Stanley Smith (rugby league, born c. 1910)

For the rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s for Wakefield Trinity, and Bramley, see Stanley Smith (rugby league born 1937).

For other people named Stan Smith, see Stan Smith (disambiguation).

Stanley "Stan" Smith (22 February 1910 – 3 June 1978) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s, and coached in the 1940s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England, Rugby League XIII and Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity and Leeds as a wing, and coached at club level for Featherstone Rovers.

Stan Smith

Godfrey Phillips cigarette card featuring Smith
Personal information
Full name	Stanley Smith
Born	22 February 1910
Died	3 June 1978(1978-06-03) (aged 68)
Playing information
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1927–30 Wakefield Trinity 81 32 0 0 96 1930–39 Leeds 261 187 Total 342 219 0 0 96 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1934–35 Yorkshire 1934–35 Rugby League XIII 2 0 0 0 0 1931–35 England 6 5 0 0 15 1929–33 Great Britain 11 9 0 0 27
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1947–48 Featherstone Rovers 40 6 34 0 15
Source:

Background

Stanley Smith worked as a foreman at a stone quarry in Tadcaster.

Playing career

Club career

Smith started his career at Wakefield Trinity before he was transferred to Leeds during January 1930 for a record fee of £1,075, (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £307,200 in 2014). Smith played on the wing in Leeds' 2–8 defeat by Hunslet in the Championship Final during the 1937–38 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 30 April 1938.

Smith retired from first class rugby in January 1940 having played for Leeds for 10 years. He had a long-standing plan to retire from rugby so that he and his wife Hilda could focus on running their pub the Butchers Arms on Williams Street in Wakefield but the outbreak of WWII saw him joining the Army at the age of 30. Stan served in the REME seeing service throughout the North African and Italian campaigns and returning home in late 1945.

International honours

Stan Smith won caps for England while at Leeds in 1931 against Wales, in 1932 against Wales (2 matches), in 1934 against Australia, and France, in 1935 against France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Wakefield Trinity in 1929 against Australia, while at Leeds in 1930 against Australia (2 matches), in 1932 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches), and in 1933 against Australia (2 matches).

Smith being tackled by Claude List of New Zealand with Bert Cooke approaching in the 1st test of 1932 at Carlaw Park in New Zealand.

Stan Smith played twice for a Rugby League XIII against France. Playing at left-wing on both occasions, the first was at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on 17 March 1934 when the English team won 32–16, this game was also the first international match played by the France national rugby league team. The second was at Headingley, Leeds just over a year later, on 6 May 1935 when the English side won 25–18.

County honours

Stan Smith won cap(s) for Yorkshire while at Wakefield Trinity.

County Cup Final appearances

Stanley Smith played on the wing in Leeds' 14–8 victory over Huddersfield in the 1937–38 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1937–38 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 30 October 1937. The record for the most tries in a Yorkshire Cup Final is 4-tries, and is jointly held by; Stan Moorhouse, Alan Smith, and Stanley Smith.

Genealogical information

Stan had family links to several well known rugby players, notably in the Batten and Metcalfe families. Stan's mother Selena and Billy Batten's wife Annie were sisters so Billy was Stan's uncle by marriage and Billy's rugby playing sons, Billy (Jr), Eric and Bob, and his grandson Ray were Stan's cousins. Whilst a player at Trinity Stan became good friends with his teammate Jimmy Metcalfe the son of James Davis Metcalfe who played at full back for Trinity in the period 1897-1911. Jimmy (Jr) introduced Stan to his sister Hilda and the two were married in 1932. Jimmy's (Jr) son Donald Metcalfe, played for Trinity in the 1950s and was Stan's nephew by marriage.

Note

During the late 1950/60s there was a rugby league footballer who played for Wakefield Trinity, and Bramley, who was also called Stanley "Stan" Smith. These Stanley "Stan" Smith's are clearly not the same person and they are not related.

External links

• Billy Batten Biography