Philip Smith (footballer, born 1885)

Philip Smith (1885 – 29 September 1918) was an English footballer who played at centre-forward for Burslem Port Vale, Crewe Alexandra, Chelsea, Burnley, and Stalybridge Celtic. He was killed in action during World War I.[2]

Philip Smith
Personal information
Date of birth1885[1]
Place of birthNewcastle-under-Lyme, England[1]
Date of death29 September 1918(1918-09-29) (aged 32–33)[2]
Place of deathPas-de-Calais, France
Position(s)Centre forward
Youth career
Knutton
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1905–1906Burslem Port Vale25(8)
Crewe Alexandra
1910Chelsea1(0)
1910–1911Burnley7(0)
1911–1912Crewe Alexandra
Stalybridge Celtic
Total25(8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

Smith played for Knutton, before joining Burslem Port Vale in August 1905.[3] After making his debut in a 3–1 defeat to Lincoln City at Sincil Bank on 2 September, he became a regular in the first-team.[3] He got his first League goal seven days later, in a 4–3 win over Chesterfield at the Athletic Ground.[3] He claimed eight goals in 25 Second Division appearances in the 1905–06 season.[3] However, he was later released, most likely in the summer of 1906.[3] He later played for Crewe Alexandra, before joining Chelsea for a £250 fee in April 1910.[1] He played one First Division match for the club, a 1–0 defeat at Bristol City on 16 April 1910.[1] He left Chelsea in OCtober 1910 and went on to play for Burnley and Stalybridge Celtic.

Personal life edit

Smith was the older brother of footballer Joe Smith.[4] He served as a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery during World War I and was killed in action whilst fighting in the Western Front on 29 September 1918.[2]

Career statistics edit

  • Sourced by Philip Smith at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Burslem Port Vale1905–06Second Division2581031299
Chelsea1909–10First Division10000010
Burnley1910–11Second Division70000070
Total3381031379

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Philip Smith Player Profile on Stamford-Bridge.com". stamford-bridge.com. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Philip Smith | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 273. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  4. ^ "What happened when war made football grind to a halt at Wanderers". The Bolton News. Retrieved 9 March 2019.