Smith: Jack
WW2 Guest: 1945-1946
(Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)
Full Back
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.
It is possible that the player concerned was Jack Smith of Chelsea and Wartime
International with Wales and some reference books are of that belief.
Smith: Arthur John (Jack)
WW2 Guest: 1945-1946
(Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)
Full Back
Born: Aberaman, Glamorgan: 27-10-1911
Debut: v Blackpool (a): 19-01-1946
Height & Weight: Unknown
Smith started his career with his local club, Aberdare & Aberaman, before having a trial
for Second Division West Bromwich Albion in the 1928-29 season before signing for Third
Division South Merthyr Town in the following season and he made one League appearance for
the club before it failed to gain re-election in 1929-30. He joined Second Division
Wolverhampton Wanderers at the start of the next season. He made one F.A. Cup and thirty
League appearances in four seasons at Molineux, including nine in their 1931-32 Second
Division Championship season, but in 1934 he moved to Third Division South Bristol Rovers.
He had one season at Eastville, in which he made four League appearances, before on 21st May
1935 he joined another Third Division South team from the West Country in Swindon Town. He
made his debut for them at Left Back on 31st August 1935 in a 2-2 draw at Newport County. He
was an ever-present in his three seasons at Swindon before being sold in 1938 to First
Division Chelsea for £4,000. He had made one hundred and fourteen League, eight F.A. Cup and
seven other appearances and made his final appearance for the Robins on 5th March 1938 at
Left Back in a 3-3 home draw against Mansfield Town. He made forty-five League and four F.A.
Cup appearances in the two seasons before the Second World War brought a halt to the
Football League programme. He was capped by Wales in a Wartime International at Left Back on
18th November 1939 in a 2-3 defeat by England at the Racecourse Ground at Wrexham, but was
never capped in a full International. 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. He did not play in the Football League after the Second World War, but was
trainer with West Bromwich Albion and Reading. He died in 1975.