Bobby Smith, RIP

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

Very sad news.
My 1st matches at the Goldstone were in 1964, as a 9 year old he was the ultimate hero, an ex England and Spurs player appearing for The Abion, the stuff of schoolboy dreams.
RIP Bobby.

 

[The Hon Sec]

My father took me to the Goldstone just to see Bobby Smith. Dad was an Villa fan so it was the only time he went but my first visit of many to the old place. I believe Bobby went on to play a few games for Hastings in the old Southern League. I may be mistaken but we certainly paid a visit there as well.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Smith_(footballer_born_1933)

I found the wrong one, cheers


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Smith_(footballer_born_1944)

 

[BensGrandad]

As many have he was an immense signing for us just a few months after playing for England at Wembley. As The Oldman said there was a rumour that he had some terrible betting debts that I thought a local bookmaker, George Gunn? paid up for him but none the less he did us proud for the short time that he was with us.

RIP.

 

[Marc]

was he the chap that came to the Ropetackle in Shoreham Falmer thing?

 

[withdeanwombat]

Powney,Hopkins,Baxter,Bertolini,Gall,Turner,Gould,Collins,SMITH (R),Smith (J),Goodchild.



Albion v Darlington 26/4/65. 3 -1,Collins,Smith J,Gould. Att.31,423.(Falmer couldn't hold it).

A team more than a match for our current one,I believe.

Even with the problems Bobby had,he was a giant in the old Div 4,and I am honoured to say that I was there.

(It was also the season Norman Wisdom re-wrote GOSBTS in the form which is still recognisable ,more or less, today.)

 

[Everest]

was he the chap that came to the Ropetackle in Shoreham Falmer thing?

I can't remember, don't think so.

But I may be wrong.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

I'm far too young to have seen him playing but I've been told all about him by my late Grandfather and my Dad. I know my Dad will be sad to hear the news when I tell him later.

 

[sams dad]

Powney,Hopkins,Baxter,Bertolini,Gall,Turner,Gould,Collins,SMITH (R),Smith (J),Goodchild.



Albion v Darlington 26/4/65. 3 -1,Collins,Smith J,Gould. Att.31,423.(Falmer couldn't hold it).

A team more than a match for our current one,I believe.

Even with the problems Bobby had,he was a giant in the old Div 4,and I am honoured to say that I was there.

(It was also the season Norman Wisdom re-wrote GOSBTS in the form which is still recognisable ,more or less, today.)

If I remember correctly we had seven gates above 20,000 during that season, with an average of over 17,000 - in the Fourth Division !
Great days.

 

[waleseagull]

RIP Bobby my first Albion hero, was there that night V darlington when we went up.
Sadly yet another who wont see Falmer

 

[silverwizard]

Sad day. Never has a signing for the Albion generated so much excitement as Bobby's back in 1964. Goldstone gates topped 20,000 and the average for the 1964/5 season was nearly 18,000.

He was arguably the hardest player to play for us. I remember watching the 2nd half of the Darlington game from the roof of the St John's first aid hut in the NW corner. A Darlington player was giving Bobby some stick. After the ball was cleared upfield Bobby gave the player a big elbow to his solar plexus that completely winded him. Thousands saw it but of course he timed it when the ref and lino weren't looking. A great character.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Brighton and Hove Albion | News | Latest News | Latest News | Bobby Smith: 1933-2010

 

[severnside gull]

He was the ultimate marquee signing - shook everybody when he came to us - what a wonderful season that was

 

[The French Mistress]

Legend is a word used too freely nowadays, but it certainly applied to him.
RIP and thanks for the oh too brief memories whilst you were here.

 

[ewe2]

.......That diving header ,at the north stand end,right in front of me leaning on the wall behind the goal.......! I hope we remember him on saturday.

 

[West Hoathly Seagull]

Great shame. As with many others, I am too young to have seen him, but older Albion fans have told me what a legend he was, and 19 goals from 31 games is a cracking ratio. And his signing and the likes of Martin Chivers gives the lie to the idea that Brighton is just a small provincial club in a town that is not really into football. RIP.

 

[BensGrandad]

Great shame. As with many others, I am too young to have seen him, but older Albion fans have told me what a legend he was, and 19 goals from 31 games is a cracking ratio. And his signing and the likes of Martin Chivers gives the lie to the idea that Brighton is just a small provincial club in a town that is not really into football. RIP.

I would say that it was more of a case of a final club and pay day as players finished their careers which todays premership players do not need to do to earn a last few pounds.

 

[Greyrun]

Like many others started to watch the Albion because of his arrival,have always pondered on whether any footballer has ever made such a massive and rapid drop in divisions,fond memories of a great player.

 

[Insel affe]

R.I.P Bobby

I had the good fortune to bump into him a few times in Ladbrokes Palmers Green when Living in North London. He always had a good word about Brighton and remembered my name everytime I would bump into him, which was around our dark days in 96/97, and would know all about the squad, and what was going on still at the Goldstone.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Way before my time, but my Dad always said his signing represented a phenomenal coup for the Albion back in the day.