Keith Smith (footballer)

Keith Smith

Personal information
Full name	Keith Wilson Smith [1]
Date of birth	(1940-09-15) 15 September 1940 (age 79)
Place of birth	Woodville, Derbyshire, England
Playing position(s)	Forward
Youth career
?–1959	West Bromwich Albion
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1959–1963	West Bromwich Albion	63	(30)
1963–1964	Peterborough United	55	(28)
1964–1966	Crystal Palace	50	(14)
1966–1967	Darlington	17	(2)
1967	Orient	3	(0)
1967–1970	Notts County	89	(7)
1970–?	Kidderminster Harriers	?	(?)
Total		277	(81)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Keith Smith (born 15 September 1940) ^[1] is an English retired footballer, who played as a forward. He made 277 league appearances for West Bromwich Albion, Peterborough United, Crystal Palace, Darlington, Leyton Orient and Notts County (scoring 81 goals in total), before moving into non-league football with Kidderminster Harriers. Married to Judy Wildman, ^[2] his daughter was born in 1963. While he was playing for WBA, he and his wife owned and ran the chip shop in Chapman Street, West Bromwich.^{[ citation needed ]} Following his retirement from playing football, he worked for Aston Villa as commercial director during the years of league and European success^{[ citation needed ]} and later went on to work for West Midlands Police at Wednesbury Police Station.^{[ citation needed ]}

Career

Born in Derbyshire, Smith played professionally for West Bromwich Albion and Peterborough United, before signing for his former West Bromwich Albion manager Dick Graham, now managing Crystal Palace. On 28 August 1965, Smith became the club's first ever substitute when he replaced Ian Lawson. ^[3] He also scored Palace's fastest ever goal, a six-second strike against Derby County, away from home on 12 December 1964. From Peter Burridge's kick-off Cliff Holton passed to Brian Whitehouse, and Whitehouse launched a long ball for Smith to score one of the fastest goals in association football. ^[4] Smith was transferred to Darlington in 1966, ^[1] before seeing out his professional career with Leyton Orient and Notts County.

References

1. Mike Purkiss & Nigel Sands. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. p. 340. ISBN   0907969542.
2. "FreeBMD District Info". www.freebmd.org.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
3. "Palace Pioneers: Keith Smith". 7 September 2010. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
4. Football's fastest goal claimed - Sport - The Independent

External links

• Keith Smith at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database