Stanley Smith (rugby league, born c. 1910)
English RL coach and former GB & England international rugby league footballer
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Stanley "Stan" Smith (22 February 1910 – 3 June 1978) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s, and coached in the 1940s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England, Rugby League XIII and Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity and Leeds as a wing,[1] and coached at club level for Featherstone Rovers.[1]
Godfrey Phillips cigarette card featuring Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Stanley Smith | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 22 February 1910 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 3 June 1978 (aged 68) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coaching information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Military career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Branch |  British Army | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service years | 1940-45 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit | REME | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conflicts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
Playing career
Club career
Smith started his career at Wakefield Trinity before he was transferred to Leeds during January 1930 for a record fee of £1,075,[4] (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £307,200 in 2014).[5] Smith played on the wing in Leeds' 2–8 defeat by Hunslet in the Championship Final during the 1937–38 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 30 April 1938.[6]
Smith retired from first class rugby in January 1940 having played for Leeds for 10 years.[7] He had a long-standing plan to retire from rugby so that he and his wife Hilda could focus on running their pub the Butchers Arms on Williams Street in Wakefield but the outbreak of WWII saw him joining the Army at the age of 30. Stan served in the REME seeing service throughout the North African and Italian campaigns and returning home in late 1945.
International honours
Stan Smith won caps for England while at Leeds in 1931 against Wales, in 1932 against Wales (2 matches), in 1934 against Australia, and France, in 1935 against France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Wakefield Trinity in 1929 against Australia, while at Leeds in 1930 against Australia (2 matches), in 1932 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (3 matches), and in 1933 against Australia (2 matches).
Stan Smith played twice for a Rugby League XIII against France. Playing at left-wing on both occasions, the first was at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on 17 March 1934 when the English team won 32–16, this game was also the first international match played by the France national rugby league team.[8] The second was at Headingley, Leeds just over a year later, on 6 May 1935 when the English side won 25–18.[9]
County honours
Stan Smith won cap(s) for Yorkshire while at Wakefield Trinity.
County Cup Final appearances
Stanley Smith played on the wing in Leeds' 14–8 victory over Huddersfield in the 1937–38 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1937–38 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 30 October 1937. The record for the most tries in a Yorkshire Cup Final is 4-tries, and is jointly held by; Stan Moorhouse, Alan Smith, and Stanley Smith.