DR. JOHN SMITH
— "Bauldie" | 04/07/1902 —

As I am very desirous of keeping on the kingly tack, I have chosen this noble specimen of our manhood and once famous player for to-day's article. In addition to these qualities. I have selected Dr Smith because of the wide area he embraces in his unique personality. Thus born and bred in Mauchline, and there learning in goodly company the rudiments of the game, he perfected his education in Scotia's capital, and it was there in the first Inter Varsity contest between St. Mungo's and Auld Reekie's "Ro Togato" that yours truly met the worthy doctor on the field of battle. Whilst we must all admit the superiority of Edinburgh as a medical school, and in Rugby football facile princeps, still in the early eighties the Association game was not in too great favour in the East, nor were its devotees too distinguished. Hence one of the reasons why Dr Smith transferred his services to Queen's Park and joined the "black and white brigade" at the most brilliant period of its existence, having with him as "attendants" in the field such household names as A. Watson, A. Rowan, C. Campbell, Eadie Fraser, and John Leck Kay.

It was in the ranks of the Queen's that Dr Smith's powers of physique and play were fully developed. Standing some 6 feet 2 inches, and built in proportion, John Smith was the finest forward in appearance who has ever stood on Scottish or English soil. His prototype in England you will find in G. H. Cotterill, of the Corinthians, captain of the English eleven at Richmond in 1893, when he and Captain James Kelly, of Scotland, were introduced to the then Princess May, now H.R.H. the Princess of Wales. Dr Smith's commanding height and presence in the field enabled him to have the advantage of those of lesser height and lither figure. This was specially seen in the throw-in — then straight and with one hand. A Saul amongst his colleagues, the Doctor would catch the ball on the throw-in on the crux of his vertebrae, and then, letting it gently roll down his spinal cord to his feet, set off with it instanter at a 100-yards breakneck speed. This was a marked feature of his play, and I think for height, weight, and speed combined he has had no equal in Scotland since his great day. Well do I remember seeing him on old Kinning Park in the final tie v. Dumbarton in season 1881 steal away clear and through all opposition, and bear down on the standards of the Sons of the Rook like a stalwart cavalier at the charge. The Doctor, however, great though he was in the open field, was not so near goal. His height and reach in close quarters placed him at a disadvantage, and hence he was not such a scorer of goals as William M'Kinnon or of George Ker, the latter being the inventor of the famous "daisy-cutter" shot. I consider it speaks volumes for the ability possessed by John Smith as a player that he is one of the three Ayrshire men fast capped by the Scottish Association v. England. The names of this trio are Wilhom Wightman Beveridge, of Ayr; Wm. M'Guire, of Beith; and John Smith, of Mauchline. 

It is singular that M'Guire and he should figure in the same international team, that being the famous one of 1881 which contained four centre forwards, and was, too, the creation of another Ayrshire man to wit, the late Don Hamilton, the then president of the S.F.A., who owned auld Ayr as his birthplace. When studying for the noble profession in Edinburgh (of which now in Kirkcaldy he is an ornament), John Smith was capped twice v. England — viz., 1880 and 1884. He enjoys the distinction, along with Dr John M'Donald, of being only two Association players who have graduated from that august seat of learning, and been selected to play for their country v. England. Whilst in Queen's Park, John Smith was also capped twice — 1883 and 1884 — and I think I cannot do better than give you his international result record: —


1877: London — Scotland, 3; England, 1.
1879: London — England, 5; England, 4.
1880: Glasgow — Scotland, 6; England, 4.
1881: London — Scotland, 6; England, 1.
1883: Sheffield — Scotland, 3; England, 2.
1884: Glasgow — Scotland, 1; England, 0.


These figures show that during our stalwart's presence v. the Saxons, Scotland only lost one match, and that our countrymen scored 22 goals to the hated Sassenaches' 13. Concerning the defeat I have this to say, that the match took place on the 'Varsity Boat Race day, and that, naturally, the Spots, and particularly the representative of Edinburgh "'Varsity," peculiarly affected by the all-exciting scene on the Thames. He is associated with one of the record scores made by our teams v. England — that 6-1 in 1881, being a grand and a historic achievement. His last match v. England is also a unique one, because it was, first of all, played on Cathkin Park, being the only English 'National played there; second, because W. Gunn, the great Notts cricketer, played in the match; third, it was the match in which Walter Arnott and John Ferbes made their debuts; and, fourth, it is the only match since 1872 that either country has won by 1-0, the scorer of the solitary goal being none other than the subject of this sketch. Dr Smith had four caps v. Wales, but none v. Ireland, and, looking to his physique, I fancy the "Bhoys" are not sorry they did not meet him. For all his three clubs, as for his country, Dr Smith rendered invaluable service — thus, for Mauchline, he played in The Ayrshire Final when his dear home club won the county cup for the first year of its institution, that being in 1878, when, on the Holm Quarry, Kilmarnock, Mauchline beat the Portland by 4 goals to 3. As it may awaken other memories in the Land o' Burns, I give the teams:-

Mauchline: Davidson; Dr Smith, H. Wilson; Train, Mair, W. Wilson; Howie, W. M'Ilvene, A. M'Ilvene, and M Minn.

Portland: Kerr; Vallance, M'Whirter; E. Campbell, Rome, Harrison; Good, Goldie, Campbell, Sinclair, and Mair.

I just wish to notice two of these players. These are H. Wilson, afterwards the famous Dumbarton back, capped v. Wales in 1885; and R. Harrison, afterwards elevated to the presidency of the S.F.A., and also of Ayrshire F.A.

In the Scottish Finel Cup ties of 1880, 1881, and 1882, Dr Smith was a conspicuous figure, and a winner in all three — thus:—


1880: Queen's Park, 3; Thornliebank, 0.
1881: Queen's Park, 3; Dumbarton, 1.
1882: Queen's Park, 4; Dumbarton, 1.


As I consider this 1882 team the grandest that ever wore the black-and-white stripes from 1867 to date, I do not hesitate to give it:—

Goal: Archibald Rowan.
Backs: Andrew Watson and Andrew Holm.
Half-backs: Charles Campbell and D. Davidson.
Forwards: Eadie Fraser, William Anderson, John Smith, George Ker, James Richmond, and John Leck Kay.

I ask past and present members of the premier club to beat this grand Combine if they can. I have said enough, I think, to warrant Dr John Smith's inclusion in this gathering of mine, and I will now rest content by paying tribute to his personal charm of character. Although a stalwart in the field, he did not use his strength tyrannically — a fact of which your humble servant had proof in our Inter-Varsity meetings. Reserved and cultured, he was yet genial, and had much of that douce "bonhommie" which one sees in Scotia's best-bred provincial sons. In other athletic arts distinct from football he shone, few beating him over 100 yards, or in throwing the hammer. Now located in Kirkcaldy, where he follows the noblest of all noble professions, think you will all join with me in wishing Dr John Smith the utmost success and happiness in the calmer sphere of activity in which now be ministers ably to those less gifted than he by nature, for, taking him all in all, he is a man — a marvellous proper man.