Name Tom Smith Role Football player | Died June 21, 1998 | |
Thomas McCall "Tom" Smith (4 October 1909 – 21 June 1998) was a Scottish association football player and manager. Smith, who was born in Fenwick, East Ayrshire, played in junior football before signing for Kilmarnock. Smith was part of the Killie team that lost the Scottish Cup Final to Rangers in 1932, and he won international recognition two years later when he played in the 1934 British Home Championship against England. Smith played for Scotland in a tour of the United States and Canada in 1935, but none of the tour matches counted as full internationals.
A good performance in a 1936 inter-league match for the Scottish Football League against The Football League attracted the interest of Preston North End, and Smith agreed to sign for the Lancashire club soon afterwards. Smith, a centre half, initially had to compete for that position with Billy Tremelling, and he did not play in the 1937 FA Cup Final defeat by Sunderland. Smith played more regularly during the following season, when Preston finished third in the First Division. Preston also had a significant cup run, culminating in the 1938 FA Cup Final win against Huddersfield. To cap a highly successful year, Smith made his second (and last) appearance for Scotland, a 1–0 victory against England in the 1938 British Home Championship. Smith was one of five Preston players to play for Scotland in that match.
The outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 effectively curtailed Smith's playing career. Smith continued to play for Preston during the War, and also played in one wartime international against England. He returned to Kilmarnock in 1945 to serve as their manager.