Gordon Smith (footballer, born July 1954) explained

Gordon Smith
Fullname:Gordon Melville Smith
Birth Date:3 July 1954
Birth Place:Partick, Scotland
Death Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Position:Full back
Youthclubs1:Rangers B.C.
Years1:1972–1976
Clubs1:St Johnstone
Caps1:112
Goals1:8
Years2:1976–1979
Clubs2:Aston Villa
Caps2:79
Goals2:0
Years3:1979–1982
Clubs3:Tottenham Hotspur
Caps3:38
Goals3:1
Years4:1982–1984
Clubs4:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Caps4:38
Goals4:3
Years5:1984
Caps5:13
Goals5:1
Years6:1985
Clubs6:Pittsburgh Spirit
Caps6:33
Goals6:0
Years7:1985–1986
Clubs7:Barnet
Caps7:22
Goals7:0
Totalcaps:335
Totalgoals:13
Nationalyears1:1975
Nationalteam1:Scotland U23
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0

Gordon Melville Smith (3 July 1954 – 5 April 2014) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a full back.

Career

Born in Partick, he played for the amateur clubs Rangers B.C. and Glasgow United before turning professional with St Johnstone, at which time he was a forward before switching to a defensive role. He also played in England for Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and in the United States for Pittsburgh Spirit.[1]

While at Aston Villa, Smith helped them win the 1976–77 Football League Cup, in the final of which he featured as a substitute in the second and decisive replay.[2]

Smith signed for Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £150,000, but never established himself as a first team regular. Certainly, he played his part in getting Spurs to the 1981 FA Cup Final, but watched from the stands as Ricardo Villa scored one of the iconic Wembley goals. In three seasons at White Hart Lane, he managed barely 30+ games.

While with St Johnstone he gained four Scottish under-23 caps.[3]

Personal life and death

After his playing career, Smith ran a business which installed the special perimeter hoardings used in UEFA Champions League stadia.

He died on 5 April 2014 from natural causes.[4] His grandfather Willie Salisbury was also a footballer, primarily for Partick Thistle.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Profile. 5 April 2014. Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database.
  2. Web site: England - League Cup Finals 1961-2001 . . 19 March 2020.
  3. Web site: History - International Saints. 5 April 2014. St Johnstone F.C.. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140407074955/http://www.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk/history-international-saints.php. 7 April 2014. dmy-all.
  4. Web site: Obituary - Gordon Melville Smith. 7 April 2014. 29 June 2020. Tottenham Hotspur F.C..