MEN 1873-1895
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Peter Smith

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
31-07-1916
N/A
02-04-1938
St Helens Recs
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
02-04-1938 v Batley
Broughton Rangers
1939-
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1938-1939
19 (0)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
4
0
0
12

Biography of Peter Smith



HERITAGE NO : 478
Peter Smith by SHS

A doughty hooker, who could also operate anywhere in the forwards, Peter Smith joined Saints from a short sojourn at neighbours St. Helens Recs, where he played just one First Team game against Oldham. Perhaps the competition was too strong for him, with Bunny Lewington and Fred Howard in the picture at City Road, that helped to facilitate his move to Knowsley Road. His debut was at home against Batley, a game famous for the disintegration of a number of playing jerseys during the eighty minutes. The Reporter takes up the story 'The most memorable feature of the game was the loss of jerseys. St. Helens, with commendable economy played in old training jerseys and in the case of the game Smith had two torn, Dullard 2, Bradbury 1, Briscoe 1 and Thompson 1, with minor tears in other players jerseys. Torsos were the order of the day and young Thompson, changing a torn jersey in the middle of the field had the ball suddenly booted to him. He dropped his new clean jersey in the mud and ran to the ball, his torso blushing pink in the limelight and saved the danger and then modestly returned to put on his raiment.'

Our man Smith did come out of his debut with praise too and seemed quite lively in the loose. He went on to play for the Saints up to the outbreak of the second World War and during the War Emergency League itself. This included the first match of the New Zealand tour in 1939 at Knowsley Road, which ended after the next fixture at Dewsbury.

Peter was a good footballer, with excellent handling skills and in a stormy game against Leigh at Knowsley Road in April 1938, Peter scored a try himself early on and later made a try for the legendary Alf Ellaby. According to the St. Helens Reporter 'Powell took a pass for Butler and cut clean through down the middle, feeding P. Smith, who cut out Twist to feed Ellaby, the winger coming inside to streak to the posts for a try.' Indeed, in the rugby league gossip columns, Peter Smith was revealed as a well-known local swimmer and one of the stars of the Coronation Club.

Peter passed away at the age of 50 in September 1966 and was a popular coach proprietor in St. Helens. Many thanks to Mandy Smith, the granddaughter of Peter, for the lovely photo of Peter in his Coronation Club swimming costume.

PLAYER HONOURS

SEASON STATISTICS

Season (Official Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1937~38 2 0 0 4
1938~39 0 0 0 6
1939~40 2 0 0 9
TOTALS:4 0 0 19
Season (Other Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
TOTALS:

ALL MATCHES

DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
2nd Apr 1938 1
W
 10 Batley L H 15 9 VIEW
13th Apr 1938 2
L
 8 Barrow L A 13 29 VIEW
18th Apr 1938 3
W
 10 Leigh L H 15 3 1 VIEW
30th Apr 1938 4
W
 10 Rochdale Hornets L H 36 13 1 VIEW
27th Aug 1938 5
L
 12 Widnes L A 0 29 VIEW
3rd Sep 1938 6
L
 12 Widnes L H 6 11 VIEW
26th Dec 1938 7
L
 11 St. Helens Recs L H 4 5 VIEW
21st Jan 1939 8
L
 9 Salford L H 5 32 VIEW
25th Mar 1939 9
L
 9 Oldham L A 0 2 VIEW
7th Apr 1939 10
L
 10 Wigan L A 2 6 VIEW
26th Aug 1939 11
W
 9 Leigh L A 23 3 VIEW
29th Aug 1939 12
W
 9 Swinton L H 13 0 VIEW
2nd Sep 1939 13
L
 9 New Zealand Tour H 3 19 VIEW
29th Sep 1939 14
W
 9 Rochdale Hornets WEL H 28 9 2 VIEW
7th Oct 1939 15
W
 9 Liverpool Stanley WEL A 20 0 VIEW
14th Oct 1939 16
W
 9 Warrington WEL H 13 9 VIEW
21st Oct 1939 17
L
 9 Swinton WEL A 2 41 VIEW
28th Oct 1939 18
W
 9 Swinton WEL H 15 7 VIEW
4th Nov 1939 19
W
 9 Broughton Rangers WEL H 28 10 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 10 | LOSSES : 9 | DRAWS :




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