Billy Smith (Scottish footballer) explained

Billy Smith
Fullname:William Smith
Height:5ft 10in
Position:Left back
Birth Date:6 June 1931
Birth Place:Aberdeen, Scotland
Death Place:Vereeniging, South Africa
Youthclubs1:Woodside Thistle
Years1:
Clubs1:Sunnybank
Years2:1949–1957
Clubs2:Aberdeen
Caps2:71
Goals2:0
Years3:1957–1958
Clubs3:Third Lanark
Years4:1958–1967
Clubs4:Deveronvale

William Smith (6 June 1931 – 24 April 2009) was a Scottish footballer who played as a left back, primarily for Aberdeen.[1]

He was a regular in the team which won the club's first Scottish Football League championship in the 1954–55 season, although towards the end of that campaign he broke a leg in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup against Clyde, and was out of action for 18 months. He had also played at the same stage in the 1952–53 Scottish Cup to help Aberdeen progress, but was not selected for the final which they lost to Rangers after a replay (the veteran Davie Shaw taking the position in what were his last appearances before retirement). In 1954 the Dons reached the showpiece event again – being defeated by Celtic – but that season David Caldwell was generally first choice.

After being released by Aberdeen in 1957, Smith later played for Third Lanark and for Deveronvale in the Highland League before emigrating to South Africa.[2] [3]

Career statistics

[3]

ClubSeasonsLeagueScottish CupLeague CupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aberdeen1951–52Scottish Division One4000000040
1952–53250104000300
1953–5490006000150
1954–55250506000360
1955–560000000000
1956–578000000080
Total7106016000930

Notes and References

  1. News: Former Don Billy Smith. https://archive.today/20120630221750/http://www.afc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/clubNewsDetail/0,,10284~1641012,00.html. dead. 30 June 2012. 24 April 2009. Aberdeen FC. 2 May 2009.
  2. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12389675.billy-smith/ Billy Smith
  3. https://afcheritage.org/football/players/billy-smith?id=100 Billy Smith