Happy 91st Birthday George Smith

[gary james]

Today is George Smith's 91st birthday - George is City's oldest known former player.

He suffered 'friendy fire' in WW2 - a remarkable story - that left his arm permanently paralysed. He continued to play for City and became a hero. He should also have played for England as a striker but when the FA selectors saw his arm they decided he wasn't 'fit' for England.
It was argued by City fans that as a striker he didn't need to use his arm, but the FA thought otherwise. The truth was that George had to keep quiet for years about how his arm had become damaged because the Govt and others did not want anyone to know that 'friendly fire' hurt British soldiers. Rumours of him losing his pension rights etc. ensured he kept quiet (until early 2000s).

I've posted an interview I did with him on my facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GaryJames4#!/ph ... =1&theater

There are 2 scans and if anyone wants to insert them into this thread then please do. I won't object (I wanted to do it but am struggling with lack of knowledge!).

Happy birthday George & best wishes to any of his family reading this.

[Chinners]

[Goataldo]

What a ledge! Many Happy Returns of the Day George!

[BlueinBosnia]

Happy birthday!

Got to say, I'm surprised that none of our pre-war footballers are still with us. Thought there might be 1 or 2 still around.

[Chinners]

Happy birthday!

Got to say, I'm surprised that none of our pre-war footballers are still with us. Thought there might be 1 or 2 still around.

ah, but we still have some pre war/20th century fans ... eh John68

[david yearsley]

Absolute legend - I hope the club publicises this to the max . Good old FA robbed him of his England cap - well nothings changed has it - same old wankers in charge

Many happy returns George

[gary james]

Happy birthday!

Got to say, I'm surprised that none of our pre-war footballers are still with us. Thought there might be 1 or 2 still around.

Ten years ago I tried to track down any survivors from the 1933 & 1934 FAC finals, hoping there would be at least 1 still around. It turned out I'd missed Syd Cann (born 1911) who died in 1996 and, of course Matt Busby (died 1994). I believe Cann was the last.

In 2003 when my George Smith article appeared in the City prog I had spoken with John Riley from the former players association about oldest players. At that time John told me that Billy Walsh was the oldest (he wasn't as George was a few months older) and that they didn't know of anyone else. Then, after George had been highlighted, Steve Fleet told me about Dick Neilson (born in 1916) and he appeared in a couple of games during the 1936-37 League title winning season.

Dick was the oldest player until he passed away a couple of years ago. Sadly, I never got the chance to interview him.

It's possible there may be a player out there who made the odd appearance for City that's older, but so far neither I nor the former players association are aware of one.

Sadly, even the stars from the 1950s are disappearing fast. Of the 50s FAC teams there's only Bill Leivers, Roy Little, Paddy Fagan and Bert (who looks half his age!). Even the 1970 League Cup final team has lost 3 members (Heslop, Doyle & Mann), not forgetting our 1969 FAC goalscorer Neil Young of course.

[feedthegreek]

happy birthday george.

[Chinners]

Cheers Gary, I really love your insight into all the history b*ll*x of our beloved club, top stuff fella!

[john68]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE.....Who would have been a far greater City hero, if the War had not interupted his career.

Please correct me if I'm wrong Gary, as I am not wholly sure of my facts but will chuck em out here anyway.

He must surely hold the record of time between signing (May 1938) and actually making his full League debut (Aug 1946). Just as you're about to start your career as a pro footballer, Adolf comes calling (univited).

His City record usually shows he made 166 (Lge) and 13 (FA Cup) appearances, scoring 75 and 5 goals respectively. But that is not the whole picture. George also played for City in the often forgotten Wartime competitions, and you can add 68 (Lge) + 22 (Cup) appearances to that, as well as 38 and 7 goals respectively. Making a total of 269 appearances and 125 goals until he trotted off to Chesterfield in 1951.

He looks younger than Doug, fitter than Gillie and is much much much older than me.

[craigmcfc]

Happy Birthday indeed, well in George

[carl_feedthegoat]

Happy Birthday George.

Great story and fantastic he is still with us.

[gillie]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE.....Who would have been a far greater City hero, if the War had not interupted his career.

Please correct me if I'm wrong Gary, as I am not wholly sure of my facts but will chuck em out here anyway.

He must surely hold the record of time between signing (May 1938) and actually making his full League debut (Aug 1946). Just as you're about to start your career as a pro footballer, Adolf comes calling (univited).

His City record usually shows he made 166 (Lge) and 13 (FA Cup) appearances, scoring 75 and 5 goals respectively. But that is not the whole picture. George also played for City in the often forgotten Wartime competitions, and you can add 68 (Lge) + 22 (Cup) appearances to that, as well as 38 and 7 goals respectively. Making a total of 269 appearances and 125 goals until he trotted off to Chesterfield in 1951.

He looks younger than Doug, fitter than Gillie and is much much much older than me.

You are a cheeky fucker but i like you lol.

[Nigels Tackle]

looks like a man who you could share several pots of tea with...

happy birthday old boy!

[gary james]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE.....Who would have been a far greater City hero, if the War had not interupted his career.

Please correct me if I'm wrong Gary, as I am not wholly sure of my facts but will chuck em out here anyway.

He must surely hold the record of time between signing (May 1938) and actually making his full League debut (Aug 1946). Just as you're about to start your career as a pro footballer, Adolf comes calling (univited).

His City record usually shows he made 166 (Lge) and 13 (FA Cup) appearances, scoring 75 and 5 goals respectively. But that is not the whole picture. George also played for City in the often forgotten Wartime competitions, and you can add 68 (Lge) + 22 (Cup) appearances to that, as well as 38 and 7 goals respectively. Making a total of 269 appearances and 125 goals until he trotted off to Chesterfield in 1951.

He looks younger than Doug, fitter than Gillie and is much much much older than me.

Good point and glad you've highlighted his football record during the war as well - during a time when he was recovering from the arm injury and his career looked over.

As for record between signing and debut.... Billy Walsh signed as an amateur on 5 May 1936, turned pro 22 June 1938 and made his League debut v Leicester City (a) 31.8.1946 (scored one). Smith did join in 1938 but I think he was on amateur forms initially - can't trace date he signed pro forms at the moment. He made his League debut in the same game as Walsh.

There may be others. Of course, there will also be players who made no peacetime League apps but appeared often in the war years.

When I included profiles of the top 100 appearance holders for City in "Manchester City The Complete Record" I included Gordon Clark (180 wartime apps but only 64 peacetime) as one of the top 100 because I felt he deserved to be included due to his performances during those wartime games. Both Smith and Walsh were included for similar reasons (although I would have found an excuse to include them both somehow anyway).

[BobbyJ1956]

Is he still in Manchester, Gary? Definitely one for the club to get going on and invite him to a match.

[gary james]

Is he still in Manchester, Gary? Definitely one for the club to get going on and invite him to a match.

He lives in the area but I honestly don't believe he'd be able to make it to a match. Personally, I've not seen him for a few years, but I know he's not been in the best of health.

[MR IMAINEROAD]

Nice thread.

[blue 68]

Well done mucker, hoping you have few more birthdays to come.