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Jim Smith (footballer, born 1863)

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English footballer

Jim Smith
Personal information
Full name James Clarke
Date of birth 1863
Date of death 1937
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1883–93 The Wednesday
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jim Smith was an association footballer who played in the 1890 FA Cup final for Sheffield Wednesday.

Career

Smith, whose real surname was Clarke, started work at the Atlas & Norfolk Steel Works - originally operating in the crucible room - when he was 11 years old; he worked there for 58 years.

His playing career was entirely with Sheffield Wednesday, and was the first choice goalkeeper from 1884 to 1891. The highlight - and lowlight - of his career was appearing for the club in the 1889–90 FA Cup final. As a full-time employee and part-time footballer, Smith (along with Tom Cawley) was unable to take part in the special training for the latter stages of the competition, He proved a stellar choice in the 2–1 semi-final win over Bolton Wanderers with one particular save just before half-time being noted, and the goal against him having a suspicion of offside.

The final however was a different matter. Captain Henry Winterbottom could not play because of injury, and forward Billy Ingram was not at full fitness; opponents Blackburn Rovers took full advantage, going 4–0 up before half-time and winning 6–1, a record at the time. Smith was blamed for the first two goals. He did however have the consolation of a championship medal in the Football Alliance, of which Wednesday were the inaugural champions that season. Curiously, Wednesday finished bottom in 1890–91, but finished high enough in 1891–92 to be elected to the Football League; however by the end of the latter season Smith had been displaced from goal by Allen.

After retiring from the playing field, he acted as coach for the Atlas & Norfolk works sides.

He was a club cricketer for 30 years and an angler of some repute, winning the Sheffield works angling championship when he was 68. He was also a member of the Burngreave Conservative Association, acting as Father Christmas in the organization's charity Christmas parties, distributing toys to poor families. He died in 1937, survived by his widow, son, and daughter.

Honours

  • FA Cup
    • Runner-up: 1889–90
  • Football Alliance
    • Champion: 1889–90

References

  1. "Played with Wednesday". Sheffield Independent: 8. 23 September 1937.
  2. "Between you, me and the Goalpost". Football Gazette (South Shields): 3. 2 October 1937.
  3. "Jim Smith". Wednesday Archive. Retrieved 26 April 2024. The 1893–94 season refers to a different footballer.
  4. "Wednesday v Notts County". Sheffield Independent: 7. 1 March 1890.
  5. "Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield Wednesday". Derby Daily Telegraph: 3. 10 March 1890.
  6. "The English Association Challenge Cup". Sheffield Independent: 7. 31 March 1890.
  7. "The Alliance". Manchester Courier: 7. 12 May 1890.
  8. "Football notes". Sheffield Independent: 7. 23 February 1892.
  9. "Local cricket chat". Star Green 'un: 4. 17 July 1909.
  10. "The "Blue Riband" of angling". Star Green 'un: 3. 17 September 1932.
  11. "Tiny tots' happy party". Sheffield Daily Telegraph: 7. 8 January 1931.
  12. "Played with Wednesday". Sheffield Independent: 8. 23 September 1937.
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