Doug Smith (footballer, born 1937)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Douglas Baigrie Smith | ||
| Date of birth | 9 March 1937 | ||
| Place of birth | Aberdeen, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 5 December 2012 (aged 75) | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre half | ||
| Youth career | |||
| ?–1958 | Aberdeen Lads Club | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1958–76 | Dundee United | 456 | (17) |
| 1967 | → Dallas Tornado (loan) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Douglas Baigrie Smith (18 November 1937 – 5 December 2012)[1] was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre half. Smith spent his entire senior career with Dundee United, making over 600 appearances for the club between 1959 and 1976. He later joined the club's board of directors and was chairman from 2000 until 2002.
Early life
Doug Smith was born in Aberdeen, one of four brothers. Two of the others would also go on to play senior football: Dave, who played for Aberdeen, Rangers and Scotland, and Hugh, who played for Forfar Athletic and Greenock Morton.[2]
Playing career
Smith began his career with local
Yeats was transferred to
Smith made his final appearance for Dundee United in January 1976. In total, he appeared in 628 competitive matches for the club, never receiving a booking throughout his playing career.[2]
Administrative career
Smith returned to Dundee United in 1983, when he was invited to join the club's board of directors. In 1992, Smith was elected as vice-chairman, under chairman Jim McLean. Smith became chairman in October 2000 following McLean's resignation, although the latter retained his majority shareholding. In January 2002, a consortium involving McLean ousted the existing board at an extraordinary general meeting, leading to the end of Smith's 44-year association with the club.[3]
As well as his club commitments, Smith served on various Scottish Football Association (SFA) and Scottish Football League (SFL) committees and was appointed as president of the SFL for a term beginning in 1997.[2]
Outside football and legacy
After retiring as a player, Smith ran the Athletic Bar, a pub near Dundee United's Tannadice Park ground. He was one of the first inductees to the Dundee United Hall of Fame in 2008. He died in Dundee on 5 December 2012, aged 75. His wife May had died earlier; the couple had three children.[2]
Honours
Dundee United
- Scottish Cup:
- Runner-up: 1973–74
See also
References
- ^ "Doug Smith". Dundee United Hall of Fame. Dundee United F.C. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Hannan, Martin (11 December 2012). "Obituary: Doug Smith, footballer and club chairman who had a 44-year association with Dundee United". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ^ "Dundee United A – Z ( S )". Dundee United FC website. Archived from the original on 25 February 2007.