Gordon Melville Smith (3 July 1954 – 5 April 2014) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a full back.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gordon Melville Smith[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1954-07-03)3 July 1954 | ||
| Place of birth | Partick, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 5 April 2014(2014-04-05) (aged 59) | ||
| Place of death | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Position(s) | Full back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Rangers B.C. | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1972–1976 | St Johnstone | 112 | (8) |
| 1976–1979 | Aston Villa | 79 | (0) |
| 1979–1982 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | (1) |
| 1982–1984 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 38 | (3) |
| 1985 | Pittsburgh Spirit | 33 | (0) |
| 1985–1986 | Barnet | 22 | (0) |
| Total | 335 | (13) | |
| National team | |||
| 1975 | Scotland U23 | 4 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Born in Partick, he played for the amateur clubs Rangers B.C. and Glasgow United before turning professional with St Johnstone, at which time he was a forward before switching to a defensive role. He also played in England for Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and in the United States for Pittsburgh Spirit.[2] While at Aston Villa, Smith helped them win the 1976–77 Football League Cup, in the final of which he featured as a substitute in the second and decisive replay.[3]
While with St Johnstone he gained four Scottish under-23 caps.[4]
After his playing career, Smith ran a business which installed the special perimeter hoardings used in UEFA Champions League stadia.[1]
He died on 5 April 2014 from natural causes.[1] His grandfather Willie Salisbury was also a footballer, primarily for Partick Thistle.[1]