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Players Index Page Last Updated
27 September 2023
 
 

Steve Smith

Aston Villa FC

 1 appearance, 1 goal on debut

P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 3: A 0
100% successful
1895-1901

captain: none
minutes played: 90

Timeline
  Stephen Smith
Birth Wednesday, 14 January 1874 in Bagot Street, Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire
  registered in Uttoxeter January-March 1874
Baptism Tuesday, 20 January 1874 at St. Nicholas Church, Abbots Bromley
 

According to the 1881 census, Stephen is the fourth of six children to Stephen and Elizabeth (née Collier). His father is a general labourer and they live at 27 Crop Street in Rugeley.
 

According to the 1891 census, Stephen, a coalminer, is now the oldest of the three children remaining at home still living with their parents home, now at 25 Cross Street in Rugeley. His father is a platelayer.
Marriage to Susannah Blastock, on Monday, 3 June 1895 at St. Peter's Church, Hednesford, Staffordshire.
  registered in Cannock April-June 1895
"THE NUPTIALS OF A WELL-KNOWN FOOTBALL PLAYER.—The marriage of Mr. Stephen Smith and Miss Blastock, both natives of Hazel Slade, Hednesford, took place in St. Peter's Church of the latter named place on Whit Monday. The ceremony, which was performed by Rev. W. Collett, was witnessed by a number of residents who are naturally proud of the success of the bridegroom has achieved on the football field, and who only two seasons ago played with Hednesford Town's twam. Mr Smith (Steve Smith he is called by many of his admirers) is the well-known outside left of the Aston Villa Football Team, and during the past season won golden opinions in the International League." - The Litchfield Mercury, Friday, 7 June 1895
Children Steve & Susan Smith had three children together. Stephen Charles (b.27 March 1896), William (b.10 May 1900) and Irene Elizabeth (b.29 February 1908)
  According to the 1901 census, Smith, along with seven other footballers, is visiting Blackpool, for they are staying at the Station Hotel on Talbot Road.
Stephen is now married to Susan and they have two children, Stephen and William. They live at 3 Chapel Street in Hazel Slade area of Cannock.
 

(His father died 26 April 1908)
According to the 1911 census, Stephen, a fishmonger, is still married. They have a third child, Irene. They live at 141 Fawcett Road in Southsea.

(His mother died on 19 January 1920)
According to the 1921 census, Stephen, a fish merchant, still married and still living at 141 Fawcett Road, with two of is children, William and Irene. His oldest son, Stephen is now married to Nellie and they are visitors.

Death Sunday, 19 May 1935, at The Oxford County and City Mental Hospital, Sandford Road, Littlemore, living at Roke Stores, Benson, Oxfordshire.
aged 61 years 125 days registered in Ploughley April-June 1935
Reports suggest Smith died of a stroke at his home, yet his probate states he died in a Mental hospital! "Steve Smith, the former Aston Villa, Portsmouth and international outside-left, had a fatal stroke at his home near Oxford on Sunday." - The Birmingham Daily Telegraph, Tuesday, 21 May 1935

Obituary
"We regret to report the death of Mr. Stephen Smith, of Roke Stores, Benson, who passed away on May 19th, aged 61 years. The late Mr. Smith commenced his career as a footballer by playing for Hednesford, from whom he was transferred to Aston Villa. While playing for the Villa team which won the Cup and Championship in the same year. After some years of success with that club, he transferred to Gillingham—or New Brompton, as they where then called—where he finished his career as a football...."
Funeral

Friday, 24 May 1935
 in Benson Cemetery
"...The funeral took place at Benson Cemetery on Friday. The principal mourners were: Mrs. Susan Smith (widow), Messrs. Stephen and Willia Smith (sons), Mrs. Irene E. Anderson (daughter), Messrs, W. Smith and H. Smith (brothers), Mrs. N. Hamaman (sister), Mrs. N. Smith (daughter-in-law). Floral tributes were received. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. J. W. Mareham. of Wallingford." - The Berkshire & Oxfordshire Advertiser, Friday, 31 May 1935
Probate "SMITH Stephen of Roke Stores Benson Oxfordshire died 19 May 1935 at Littlemore Hospital Littlemore Oxfordshire Administration London 7 November to Susan Smith widow directors.
 Effects £592 8s." [2023 equivalent: £34,613]
  His wife, Susan Smith, as Blastock, died on 24 January 1973 in Wednesbury
Source

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

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Began his playing career with Cannock Town FC and also appeared with Rugeley Colliery FC, Ceal FC of Hednesford, the local coalminers football club, and then joined Hednesford Town FC for the 1892-93 season, joining Aston Villa FC on 6 July 1893. Transferred to Portsmouth FC on 9 May 1901, after initially denying the rumours of a transfer had taken place through a telegraph. Moved onto New Brompton FC in August 1906, stepping up to the player-manager position on 29 November 1906 until 1908.
League honours
 161 appearances 35 goals		 Aston Villa FC 1893-1901 161 appearances 35 goals
debut: 28 October 1893 Aston Villa FC 4 Burnley FC 0
last: 22 April 1901 Derby County FC 3 Aston Villa FC 0.
Club honours Football League Champions 1893-94 (15ᵃ 2ᵍ), 1895-96 (11ᵃ 2ᵍ), 1896-97 (15ᵃ 3ᵍ), 1898-99 (27ᵃ 2ᵍ), 1899-1900 (31ᵃ 7ᵍ), third place 1894-95 (26ᵃ 13ᵍ);
 FA Cup winners 1894-95 (5ᵃ 5ᵍ), 1896-97 (4ᵃ 1ᵍ), semi-finalists 1900-01 (6ᵃ 1);
Southern League winners 1901-02;
Individual honours Football League (two appearances)
Distinctions Brother of Bill (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1896-99, Portsmouth FC 1900-05)
Height/Weight 5' 4", 11st. 6lbs [1895], 5' 6", 11st. 6lbs [1895, Lichfield Mercury].

Source

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

Management Career
Club(s) The New Brompton FC directors appointed Smith as their player-manager on 29 November 1906 until some point in 1908.

England Career
Player number 227th player to appear for England.
Position(s) Outside-left
Only match No. 55, 6 April 1895, England 3 Scotland 0, a British Championship match at Goodison Park, Walton, Liverpool, aged 21 years 82 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1894-95;
Team honours British Championship 1894-95;
Individual honours The Professionals (one appearance 1ᵍ March 1895)
Distinctions The fortieth player to score on his England debut

Beyond England
A fishmonger in Portsmouth immediately after retirement. An Oxfordshire shopkeeper for his last three years of his life. "After his retirement from the game he was for a number of years a first merchant in Fawcett Road, but recently he had been residing in the neighbourhood of Oxford."
- An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.229./Portsmouth Evening News


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
2 1 1 90 1 90 min 1 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3 0 100 +1
his only match was in the British Championship competition and played at a home venue

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1894-95 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC All 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3.00 0.00 100.0 +1

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3.00 0.00 100.0 +1
1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3 0 100 +1

Match History

 Club: Aston Villa F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) 1ᵍ F.A. International Select Committee - one full appearance (90 min) 1ᵍx

Age 21 trial  
one appearance - The Professionalsvs. The Amateurs, 28 March 1895;

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

1 55 6 April 1895 - England 3 Scotland 0
Goodison Park, Liverpool		 BC HW 44 lofty shot ol
 

the 227th player to appear for England
the ninth player from Aston Villa FC to represent England
the fortieth player to score on his England debut - the 24th competitive

Age 27
72 18 March 1901 - England 6 Wales 0, St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne BC HW withdrew injured
 

     

 
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