Billy Smith (Scottish footballer)

William Smith (6 June 1931 – 24 April 2009) was a Scottish footballer who played as a left back, primarily for Aberdeen.[1][2][3]

Billy Smith
Personal information
Full name William Smith
Date of birth 6 June 1931
Place of birth Aberdeen, Scotland
Date of death 24 April 2009(2009-04-24) (aged 77)
Place of death Vereeniging, South Africa
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
Woodside Thistle
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Sunnybank
1949–1957 Aberdeen 71 (0)
1957–1958 Third Lanark
1958–1967 Deveronvale
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He was a regular in the team which won the club's first Scottish Football League championship in the 1954–55 season, although towards the end of that campaign he broke a leg in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup against Clyde, and was out of action for 18 months.[1][2] He had also played at the same stage in the 1952–53 Scottish Cup to help Aberdeen progress, but was not selected for the final which they lost to Rangers after a replay (the veteran Davie Shaw taking the position in what were his last appearances before retirement). In 1954 the Dons reached the showpiece event again – being defeated by Celtic – but that season David Caldwell was generally first choice.

After being released by Aberdeen in 1957, Smith later played for Third Lanark and for Deveronvale in the Highland League before emigrating to South Africa.[2][1]

Career statistics

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[1]

Club Seasons League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aberdeen 1951–52 Scottish Division One 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
1952–53 25 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 30 0
1953–54 9 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 15 0
1954–55 25 0 5 0 6 0 0 0 36 0
1955–56 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1956–57 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Total 71 0 6 0 16 0 0 0 93 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Billy Smith, AFC Heritage Trust
  2. ^ a b c Billy Smith, The Herald, 18 May 2009
  3. ^ "Former Don Billy Smith". Aberdeen FC. 24 April 2009. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2009.