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Players Index Page Last Updated
28 February 2025
 
 

Bert Smith

Reading FC

 4 appearances, 0 goals

P 4 W 4 D 0 L 0 F 10: A 1
100% successful
1905-06

captain: none
minutes played: 360

Timeline
  Herbert Smith
Birth Thursday, 22 November 1877 in Bridge Street, Witney, Oxfordshire
  registered in Witney October-December 1877
Baptism Friday, 15 February 1878 at St. Mary's Church in Witney
 

According to the 1881 census, Herbert is the three year old son of William and Jane (née Looker), the second of three children. They live with his two cousins and two servants. They live in Bridge Street in Witney. His father is a woolen manufacturer employing 31 men and 40 women/children.
 

According to the 1891 census, thirteen year old Herbert is a pupil at Collegiate School in Wangford, Beccles, Suffolk.
 

According to the 1901 census, Herbert is back at home living with his parents at 10 Bridge Street in Witney, he is one of five children, along with two servants. Both Herbert and his father are in the blanket manufacturer business.
"ENGAGEMENT OF MR. HERBERT  SMITH
"The engagement is announced of Mr. Herbert Smith, second son of Mr. William Smith, J.P., of Windrush House, Witney, to Miss Jessie Lawton, daughter of Mr. Lawton, of Matlock Bath, and sister of Mr. A. E. Lawton, the captain of Derbyshire County C.C. Miss Lawton is captain of the Derwent Valley Ladies C.C. We are sure all our football readers will join us in congratulating Mr. Smith on his engagement." - The Oxfordshire Weekly News, Wednesday, 18 October 1905.
  "Congratulations to Mr. Herbert Smith, the popular captain of Reading F.C. and International back, on his engagement to Miss Lawton, a sister of Mr. A. E. Lawton, the Derbyshire cricketer. Miss Lawton is a keen sportswoman, and a cricket player and hockey player of no mean ability."
- The Athletic News, Monday, 16 October 1905
Marriage to Jessie Lawton, on Monday, 19 November 1906, at Holy Trinity Church, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire.
  registered in Bakewell October-December 1906
"MARRIAGES ...SMITH—LAWTON—.Nov. 19th, at Holy Trinity Church, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, by the Rev. J. W. Marsh, assisted by the Rev. Charles baker (vicar), Herbert Smith of Witney, to Jessie Lawton, of Matlock Bath." - The Witney Gazette, Saturday, 24 November 1906
"MARRIAGE OF HERBERT SMITH AT MATLOCK BATH
"The wedding bells rang out merrily yesterday at Matlock Bath, where Mr. Herbert Smith was married to Miss Jessie Lawton, third daughter of Mr. J. E. Lawton, J.P., of Cromford, and sister of the ex-Derbyshire cricket captain. It is a union in which the whole sporting world is interested, for the bridegroom, who is the second son of Mr. Wm. Smith, J.P., of Witney (Oxon), is the famous international full-back and the popular captain of the Reading F.C.
"There was a large and fashionable gathering at Holy Trinity Church, where the ceremony took place, and the guests included many prominent athletes, amongst them being Dr. E. M. Ashcroft, Mr. S. H. Evershed, Lord Dalmeny, Dr. W. G. Grace, and Messrs G. L. Jessop, A. C. McLaren, and E. H. D. Sewell.
"The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a dress of white satin trimmed with a berthe of Brussels lace and silver tissue, and a long tulle veil and coronet of orange blossoms. She carried a bouquet of white exotics, white heather, and myrtle, with chiffon and silver tissue streamers, whilst her ornaments consisted of a quaint silver necklet with mother o' pearl drop (the gift of her father), and a diamond brooch (the gift of the bridegroom). The bridesmaids were Miss Dora Lawton, Miss Grace Lawton, and Miss Ruth Lawton (sisters of the bride), and Miss Jennie Smith, Miss Nellie Smith, and Miss Katie Smith (sisters of the bridegroom). They wore white Louisine silk dresses, the bodices of which were prettily trimmed with lace and chiffon and their skirts were of three tiers. Their hats, to match, were white felt, with a scarf of Louisine silk, and a spray of white chrysanthemums, and they carried bouquets of white chrysanthemums with dark blue streamers, the colours of the Reading F.C.
"Mr. Will Smith, the bridegroom's brother, attended him in the capacity of best man, but his mother was unable to take the long journey in consequence of recent illness. Subsequently, a largely-attended reception was held at Wood Bank, the residence of the bride's parents, and later in the day Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Lawton Smith left for London, en route for the Continent.
"The presents were numerous and costly, and included a silver salver and canteen of silver and cutlery, presented to Mr Smith by the Reading F.C., whose supporters gave Miss Lawton a diamond and pearl bracelet. The bride was also the recipient of a silver manicure set, a pale blue enamel and pearl watch, and a gold brooch from the Derwent Valley Ladies' Cricket Club, of which she was captain for several years." - The Morning Leader, Tuesday, 20 November 1906
Children Bert and Jessie Smith have three children together. Barbara, John (b.April 1916) and Neville.
 

His mother died in 1910.
According to the 1911 census, Herbert, still a blanket manufacturer, is married to Jessie, and they live at Dawson House, at 3 Bridge Street in Witney. They have one servant.
His father died on 11 March 1916.
 

According to the 1921 census, Herbert, still a blanket manufacturer, is still married and they have three children, Barbara, John and Neville and along with two servants, and two members of his wife's family. They are at St. Athermen in St. Helen's, Isle of Wight (on holiday?).
  According to the 1939 register, Herbert is still a blanket manufacturer and still married, now living at 14 West End in Witney.
Death Saturday, 6 January 1951 at 14 West End, Witney, Oxfordshire.
aged 73 years 45 days registered in Witney January-March 1951

Obituary
"to come.." - To come
Probate "SMITH Herbert of 14 West End Witney Oxfordshire died 6 January 1951 Probate Oxford 24 April to John Herbert Lawton Smith company director and Nevill Lawton Smith blanket manufacturers assistant manager. Effects £594 3s. 3d." [2025 equivalent £15,904]
His wife, Jessie Smith died in 1957
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Played for Oxford Schools and Witney FC, before joining Reading FC in 1901. He had spells with Oxford City FC during his Reading stay, and after he left them in 1908. He had been the club captain and the only unpaid member of the side. Smith also assisted Stoke FC and Derby County FC.
League honours
4 appearances		 Stoke FC 1902 three appearances
debut: 15 November 1902 Stoke FC 2 Derby County FC 0.
Derby County FC 1907 one appearance
only: 1 April 1907 Derby County FC 1 The Wednesday FC 0.
Club honours FA Amateur Cup runners-up 1902-03
Individual honours Richmond FA; Oxfordshire FA
Distinctions His brother-in-law, through the marriage to his wife, is Albert Lawton, Derbyshire and Lancashire Cricketer between 1910 and 1914, as well as a Reading FC centre-forward.
Height/Weight 6' 0", 12st. 10lbs [1905].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career
Player number One of three who became the 308th players (309) to appear for England
Position(s) Left-back
First match No. 84, 27 March 1905, England 3 Wales 1, a British Championship match at Anfield Road, Anfield, Liverpool, aged 27 years 125 days.
Last match No. 87, 19 March 1906, Wales 0 England 1, a British Championship match at Cardiff Arms Park, Temperance Town, Cardiff, aged 28 years 117 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1904-05, 1905-06;
Team honours British Championship winners 1904-05, shared 1905-06;
Individual honours England Amateur (seventeen appearances). Olympic Gold Medal London 1908
Distinctions most appearanced Englishman at Reading FC.

Beyond England
A blanket manufacturer by trade. President of the Oxfordshire FA from 1919 until his death. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.226/7.

 

Herbert Smith - The Numbers
parties Apps comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain Disc.
4 4 0 360 0 0 min 0 none none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.

 

Herbert Smith - Match Record - All Matches - By Type of Match
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 0 1 2.00 0.50 100.0 +2
Away 2 2 0 0 6 0 +6 0 2 3.00 0.00 100.0 +2
All - British Championship 4 4 0 0 10 1 +9 0 3 2.50 0.25 100.0 +4

 

Herbert Smith - Match Record - Tournament Matches
British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1904-05 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 0 1 2.00 0.50 100.0 +2
BC 1904-05 2 2 0 0 6 0 +6 0 2 3.00 0.00 100.0 +2
BC All 4 4 0 0 10 1 +9 0 3 2.50 0.25 100.0 +4
All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 4 4 0 0 10 1 +9 0 3 2.50 0.25 100.0 +4
All 4 4 0 0 10 1 +9 0 3 2.50 0.25 100.0 +4

 

Herbert Smith - Match History
 Club: Reading F.C. - 4 full appearances

F.A. International Select Committee - 4 full capsx

Age 27
1 84 27 March 1905 - England 3 Wales 1, Anfield Road, Liverpool BC HW Start lb
2 85 1 April 1905 - England 1 Scotland 0, Sports Arena, Crystal Palace HW Start lb
Age 28
3 86 17 February 1906 - Ireland 0 England 5, Solitude Ground, Belfast BC AW Start lb
4 87 19 March 1906 - Wales 0 England 1, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff AW Start lb

Notes

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