Smith: John Eric (Eric)

1960-1964 (Player Details)

Right Half

Born: Glasgow: 29-07-1934

Debut v Liverpool (a): 20-08-1960

5’5” 11st 5 1/2lb (1963)

Smith began with St Andrew’s Juveniles and Pollock in 1951, then Glasgow Benburb, before joining Celtic in 1953. He became a regular at Parkhead and won a Scottish Cup-winners’ medal in 1956 and scored twelve goals in ninety-five League appearances. He was capped twice by Scotland in 1959 and signed for Leeds in June 1960 for £10,000. It was anticipated that his experience and grit would stiffen United’s defence, but that idea was scuppered when he broke his leg in his first season at Elland Road and the Scottish International suffered badly from injuries during his time with Leeds. A versatile player, Smith featured at right-half and inside right in his first season and managed to make twenty starts despite of his adversities. In 1961-62 he started at right-back but after seven games reverted to his previous roles as he only missed one League game. The following season saw the arrival of the neucleus of Revie’s successful team and after a few appearances he found Norman Hunter, Paul Reaney, Willie Bell, Billy Bremner and Jim Storrie barring his way in his favoured positions. In June 1964 he went to Morton before retiring in 1966 and became coach after scoring three goals in thirty-five League appearances. He was Manager for a short while in 1972, after spending some time in Cyprus as coach with Pezoporikos Larnaca. Shortly after recommending one of his young Morton players, Joe Jordan, to Leeds, he was appointed Manager of Hamilton Academicals in 1972. He held the position until April 1978 when he became Manager of Sharjah FC in the United Arab Emirates. Between June 1982 and May 1983 he was Assistant Manager to Don Revie Al Nasr, becoming Manager of Al Shaab the following year. He returned to Cyprus to coach Pezoporikos in the 1980s and died of a heart attack on holiday in Dubai on 12th June 1991, while he was still coach of Pezoporikos.