Robert Nisbet Smith (21 December 1953 – 22 February 2010) was a Scottish footballer who played most prominently for Hibernian and Leicester City. Smith was primarily a midfielder, but could also play at full back.[4] Smith made 200 appearances in all competitions for both Hibs and Leicester.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Nisbet Smith[1][2] | ||
| Date of birth | (1953-12-21)21 December 1953[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Dalkeith,[2] Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 22 February 2010(2010-02-22) (aged 56)[2] | ||
| Place of death | Edinburgh,[2] Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Left back, Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Musselburgh Windsor | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1972–1978 | Hibernian | 152 | (19) |
| 1978–1986 | Leicester City | 181 | (21) |
| 1982 | → Peterborough United (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 1982 | → Hibernian (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 1986–1987 | Hibernian | 10 | (0) |
| 1987–1989 | Dunfermline Athletic | 66 | (1) |
| 1989–1990 | Partick Thistle | 30 | (1) |
| 1990–1991 | Berwick Rangers | 26 | (0) |
| Total | 475 | (42) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Smith started his professional career with Hibs, where he played a part in the successful teams of the early and mid-1970s.[1] Smith attracted the attention of Rangers manager Jock Wallace by scoring a spectacular goal for Hibs against Rangers in a 1976 match.[1] Wallace became Leicester City manager in 1978, and signed Smith for an £85,000 transfer fee later that year.[1] Smith helped Leicester win promotion to the top division twice during his spell with the club.[1] He regularly captained Leicester during his eight years there.[5]
He was loaned to Peterborough and Hibs during the 1982–83 season, and then returned to Hibs on a "permanent" basis in 1986.[1] After leaving Hibs for the final time in 1987, Smith played a prominent defensive role for a Dunfermline side that gained promotion to the Premier Division,[4] but was released at the end of that season.[6]
After ending his career with spells at Partick Thistle and Berwick Rangers, Smith became a taxi driver,[6] and later ran a pub in Dalkeith called Smith's Bar.[1] He died in February 2010 after suffering from cancer, less than a week after former teammate Alan Gordon died from the same illness.[1][7]