Full name Keith Wilson Smith Name Keith Smith Playing position Role Footballer | ?–1959 West Bromwich Albion Position Forward Years Team | |
Date of birth (1940-09-15) 15 September 1940 (age 75) Place of birth Woodville, Derbyshire, England | ||
finishthisfight keith smith
Keith Smith (born 15 September 1940) is an English retired footballer, who played as a forward. He made 277 league appearances for West Bromwich Albion, Peterborough United, Crystal Palace, Darlington, Leyton Orient and Notts County (scoring 81 goals in total), before moving into non-league football with Kidderminster Harriers. Married to Judy Wildman, his daughter Deborah Wildman was born in 1963. Following his retirement he and Judy ran a chip shop in Chapman Street West Bromwich and went on to work for West Midlands Police at Wednesbury Police Station.
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Career
Born in Derbyshire, Smith played professionally for West Bromwich Albion and Peterborough United, before signing for his former West Bromwich Albion manager Dick Graham, now managing Crystal Palace. On 28 August 1965, Smith became the club's first ever substitute when he replaced Ian Lawson. He also scored Palace's fastest ever goal, a six-second strike against Derby County, away from home on 12 December 1964. From Peter Burridge's kick-off Cliff Holton passed to Brian Whitehouse, and Whitehouse launched a long ball for Smith to score one of the fastest goals in association football. Smith was transferred to Darlington in 1966 before seeing out his professional career with Leyton Orient and Notts County.