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Bobby Smith, RIP
- Thread starter Everest
- Start date
severnside gull
Well-known member
hitony
Administrator
He was a true ledgend, I did meet him when i was a very young kid, did'nt even know he was ill, RIP fella..............
Dandyman
In London village.
RIP.
My Dad used to watch the double team. I'd have loved to have seen any of them play.
My Dad used to watch the double team. I'd have loved to have seen any of them play.
Was just about the best thing to happen to Albion in the 1960's. John Vinicombe went to town on it in the Argus. The final Div 4 game was the most amazing game I'd ever been to. You could hardly move in the crowd which was only a 1000 or two off our highest Goldstone attendance and must surely have been a highest ever for the fourth tier in England? Bobby was the difference that season, confirming me as a Brighton fan for life! RIP
Golden Oldie
New member
- Feb 10, 2004
- 94
I went to that match against Barrow just because of Bobby Smith and have been a regular ever since. His signing was on a par with the appointment of Clough and Taylor later on as a profile raiser for the Albion and although Bobby Smith and Brian Clough probably lasted much the same length of time, it was Smith that had the more immediate impact. For a start it seemed to guarantee Reports of matches in the national Newspapers even though we were in Div 4.
Sadly he was soon past his sell by date - I seem to remember a match at Doncaster the following season when it was evident that he couldn't justify his place in the team that much longer - but it was great whilst it lasted. As has been said here before, six forwards (including the reserve ) all got into double figures that season. Happy days and the signing of Smith played a big part in that.
Sadly he was soon past his sell by date - I seem to remember a match at Doncaster the following season when it was evident that he couldn't justify his place in the team that much longer - but it was great whilst it lasted. As has been said here before, six forwards (including the reserve ) all got into double figures that season. Happy days and the signing of Smith played a big part in that.
Westdene Wonder
New member
Bobby Smith and the team he played in gave much entertainment and plenty of goals resulting in big gates, so much better than served up in recent seasons,those were the days.
clapham_gull
Legacy Fan
- Aug 20, 2003
- 25,882
- Jul 7, 2003
- 47,645
Says on the BBC site he played and scored twice for England the day they beat the Sweaties 9-3 at Wembley.
For being part of that game alone the man deserves a big
For being part of that game alone the man deserves a big
My first game at the goldstone was i think the barrow game my brother took me, and although Bobby was well overweight he had some fantastic skills and should never have been playing at that level he was far to good [but i'm glad he was] as he was the main reason for me supporting the albion all these years. RIP Bobby may you rest in peace.
Mo Gosfield
Well-known member
- Aug 11, 2010
- 6,364
Only just heard the news and am genuinely saddened.
As a young lad growing up, Tottenham were the big team ( first team in 20th century to do the double ) and Bobby was the spearhead of that side.
He was described as an ' old-fashioned ' centre-forward, whatever that means ( I suppose it means he could look after himself at a time when no quarter was given ) but that doesn't do justice to his skill. A sublime lob against Spain at Wembley was testament to that and 13 goals in 15 games for England would be raved about today.
To drop from the top tier of football to the basement was almost unheard of and it had a dramatic effect on Brighton. There is no question that he had gambling problems and that Bill Nicholson was forced to offload him because of the debts he had run up.
He was too classy for the old 4th division, even carrying some excess baggage and there is no question he lifted all the players around him. He saved his best form for the Goldstone and he made a lasting impression on me.
Standing behind the North goal, I watched him rise for a cross, taking two defenders with him. As he hung in the air, he dummied a header, pulling out at the last second and allowing an unmarked player behind him to score easily.
Those moments last with you forever and make you realise that there is no substitute for class.
RIP Bobby.
As a young lad growing up, Tottenham were the big team ( first team in 20th century to do the double ) and Bobby was the spearhead of that side.
He was described as an ' old-fashioned ' centre-forward, whatever that means ( I suppose it means he could look after himself at a time when no quarter was given ) but that doesn't do justice to his skill. A sublime lob against Spain at Wembley was testament to that and 13 goals in 15 games for England would be raved about today.
To drop from the top tier of football to the basement was almost unheard of and it had a dramatic effect on Brighton. There is no question that he had gambling problems and that Bill Nicholson was forced to offload him because of the debts he had run up.
He was too classy for the old 4th division, even carrying some excess baggage and there is no question he lifted all the players around him. He saved his best form for the Goldstone and he made a lasting impression on me.
Standing behind the North goal, I watched him rise for a cross, taking two defenders with him. As he hung in the air, he dummied a header, pulling out at the last second and allowing an unmarked player behind him to score easily.
Those moments last with you forever and make you realise that there is no substitute for class.
RIP Bobby.
Can still remember not quite believing we had signed the great Bobby Smith.Such excitement at the Goldstone.Master stroke by Archie Mac.Raised the profile of the Albion enormously.....what a season that was.Think we averaged 18,000 crowds in the old 4th division!
R.I.P.Big man!
R.I.P.Big man!
bhaexpress
New member
The bloke was flawed but he should be remembered for the brilliant player he was.
Milton Keynes Seagull
Active member
This entry from An Illustrated History of Brighton & Hove Albion FC by John Vinicombe (1978) is interesting:-
"Albion brought Bobby Smith on 14th May, 1964, for £5,000. The footballing world boggled that Smith, who had only recently led England's attack, should leave Tottenham for Brighton. It was an astounding coup, and made possible by the personal contact of a local bookmaker George Gunn, a good friend of the Albion's board. Bobby Smith was 30 when he first donned an Albion shirt .... he made his debut against Barrow, there were 20.058 fans at the Goldstone to see Albion win 3-1 and Bobby scored twice".
Thanks for the memories Bobby.
"Albion brought Bobby Smith on 14th May, 1964, for £5,000. The footballing world boggled that Smith, who had only recently led England's attack, should leave Tottenham for Brighton. It was an astounding coup, and made possible by the personal contact of a local bookmaker George Gunn, a good friend of the Albion's board. Bobby Smith was 30 when he first donned an Albion shirt .... he made his debut against Barrow, there were 20.058 fans at the Goldstone to see Albion win 3-1 and Bobby scored twice".
Thanks for the memories Bobby.
As my first Albion game was in 1966 I just missed the Smith era, but boy did people still talk about him - a bit like people do with Zamora today. One of a select band of Albion players whose reputation lives on well past their playing days.
robbie c
Member
my first season of watching the Albion was with Big Bobby up front; the forerunner of the old Tottenham legends retirement plan with a year or two on the South Coast before getting a trade!
Freddie Goodwin.
Well-known member
He was a few years before my time but that 64/65 must have been a great season. I've got that Bobby Smith handbook somewhere too.