Do you have any interesting, happy, or humorous memories of John?
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Smith, John John Smith played inside right when I first attended matches at the Boleyn. He went off to do his national service and came back (in the words of Ted Fenton) with some extra pounds around his hips. He played more in the No.6 shirt and was a brilliant player there. The young prodigy, one Robert Moore, came into the side and John Smith didn't seem able to regain his place in the 1st team. He was sold to Spurs and was their 12th man for the whole of the 1961 double season for which he received his gong although he hadn't figured in the team as such. A bit tough considering they had a surfeit of left halves there; Tony Marchi at the end of his career and that brave Scot who broke his leg twice, Dave Mackay. That team had another Smith (Bobby)who was later sold to Brighton for a mere 5000 quid. John Smith also had the honour of being 12th man for England just one time. Had I known that John Smith was the manager of a social club in Harlesden I would have gone there for a few drinks, as I lived there for some years, before moving to Watford. I played some lowly amateur stuff and one of my specialities was a particular turn to get out of trouble that I copied from John Smith and later imparted to the youth team defenders at Parkfield FC ( winners of Middx Cup circa 1983). Anyone remember seeing this forward line-up; Grice, Smith, Keeble, Dick, Musgrove ??? Promotion 1958.
