Tommy Smith (footballer, born 1945)

Thomas Smith MBE (5 April 1945 – 12 April 2019) was an English footballer. He played as a defender. He was born in Liverpool.

Tommy Smith
Tommy Smith (1966).jpg
Smith in October 1966
Personal information
Full nameThomas Smith
Date of birth(1945-04-05)5 April 1945
Place of birthLiverpool, Lancashire, England
Date of death12 April 2019(2019-04-12) (aged 74)
Place of deathCrosby, Merseyside, England
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing positionDefender
Youth career
1960–1962Liverpool
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1962–1978Liverpool467(36)
1976Tampa Bay Rowdies (loan)17(0)
1978Los Angeles Aztecs12(0)
1978–1979Swansea City36(2)
Total532(38)
National team
1965–1968England U2310(2)
1971England1(0)
Teams managed
1978Los Angeles Aztecs
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Smith was best remembered for his time at Liverpool for 16 years from 1962 to 1978. He was known for his firm defensive style. Manager Bill Shankly once said of him: "Tommy Smith wasn't born, he was quarried". He was also nicknamed the "Anfield Iron". His most memorable moment for the club probably came when he scored Liverpool's second goal in the 1977 European Cup Final against Borussia Mönchengladbach. He also played at club level for Tampa Bay Rowdies, Los Angeles Aztecs and Swansea City. He played once for England, in 1971.

Smith had dementia in his final years. He died on 12 April 2019, at the age of 74.[1]

Statistics

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool 1962–63 First Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1963–64 First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1964–65 First Division 25 4 8 0 7 0 40 4
1965–66 First Division 42 3 1 0 10 1 53 4
1966–67 First Division 42 1 4 0 6 0 51 1
1967–68 First Division 36 3 7 1 8 2 51 6
1968–69 First Division 42 6 4 1 5 0 51 7
1969–70 First Division 36 4 3 0 6 3 45 7
1970–71 First Division 41 2 7 0 13 1 61 3
1971–72 First Division 37 6 3 0 5 0 45 6
1972–73 First Division 33 2 2 0 14 1 49 3
1973–74 First Division 34 1 7 0 8 0 49 1
1974–75 First Division 36 2 0 0 9 1 45 3
1975–76 First Division 24 0 2 0 9 0 35 0
1976–77 First Division 16 0 4 0 8 1 28 1
1977–78 First Division 22 2 0 0 12 0 34 2
Total 467 36 52 2 120 10 639 48
Tampa Bay Rowdies (loan) 1976[2] NASL 17 0 0 0 0 0 17 0
Los Angeles Aztecs 1978[2] NASL 12 0 0 0 0 0 12 0
Swansea City 1978–79 Third Division 36 2 4 0 3 0 43 2
Career Total 532 38 56 2 123 10 711 50

Honours

Liverpool[3]

References

  1. Tommy Smith: Liverpool great dies, aged 74. BBC Sport. 12 April 2019. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47913937. Retrieved 12 April 2019. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "NASL Stats". nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  3. "Profile". lfchistory.net. Retrieved 1 June 2016.

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