Smelt: John William (Jack)

1918-1918 (Leeds City War-time Guest Player Details)

Left Half

Born: Rotherham: 1895

Debut: v Rotherham County (a): 12-10-1918

Height & Weight: Unknown

Smelt was one of four brothers who played League Football. Alf played with Mexborough Town and Leeds United in 1920, Len played with Gainsborough Trinity, Burnley and Barrow, Tom played for Accrington Stanley, Exeter City, Chesterfield, Manchester City, Oldham Athletic, Crewe Alexandra and Rotherham County. He started with Mansfield Mechanics, Chesterfield Municipal and in 1919 he joined Second Division Rotherham County, but never played for the first team. Normally an Outside Right, he played at Left Half when he guested for one game in the Principal Tournament game at Rotherham County in October 1918, probably because Leeds turned up with a man short. He joined Third Division Portsmouth in 1920, but managed just one League game, before returning North to play for The Wednesday in 1920. He had two seasons at Hillsborough and scored twice in sixteen League games before he went into Non-League football with Bangor City. He returned to the Football League as he signed for Barrow in 1922, but left without playing a game for the first team. He then played in the local Leagues with Thatched House and Bradgate WMC, before retiring. He died in 1968.