John Reid Smith

John Reid Smith

John Reid Smith was born in Pollockshaws on 2nd April 1895. He played his early football in the Scottish League for Albion Rovers, Kilmarnock and Cowdenbeath. After scoring 45 goals in the 1921-22 season he was transferred to Glasgow Rangers for £3,000.

Smith was not happy at Ibrox Park and in November 1922 he was sold to Bolton Wanderers for £3,000. He joined a team that included Joe Smith, Billy Jennings, Jimmy Seddon, Ted Vizard, David Jack, Billy Butler, Dick Pym, Alex Finney and Bob Haworth. The team beat West Ham United 2-0 to win the 1923 FA Cup Final.

Smith scored 21 goals in 35 games the 1924-25 season. Smith was a member of the Bolton Wanderers team that beat Manchester City in the 1926 FA Cup Final. David Jack scored the only goal of the game in the 76th minute.

After the arrival of Harold Blackmore, Smith found it difficult to hold his place in the first team and he joined Bury in March 1928 for a fee of £1,500. He scored a hat-trick on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday and over the next five seasons scored 107 goals in 157 games. Smith ended his career at Rochdale.

In 1939 went to work with Billy Jennings as assistant manager of Cardiff City.

John Reid Smith died in September 1946.