*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Jack Smith
Appearances: 114+5 Goals: 30
Date / Year of birth: 24th April 1936
Position: Midfielder / Striker
Season of first appearance: 1968/69
Season of last appearance: 1970/71
Also played for: Hartlepools United (124,50), Sunderland (0), Watford (23,8), Swindon Town (109,48), Brighton & Hove Albion (95,36), Notts County (79+4,12), Ramsgate Athletic and Ramsgate
Classy player born in West Hartlepool who started his career with Hartlepools United in 1953 before leaving to undertake his National Service. Jack then played for the army in Egypt, Cyprus, Malta and Gibraltar and signed for Sunderland after being demobbed.
However he soon returned to Hartlepools where he made 124 senior appearances and scored 50 goals. In July 1960 Jack was sold to Watford for £4,000 and spent a season with them before another £4,000 move took him to Swindon in June 1961.
After scoring 48 goals in 109 first team appearances Jack then joined Brighton for £10,000 in January 1964 and stayed with them until he was transferred to Notts County for £6,000 in September 1966.
Jack's next move brought him to Margate in December 1968 and he'd already scored 18 goals for County's first and second teams during the 1968/69 season when he moved to Thanet. Margate paid a fee in the region of £500 for his services.
Jack made his debut in a 4-1 defeat at Hereford in the Southern League on 21.12.68 and soon impressed. He initially played as a striker but later featured in midfield. He was particularly strong in the air and was also adept at bringing other players into the game with his shrewd passing. On 28.12.68 Jack set up two goals during Margate's 5-1 home win over Dover and the local paper said that he showed "delightful touches". Later in the season Jack was described as "a most methodical midfield grafter". He made a total of 40 appearances before the end of the 1968/69 campaign and scored seven goals. They included a long range left-footed effort in a 4-2 defeat at Kettering on 1.3.69. On 20.5.69 Jack played as Margate drew 1-1 at Maidstone in the 1st Leg of the Kent Floodlight Cup Final and he also featured in the 2nd Leg at Hartsdown Park on 24.5.69 as Margate won 3-1 to claim the trophy.
During the 1969/70 season Jack made a further 46 appearances (four as sub) in midfield or as a striker, and scored 15 goals. He also played at centre-back in a 2-2 draw against Chelmsford on 13.9.69 and was described as "outstanding" by the Thanet Times. However he had injury problems during the campaign, including a splintered bone in his larynx sustained during a game against Brentwood on 11.8.69 and a fractured toe suffered a week later. On 15.11.69 Jack was in the Margate side that were thrashed 7-2 by visitors Aldershot in the FA Cup 1st Round.
On 26.12.69 he scored twice, including an excellent lob, in a 4-0 win over Dover at Hartsdown Park but Jack was later sent off. He was booked for a foul and then adopted what the referee referred to as "an insolent manner" when giving his name. That led to Jack's dismissal and it was the first time that he'd been sent off in 17 years of football. Towards the end of the season Jack had a spell on the sidelines with a back problem but when he was fit he turned in many impressive performances, displaying deft touches and intelligent running.
He played regularly during the first half of 1970/71 and although he was out for a while with a broken hand Jack made 33 appearances (one as sub). They took his overall tally past 100 and Jack also scored eight goals. In addition he was described as "will-o'-the-wisp" by the local paper. However in February 1971 Jack joined Ramsgate, turning down an offer from Folkestone to do so.
In November 1971 he was appointed as Ramsgate's new player-manager, taking over when Les Riggs left for Margate. He remained in charge at Southwood until March 1974 when he joined Bath as their assistant manager.
Jack became Bath's manager in October 1975 before joining Swindon as their Youth Team coach for the 1976/77 season.
After a spell scouting for Fulham Jack returned to Margate in November 1978 and became the club's manager. He left at the end of the 1978/79 season to take up a post as youth coach at Portsmouth, then in the 4th Division.
However he soon returned to Thanet and in 1982 he was running a 'tea room' in Broadstairs with his wife. At that time Jack told the local press "I'm getting a real urge to get back into the game. I would be very interested in coaching youngsters - especially at schools." He also added "Football has been my life. It's incredible how you miss it" and went on to explain "I have taken a lot out of the game - now I feel it's time to put something back."
In later years Jack became a taxi driver in Thanet and worked for Central Cars. In July 1997 he was back at Hartsdown Park to watch Margate beat Ramsgate 3-1 in the Link Music Cup and told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "I don't watch much live football nowadays but the thought of a Thanet local 'derby' on a warm summer evening was very appealing."
Jack retired from Central Cars in 2003.
His real name was John Smith and he died in hospital in Margate on 23.5.08 aged 72.
Long-standing friend David Stafford told the Thanet Times that Jack "always made you feel good and positive about what you were doing" and added "he was such a colourful character and was a very good motivator, whether in football or in everyday life." In a letter to the Thanet Times Jack's former Margate team-mate Jimmy Hunt described him as being "a fine player and a gentleman (who was) great to be with and always had a good story to tell."
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC |
SLCH |
|
1968/69 (MFC) |
40 (75) |
0 |
7 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (18TH OF 22) |
1R |
3R |
RU |
W |
W |
| Played in Kent
Senior Cup Final 1st Leg (30.04.69 - lost 4-0 at Folkestone
Town). Played in Kent Senior Cup Final 2nd Leg (08.05.69 - beat Folkestone Town 2-0 at home). Played in Kent Floodlight Cup Final 1st Leg (20.05.69 - drew 1-1 at Maidstone United). Played in Kent Floodlight Cup Final 2nd Leg (24.05.69 - beat Maidstone United 3-1 at home). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC | |
|
1969/70 (MFC) |
42 (72) |
4 |
15 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (13TH OF 22) |
1R |
3QR |
3R |
RU |
RU |
| Played in FA Cup 1st
Round (15.11.69 - lost 7-2 at home to
Aldershot). Played in Kent Floodlight Cup Final Replay (15.05.70 - lost 2-1 at Gravesend & Northfleet). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC | |
|
1970/71 (MFC) |
32 (72) |
1 |
8 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (13TH OF 22) |
1R |
1R |
SF |
QF |
GR |