Arthur Smith (footballer, born 1915) facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Arthur Hoyle Smith | ||
| Date of birth | 8 May 1915 | ||
| Place of birth | Walmersley, England | ||
| Date of death | 21 August 2021 (aged 106) | ||
| Place of death | Bolton, England | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1934 | Bury | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1934–1938 | Bury | 4 | (0) |
| 1938–1939 | Leicester City | 10 | (2) |
| Total | 14 | (2) | |
|
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Arthur Hoyle Smith BEM (born May 8, 1915 – died August 21, 2021) was an English professional football player. He lived to be 106 years old. When he passed away, he was the oldest living former professional player from the Football League.
Contents
Arthur Smith's Amazing Life
Arthur Smith had a long and interesting life. He was known for his football skills and his dedication to his church. He lived for over a century, seeing many changes in the world.
His Football Career
Arthur started his football journey with Bury. He joined them as an amateur player in November 1934. An amateur player plays for fun and doesn't get paid.
Early Days at Bury
Just one month later, Arthur played his first game for Bury. This was against Notts County. He played three more games during the 1934–35 season. In September 1935, Arthur became a professional player for Bury. This meant he was now paid to play football. However, he mostly played for the reserve team. The reserve team is a group of players who are not in the main team but are ready to step in. Because of this, he didn't play for the main team again. In 1938, he moved to Leicester City for free.
Playing for Leicester City
Arthur's time at Leicester City was short. This was because World War II began. In his first season with Leicester, he played eight games. In his second season, he played two more games. He even scored two goals in one match against Manchester City. During the 1940–41 Wartime League, he played five more games for Leicester. Even though he was still officially with the club until 1946, he never played another match for them. The war stopped many sports events.
Life Beyond the Pitch
Arthur Smith was also very dedicated to his community and church.
Dedication to Christ Church
From 1935 until 2015, Arthur was the organist and choirmaster at Christ Church in Walmersley. This was a very long time, 80 years! He only took a break for five years to serve in the British Army during the war.
A Special Award
Because of his many years of dedication to the church, Arthur received a special award. It was called the British Empire Medal. He received this honor in the 2013 New Year Honours. This award recognizes people who have done great community work. Arthur retired from his role as organist on his 100th birthday. He passed away in Bolton in August 2021, at the age of 106.
