Ronald Smith (7 June 1936 – 17 August 2026) was an English footballer who played on the left wing. He scored 63 goals in 429 appearances during his career.
Failing to make the grade at Liverpool, he transferred to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in 1959. He spent two years with the club before moving to Crewe Alexandra in July 1961. He helped Crewe to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1962–63 before he was sold to Port Vale for a £6,500 fee in October 1963. In April 1965, he was allowed to join Southport, where he again won promotion out of the fourth tier in 1966–67. Following this, he joined Altrincham, where he lifted the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup in 1970. He later continued in non-League football with Netherfield, Formby and Fleetwood Hesketh.
Career Liverpool to Bournemouth Ronald Smith was born in Garston, Liverpool on 7 June 1936 and attended Gilmour Secondary Modern school. He worked as a railway fireman after leaving school. He had trials with Aberdeen and Stoke City, but after his discharge from the King's Regiment during National service, he was signed to Liverpool on amateur terms in 1955. He turned professional in December 1957. He followed manager Don Welsh to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in May 1959, having never turned out for the Liverpool first team. He made his debut for Bournemouth in the Third Division against Reading in October 1959. He scored three goals in ten games in 1959–60, two goals coming from penalty kicks. He scored four times in 30 games in 1960–61, before he was transferred to Fourth Division side Crewe Alexandra in July 1961.
Crewe Alexandra Establishing himself in the first team at Gresty Road in 1961–62 by missing just three league games, he helped the club to win promotion in third place in 1962–63, scoring five goals in 40 league games. He played nine games in 1963–64 before he was once again moved on.
Port Vale Smith was signed by Freddie Steele's Third Division Port Vale for £6,500 in October 1963. He was a regular from his inception in the side, and posted 39 appearances in 1963–64, scoring five goals. He helped the Valiants to beat Birmingham City 2–1 at St Andrew's in the third round of the FA Cup. He lost his first-team place on Boxing Day 1964 when he damaged an eye in a 3–0 defeat to Hull City. Upon his recovery he failed to regain his spot and was given a free transfer in April 1965, having scored twice in 28 appearances in 1964–65.
Southport Smith moved on to Fourth Division Southport, who were managed by his former Vale teammate Billy Bingham. He was an ever-present in the 54 league and cup games of 1965–66 season, scoring twice in the FA Cup second round against Stockport County and then a goal in the 2–0 win over Second Division club Cardiff City in the fourth round. He helped the "Sandgrounders" to win promotion as runners-up in 1966–67, though he was dropped in February as Bingham began operating with Stuart Shaw as the sole winger. One of his six goals that season, against Chester, came from near the corner flag.
Later career He was given a free transfer to Cheshire County League side Altrincham in 1967. After a second-place finish in 1967–68, the club became founder members of the Northern Premier League. He played 34 league games of the inaugural 1968–69 season before he won the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup with the club in 1970 after victory over Macclesfield Town. He left the club at the end of the 1969–70 campaign.
Upon leaving Moss Lane, he turned out for Netherfield, then moved to Formby. He left the club for Fleetwood Hesketh and became a dock worker. He stayed involved in Formby for many years, managing their reserves side, and later returned as first-team manager in the mid-1980s, steering them to their second Liverpool Senior Cup final in 1985. He began coaching in the United States from 1996.
Death Smith had dementia in later life and died on 17 August 2026, aged 90. He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Doreen, and left two sons, Paul and Colin.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLiverpool1957–58Second Division0000——001958–59Second Division0000——00Total0000000000Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic1959–60Third Division931000—1031960–61Third Division2732110—304Total366311000407Crewe Alexandra1961–62Fourth Division4163210—4581962–63Fourth Division4053000—4351963–64Third Division900000—90Total90116210009713Port Vale1963–64Third Division3455000—3951964–65Third Division2512110—282Total596711000677Southport1965–66Fourth Division4687310—54111966–67Fourth Division3361000—346Total79148310008817Altrincham1967–68Cheshire County League34810—1204781968–69Northern Premier League34220—1445061969–70Northern Premier League25410—141405Total9314400040513719Career total357512874040542963
Honours Crewe Alexandra Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1962–63
Southport Football League Fourth Division second-place promotion: 1966–67
Altrincham Northern Premier League Challenge Cup: 1970
References