George Smith (soccer)

George Smith was an Australian football player who represented and captained Australia.

George Smith
Personal information
Place of birth Coledale, NSW, Australia
Playing position(s) Centre Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1932 – ? Corrimal
? – 1937 St George
– Granville
1938 – ?[1] Metters
1940 – ? Leichhardt-Annandale
National team
1933–1936 Australia 6 (16)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Smith played for a number of clubs in the Sydney and Wollongong areas including Corrimal[2], St. George[3], Granville, Leichhardt-Annandale[4] and Metters.[5][6]

International career

Smith debuted for Australia on 5 June 1933 in the first of a three match test series against New Zealand in Brisbane. He also captained the team in this match. Smith scored his first two goals for his country in a 4–2 win.[7]

In the second fixture of the series on 17 June 1933 in Sydney, Smith became the first ever player to score a hatrick for the Australian national side in a 6–4 win over the New Zealanders.

A week later Smith scored another 2 goals to complete the three match series with 7 goals when Australia defeated New Zealand 4–2.

Australia weren't to play any international fixtures for another three years until they toured New Zealand for another three match test series in 1936. Smith again was in the squad however had handed over the captaincy to Alec Cameron. Smith however continued his outstanding scoring record when Australia won the first match 7–1 on 4 July 1936 at Logan Park, Dunedin. Smith created another national record by becoming the first player to score 4 goals in one game.

Then, just one week later on 11 July 1936, Smith created yet another record by scoring 5 goals in one match when Australia won the second test 10–0 at Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Australia won the third match a week later and for the first time in his national career, Smith failed to score. This was to be his last national appearance.

International statistics
Australia
YearAppsGoals
193337
193639
Total616
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References
  1. "CHANGES BY SOCCER SELECTORS". 17 March 1938. p. 17 – via Trove.
  2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/246336325?searchTerm=george%20smith%20soccer&searchLimits=
  3. "SOCCER". 2 September 1935. p. 3 – via Trove.
  4. "Soccer Season Opens". 23 March 1940. p. 10 – via Trove.
  5. "Australian Player Database – SI". www.ozfootball.net.
  6. "SOCCER FOOTBALL". 22 September 1933. p. 7 – via Trove.
  7. http://www.ozfootball.net/museum/socceroocaps.pdf
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