Percy Smith (English footballer)

Percy James Smith (1880–1959) was an English footballer and football manager, who played for Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers.

Percy Smith
Personal information
Full name Percy James Smith
Date of birth 1880
Place of birth Burbage, Hinckley, England
Date of death 18 April 1959
Place of death Watford, England
Position(s) Centre half[1]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1895– Hinckley Town 24 (9)
1902–1910 Preston North End 240 (94)
1910–1920 Blackburn Rovers 172 (5)
1920–1921 Fleetwood 31 (32)
1921–1922 Barrow 5 (0)
Total 472 (140)
Teams managed
1925–1927 Nelson
1927–1930 Bury
1930–1935 Tottenham Hotspur
1935–1936 Notts County
1936–1937 Bristol Rovers
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

He started his playing career with Hinckley Town before joining Preston in 1902. He quickly achieved success, helping Preston to the Second Division title in 1904, becoming the division's top scorer in the process with 26 goals,[2] and to the runners-up position in the Football League in 1906.

After eight seasons at Preston, he moved to local rivals Blackburn Rovers in 1910, where he again achieved success claiming the League title in 1912 and again in 1914, as well as reaching the FA Cup Semi-finals in 1911 and 1912.

After World War I, he finished his playing career with brief spells at Fleetwood and Barrow.

Management career

After retiring from playing, Smith managed Nelson, Bury, Tottenham Hotspur, Notts County and Bristol Rovers.

Smith became manager of Spurs in 1930. At Spurs he achieved modest success, guiding the team to the runners-up position in Division Two in 1933, thereby gaining promotion to the First Division. The team finished third place in the First Division in 1934. In the following season, injuries to players such as Willie Hall, and Arthur Rowe left the team weakened and at the bottom of the table by April 1935. Smith then resigned, claiming that the club's directors had interfered with his team selection.[3]

Honours

As a player

Preston North End

Blackburn Rovers

As a manager

Tottenham Hotspur

References
  1. http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19300203-1.2.106.aspx
  2. "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  3. Goodwin, Bob (29 August 1988). Spurs: A Complete Record 1882-1988. Breedon Books. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-0907969426.
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