James Smith (1889 – 8 October 1918) was an English professional footballer who scored 49 goals from 90 appearances in the Football League playing as a centre forward for Bradford (Park Avenue).[2]
 Jimmy Smith in his BPA days | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Smith[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1889[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Stafford, England | ||
| Date of death | 8 October 1918 (aged 28–29) | ||
| Place of death | Northern France | ||
| Position(s) | Centre forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 190?–1910 | Hanley PSA | ||
| 1910–1911 | Hanley Swifts | ||
| 1911–1912 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 59 | (37) |
| 1912–1915 | Bradford (Park Avenue) | 90 | (49) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Smith was born in Stafford, Staffordshire.[2] He was a prolific scorer in local football in the Hanley area, but began his professional career with Southern League club Brighton & Hove Albion in January 1911.[3] He was the club's top scorer in the 1911–12 season with 27 goals in all competitions.[4] In November 1912, he moved into the Football League, joining Bradford for the substantial fee of £735 plus inside forward Bobby Simpson.[3] Smith played 90 League games for Bradford, scoring at better than a goal every two games and helping them earn promotion to the First Division in 1914, before the First World War interrupted his career.[3]
He served as a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery, and was killed in action on the Western Front in 1918, a few weeks before he was due to get married. He is buried in the British Cemetery at Ramicourt, Aisne, France.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ a b "Smith, J (Jimmy)". English National Football Archive. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ a b Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 243. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
- ^ a b c Carder, Tim; Harris, Roger (1997). Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Hove: Goldstone Books. p. 225. ISBN 0-9521337-1-7.
- ^ Carder & Harris, Albion A–Z, p. 338.
- ^ "Bradford Park Avenue's Jimmy Smith". Bantamspast: The Bradford City Football Club Museum. 8 June 2011. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ "Casualty details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
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