Tony Smith (footballer, born 1957) explained

Tony Smith
Fullname:Anthony Smith
Birth Date:20 February 1957
Birth Place:Sunderland, England
Height:5 ft 10 in[1]
Position:Defender
Years1:1975–1979
Clubs1:Newcastle United
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:1979–1982
Caps2:68
Goals2:5
Years3:1982–1984
Clubs3:Halifax Town
Caps3:83
Goals3:3
Years4:1984–1989?
Clubs4:Hartlepool United
Caps4:200
Goals4:8
Years5:1989

Anthony Smith (born 20 February 1957) is an English former footballer who played as a central defender in The Football League in the 1970s and 1980s.[2]

He was born in Sunderland but joined Newcastle United as a youth, and made his senior debut as a substitute for Nigel Walker against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 12 November 1977. He started the next match at home to Arsenal, but was not able to make any more senior appearances in a struggling team. Smith was transferred to Peterborough United in March 1979.[3]

Smith quickly made his debut for Peterborough, in a Football League Third Division match against Swansea City on 10 March 1979, with his first goal following a fortnight later against Plymouth Argyle. His first cup game came early the following season, a Football League Cup match against Blackpool on 5 September 1979. His final game for The Posh was at the end of the 1981–82 season against Wigan Athletic.[4] In all he made 68 Football League appearances for the club[2] (75 in all senior competitions).[5]

Smith then moved to join Halifax Town and after 83 league matches for them he signed for Hartlepool United, first playing a league game for them in the 1984–85 season. He made 200 league appearances for Hartlepool, with his final league game played in the 1988–89 season.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 . Peter . Dunk . Queen Anne Press . London . 1987 . 186 . 978-0-356-14354-5.
  2. Web site: Tony Smith . Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database . Neil Brown . 27 March 2021.
  3. Web site: Player profile: Anthony Smith. Toon1892. 27 March 2021.
  4. Web site: Tony Smith: Matches for Peterborough. Up the Posh! The Peterborough United Database . 11 April 2011. Chris Wilkinson . https://web.archive.org/web/20120310064729/http://www.uptheposh.com/people/7303/for/ . 10 March 2012.
  5. Web site: Tony Smith: Career History. Up the Posh! The Peterborough United Database . 11 April 2011. Chris Wilkinson . https://web.archive.org/web/20120310064737/http://www.uptheposh.com/people/7303/career/ . 10 March 2012.