Lionel Smith (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lionel Smith | ||
| Date of birth | 23 August 1920 | ||
| Place of birth | Mexborough, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK | ||
| Date of death | 6 November 1980 (aged 60) | ||
| Place of death | London, England, UK | ||
| Playing position | Full back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Mexborough Albion | |||
| – | Yorkshire Tar Distillers | ||
| – | Denaby United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1939–1954 | Arsenal | 162 | (0) |
| 1954–1955 | Watford | 7 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 1950–1953 | England | 6 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1955–1960 | Gravesend & Northfleet | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Lionel Smith (23 August 1920 – 6 November 1980) was an English footballer.
Born in Mexborough, West Riding of Yorkshire, Smith played for local non-league sides before signing as an amateur with London club Arsenal in April 1939. He turned professional that summer, only for World War II to break out; Smith joined the Royal Engineers and served as a sapper, but also played in some wartime matches for Arsenal (17 in all). An injury incurred in a crane accident threatened to disrupt his career, but when first-class football resumed in 1946-47, Smith had made a full recovery, and was made captain of the Gunners' reserve side.
Smith primarily played as a full back, but his initial chances were few and far between; Arsenal already had experienced full backs in Laurie Scott and Walley Barnes. Smith made his debut at centre half, deputising for Leslie Compton, in an 8-0 victory over Grimsby Town on 1 May 1948, the final match of their 1947-48 First Division-winning season. Smith finally gained a regular place at left back, after Scott suffered a series of injuries and Barnes switched sides to cover for him.
Smith was known for his pace and the quality of his distribution (whenever possible, he eschewed "hoofing" the ball up the pitch), and finally picked up a medal when he played in the Gunners' FA Cup final victory over Liverpool in 1950. Smith got international recognition when he was picked for England for a match against Wales on 15 November 1950, making his debut at the relatively late age of 30. He went on to win six caps for his country.
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