorer in three of the four, including 31 goals from 38 games in the 1936-37
success.
Smith continued to play for Rangers during the unofficial matches played during the War but retired from football upon the return of official domestic football in 1946-47
. After he retired he continued as a club trainer then chief scout until 1967.
for Scotland
, both against Ireland. He won his first cap on 20 October 1934 in a 2-1 defeat in Belfast
and his second cap was on 10 November 1937, where Smith scored the equaliser in a 1–1 draw at Pittodrie
.
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...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played for East Stirlingshire
East Stirlingshire F.C.
East Stirlingshire Football Club is a Scottish football club originating in Falkirk. Founded in 1880, originally as Bainsford Britannia, the club changed to their current name a year later in 1881...
and 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...
. During his time at Rangers he scored 249 goals in 259 games.
Club career
Smith moved from East Stirlingshire to Rangers in 1928 and made his debut against Hamilton AcademicalHamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
in March 1929. He only featured twice in his first season
1929-30 in Scottish football
The 1929–30 season was the 40th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Dundee United, St...
at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
and only played once the following season, and scored in a 3-1 win against 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...
. In season 1930-31
1930-31 in Scottish football
The 1930–31 season was the 41st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Hibernian, East Fife-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: Third Lanark, Dundee United...
, he scored a remarkable 21 goals in 21 games, including 5 in an 8-0 defeat of Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
, as Rangers won the League championship for the fifth season running.
After Rangers missed out on their sixth successive League championship in season 1931-32
1931-32 in Scottish football
The 1931–32 season was the 42nd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: MotherwellRelegated: Dundee United, Leith Athletic-Scottish League Division Two:...
, during which Smith had scored 5 goals in 8 games, the championship returned to Ibrox the following season
1932-33 in Scottish football
The 1932–33 season was the 43rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Greenock Morton, East Stirlingshire-Scottish League Division Two:...
and Smith finished top scorer with 34 goals, including 4 hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
s.
In season 1933-34
1933-34 in Scottish football
The 1933–34 season was the 44th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Third Lanark, Cowdenbeath-Scottish League Division Two:...
, Smith and striking partner Bob McPhail
Bob McPhail
Robert Lowe "Bob" McPhail was a Scottish professional footballer, who played for Airdrieonians, Rangers and represented Scotland.-Career:...
, notched up 72 goals between them in 47 games as Rangers continued their dominance of Scottish football. Smith also collected his first Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
medal, scoring in a 5-0 defeat of St Mirren in the final at Hampden
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
.
Success for Smith and Rangers continued. The League title was again won in 1934-35
1934-35 in Scottish football
The 1934–35 season was the 45th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: St...
with Smith scoring 43 goals in 38 matches, including 6 in a 7-1 defeat of Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
. He also collected his second Scottish Cup medal, scoring twice in the 2-1 against Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
in the final. Rangers went on to win two of the next four League championships before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and Smith was Rangers' top scorer in three of the four, including 31 goals from 38 games in the 1936-37
1936-37 in Scottish football
The 1936–37 season was the 47th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Dunfermline Athletic, Albion Rovers-Scottish League Division Two:...
success.
Smith continued to play for Rangers during the unofficial matches played during the War but retired from football upon the return of official domestic football in 1946-47
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:...
. After he retired he continued as a club trainer then chief scout until 1967.
International career
Despite his incredible goalscoring record, he only ever won 2 capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for 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...
, both against Ireland. He won his first cap on 20 October 1934 in a 2-1 defeat in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and his second cap was on 10 November 1937, where Smith scored the equaliser in a 1–1 draw at Pittodrie
Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium is an all-seated football stadium situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. It was first used in 1899 and from 1903 has been the home of Aberdeen Football Club...
.