Bobby Smith

Robert William Smith (born 14 March 1944) is an English former footballer and football manager. He was capped by England at Schoolboys and Youth level. He is the son of Conway Smith and grandson of Billy Smith, from whom he gets his middle name.

A reserve player for Manchester United, he moved on to Scunthorpe United in 1965, where he established himself in the first team. Moving on to Grimsby Town in 1967, he transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion the following year. In 1971, he signed with Hartlepool United via Chester, before he finished his playing career with Bury in 1973.

Appointing as Bury's manager in 1973, he led the club to promotion out of the Football League Fourth Division in 1973–74, before he was sacked in November 1977. Quickly installed as Port Vale manager, he moved on to Swindon Town the following year, having failed to prevent the club from suffering relegation. Despite promising league campaigns and cup runs, he was sacked in October 1980. Spending time as a coach at Blackpool, he returned to management in 1985 with Newport County, as the club were in financial meltdown; he departed the following year. Remaining in the game as a coach at Cardiff City, Hereford United, and Swansea City, he was appointed caretaker manager at Swansea in 1995. However, he resigned after less than three months in charge and took a role in the back-room staff at Sheffield Wednesday.

Club career Smith began his career with Manchester United, turning professional in April 1961. Smith left Old Trafford in March 1965 to join Scunthorpe United. Under Fred Goodwin, the Iron finished the 1964–65 campaign in 18th place in the Third Division. They rose to fourth in 1965–66, still 12 points short of a promotion place, before they dropped to 18th in 1966–67.

Smith moved to Grimsby Town, for a fee of £8,000, but failed to prevent Don McEvoy's Mariners from slipping into the Fourth Division in 1967–68. In January, veteran defender Graham Hawkins was signed as a player-coach from Blackburn Rovers for £6,000.

Swindon Town Despite still being a relatively young manager, Smith guided Swindon to a Third Division promotion challenge in his first season in charge - missing out by three points after losing the last two games of the season. His two signings, Alan Mayes and Andy Rowland, formed a deadly strike partnership, and were both selected on the PFA Team of the Year.

The following season Swindon beat Stoke City, Wimbledon and Arsenal to reach the League Cup semi-final. In October 1995, he became caretaker manager of Swansea after the departure of Burrows but resigned just 80 days later in December of the same year.

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

1964–65 Third Division

1965–66 Third Division

1966–67 Third Division

82!!12!!5!!2!!2!!0!!89!!14

1966–67 Third Division

1967–68 Third Division

52!!1!!2!!0!!2!!0!!56!!1

1968–69 Third Division

1969–70 Third Division

1970–71 Third Division

75!!2!!6!!0!!4!!0!!85!!2 Chester 1971–72 Fourth Division

1971–72 Fourth Division

1972–73 Fourth Division

69!!7!!5!!0!!2!!1!!76!!8 Bury 1973–74 Fourth Division

280!!22!!18!!2!!11!!1!!309!!25

A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the League Cup, Football League Trophy, English Football League play-offs and Full Members Cup.

Managerial statistics

Honours Bury Football League Fourth Division fourth-place promotion: 1973–74