Smith: Jack

WW2 Guest: 1945-1946 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

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Born: Unknown: Unknown

Debut: v Blackpool (a): 19-01-1946

Height & Weight: Unknown

Jack Smith was a young Leeds United player signed from Bingley in the 1945-46 closed season. Little is known of him and although he hovered on the fringe of the Leeds team just after the war, he never played in the League or F.A. Cup for Leeds United or any other Football League club. However, during the Second World War he played eleven consecutive games for Leeds United in the 1945-46 Football League Northern Section. He made his debut at Left Back in a 2-4 defeat by Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on 19th January 1946. He was also at Left Back for the next six games, as United lost 2-3 at Grimsby Town, beat Liverpool at Elland Road 3-0, drew 3-3 at home and lost 1-3 at Gigg Lane against Bury, and drew 0-0 at Ewood Park but were beaten at Elland Road 1-4 by Blackburn Rovers. He was at Right Back for the final four games as United drew 2-2 with Grimsby Town at Elland Road, went down 4-9 to Bradford Park Avenue away, 1-5 to Manchester City at Maine Road and 1-3 at Elland Road. "Smith was a Bingley lad who had been playing in the Air Training Corps sides at local, county and national level. It was said he was captain of ATC England representative side. He started in the Leeds United Reserve team in January 1943, but then became a more sporadic performer, possibly due to service calls. He signed professional after the war, playing mainly in the Reserves, but his career is difficult to track due to their being a variety of other Smiths at the club in that period. He was allowed to leave in December 1947 for Bradford Park Avenue, where he made no further impact." (Information kindly supplied by Neil Roche).