James Smith

James Smith (summer 1844 – 20 September 1876) was a Scottish footballer who played for Scotland against England in the first official international match in 1872. He was a member of the Queen's Park and South Norwood clubs and was prominent in the early history of Queen's Park.

Early life

Smith was born in Aberdeen in the summer of 1844, the son of Robert Smith and Barbara Abercrombie. His father was the gardener to the Earl of Fife, who was then based at Mar Lodge on Royal Deeside. His father was later the head gardener on the Duke's estate at Innes House, near Elgin. James Smith then attended Fordyce Academy.

Football career

Smith was one of the founder members of the Queen's Park club, based in Glasgow.

In his "Scottish Football Reminiscences and Sketches" written in 1890, David Bone describes Smith thus:

The least known, perhaps, of the original international men, but one whose name will ever be honoured by many of the older school of players, and local Queen's Park members, is Mr. James Smith, who died some years ago in London. Mr. Smith was, in conjunction with his brother Robert, early associated with the game in Scotland, and was an original member of the Queen's Park. Mr. Archibald Rae, the first secretary of the Scottish Football Association, and at one time an active member of the Queen's Park (and a beautiful dribbler in his day), tells an amusing anecdote of Smith, while playing against the Hamilton Club, leaping on the top of a hedge to win a touch-down, which in those days counted a point in the game. This entirely coincided with poor Smith's play, as he was sometimes very impetuous.