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Bobby Smith was signed
from Chelsea in 1955 and was the sensational old-style centre-forward
who was the top scorer for Spurs in the Double season with 28 goals in
the League. He made his mark for Spurs before this with a great
return of 36 goals from 38 League games in the season 1957-58 and in
Bill Nicholson's first game as manager on 11th October 1958, Bobby scored four
goals in the 10-4 home win over Everton and went on to score 32 in the
League that season. Smith led the forward
line well, leading by example, often having great battles with opposing
centre-halves, not to mention huge exchanges with opposing goalkeepers
who often found themselves being shoulder-charged into the net. He
struck fear into many foreign goalkeepers who lost their confidence
against his physical challenges. Bobby thrived on good crosses and
he got them delivered from Cliff Jones, Terry Dyson and Terry Medwin in
the 1960-61 wonderful double season when he was also England's
centre-forward. Amazingly during that season, he suffered a barren
patch and there was much debate as to whether he should lead the line
for England. Thankfully, he rediscovered his goal scoring touch
and finished the season well with one of the goals for Spurs in the FA
Cup Final win over Leicester. It was remarkable that he played in
that game as he hid a leg injury from Bill Nicholson and he sneaked out
of the team's hotel to have injections from his own doctor In Palmer's
Green. How many players could get away with that now ? He won
another FA Cup winners' medal in 1961-62 and he again scored in the
final win over Burnley and he led the line well in Spurs' European
campaigns of 1961-2 and 1962-63 when he won a European Cup Winners' Cup
winners' medal. Bobby suffered some bad
injuries, which was not surprising when we consider the huge physical
side to his game. He went into challenges with no holds barred and
played in many games with knocks. There was a true will to win
attitude and his enthusiasm helped him to play in games when he should
not have been playing. He was popular with his teammates and Jimmy
Greaves had three prolific seasons playing alongside Bobby. Bobby
himself was not as prolific after the double in terms of goal-scoring
and he only managed six goals from 28 League games in 1961-62 and 8 League
goals from 15 games the following season. His final season for
Spurs saw a good return of 13 League goals from 26 games and he was
later sold to Brighton. Bobby was a real battler who never gave up and he was hugely popular with his team mates and with the fans. Both powerful in the air and strong on the ground, Bobby would be invaluable today. His spirit, his will to win, his sheer strength were wonderful assets and he was a great target man. I can think of no striker today who had all his qualities and he is a true Spurs legend. RICHARD PORTER |
While
Spurs have been chasing strikers this summer, how we would love to sign
Bobby Smith now. Although he was a striker from another era, Bobby
had so many good qualities. He chased everything, he was a
powerful striker, good in the air and neat on the ground. As a
good team player, Smith never gave up and by taking his markers with
him, he brought others into play, for example, Les Allen and Jimmy
Greaves.