Billy Smith (footballer born 1882)
Encyclopedia
William Alfred "Billy" Smith (April 1882 – after 1912) was an English
professional footballer who made 38 appearances in the Football League
playing for West Bromwich Albion
and Birmingham
. He played as a right-sided forward.
Smith was born in West Bromwich
, Staffordshire
. He began his football career with Old Hill Wanderers and Worcester City
before joining Second Division
champions West Bromwich Albion
in 1902. He played 21 league games for the club before dropping back into non-league football
with Brierley Hill Alliance
. In 1908 he returned to the Football League with Birmingham
, where he formed a useful partnership with Benny Green
. He lost his place when Jack Wilcox
arrived, and moved back to Coventry City
. A period with Nuneaton Town preceded a third spell at Coventry.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who made 38 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
playing for West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. He played as a right-sided forward.
Smith was born in West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. He began his football career with Old Hill Wanderers and Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
before joining Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
champions West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in 1902. He played 21 league games for the club before dropping back into non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with Brierley Hill Alliance
Brierley Hill Alliance F.C.
Brierley Hill Alliance F.C. was an English football club based in Brierley Hill in the West Midlands.Formed in 1887 from a merger of Brockmoor Harriers and Brockmoor Pickwicks, the club joined the Birmingham & District League in 1890 and the team were league champions on two occasions and...
. In 1908 he returned to the Football League with Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, where he formed a useful partnership with Benny Green
Benny Green (footballer)
Benjamin Haigh "Benny" Green was an English professional footballer who played as an inside-forward. He made nearly 200 appearances for Small Heath in all competitions...
. He lost his place when Jack Wilcox
Jack Wilcox
John Mitchell "Jack" Wilcox was an English professional footballer who played as an outside right for various clubs in the years preceding the First World War.-Football career:...
arrived, and moved back to Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. A period with Nuneaton Town preceded a third spell at Coventry.