Joseph Smith (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Enoch "Joe" Smith (1889 – 13 November 1916) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League
for Birmingham
. He played as a half back
. He was killed in action in the First World War.
, Yorkshire
. A coal miner
by trade, he began his football career with his works team
, Hickleton Main Colliery, before joining Birmingham
in 1912. He made his debut in the Second Division
on 4 January 1913, deputising for James Bumphrey
in an away game against Wolverhampton Wanderers
which finished 2–2. A defensive player, described as one who "held his opponents in check effectively, but should show more discretion putting the ball forward", he was unable to impose himself on the first team, and after two seasons in which he played only eight games, he joined Chesterfield Town
. Smith spent the 1914–15 season at the Midland League
club, scoring once from 30 league games, before competitive football was suspended for the duration of the First World War.
– the so-called "Footballers' Battalion" – in northern France. He rose to the rank of Company Serjeant Major
, and was killed at Serre on 13 November 1916 near the end of the Battle of the Somme. Smith was mentioned in despatches for displaying considerable bravery, "after being wounded, again dashed into battle, only to be shot down", and is commemorated at Serre Road Cemetery No. 1.
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. He played as a half back
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He was killed in action in the First World War.
Football career
Smith was born in KilnhurstKilnhurst
Kilnhurst is a village in South Yorkshire, England, on the banks of the River Don and the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation. It grew up around the coal mining, ceramics, glass, brick-making and locomotive industries; none of these industries remain in the village.-Residents:The sculptor...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. A coal miner
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
by trade, he began his football career with his works team
Works team
A works team is a sports team that is financed and run by a manufacturer or other business. Sometimes, works teams contain or are entirely made up of employees of the supporting company.-Africa:...
, Hickleton Main Colliery, before joining Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in 1912. He made his debut in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
on 4 January 1913, deputising for James Bumphrey
James Bumphrey
James Bumphrey was an English professional footballer who played 136 games and scored 7 goals in the Football League for Birmingham....
in an away game against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
which finished 2–2. A defensive player, described as one who "held his opponents in check effectively, but should show more discretion putting the ball forward", he was unable to impose himself on the first team, and after two seasons in which he played only eight games, he joined Chesterfield Town
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
. Smith spent the 1914–15 season at the Midland League
Midland Football League
There have been at least two different football competitions in England which used the name Midland Football League.One existed until 1982 before merging with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties League....
club, scoring once from 30 league games, before competitive football was suspended for the duration of the First World War.
War service
Smith served in the 17th Battalion, Middlesex RegimentMiddlesex Regiment
The Middlesex Regiment was a regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms when the 57th and 77th Regiments of Foot were amalgamated with the county's militia and rifle volunteer units.On 31 December 1966 The Middlesex Regiment was amalgamated with three...
– the so-called "Footballers' Battalion" – in northern France. He rose to the rank of Company Serjeant Major
Company Sergeant Major
A company sergeant major is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries, responsible for standards and discipline. In combat, his prime responsibility is the supply of ammunition to the company...
, and was killed at Serre on 13 November 1916 near the end of the Battle of the Somme. Smith was mentioned in despatches for displaying considerable bravery, "after being wounded, again dashed into battle, only to be shot down", and is commemorated at Serre Road Cemetery No. 1.
External links
- Smith's details at the Commonwealth War Graves CommissionCommonwealth War Graves CommissionThe Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves, and places of commemoration, of Commonwealth of Nations military service members who died in the two World Wars...