NO. XXVI. — G. O. SMITH
— "SOUTHERNER" | 25/03/1899 —

It is remarkable how few really great centre-forwards there have been in Association football of recent years. Never was there a time when this dearth was more apparent than the present. It is no exaggeration to say that G. O. Smith is the only player that can satisfactorily fill the position in an English international eleven. For every other place in the team a really good substitute could be selected to fill the shoes of the players who will oppose Scotland in a fortnight; but remarkable as it may seem, there is no worthy understudy to "G. O." Of course, there are many good players in this position, but the Corinthians stands out by himself as the best centre we have.

Centre-forwards seem, like poets, to be born, not made. During the past dozen years there have been, in my opinion, only four really great centre-forwards in England — namely, John Goodall (when he played with Preston North End), Jack Southworth (Blackburn Rovers), J. Campbell (Sunderland), and G. O. Smith (Old Carthusians). These men stand out as prominently conspicuous in the centre position in their respective days as did Nicholas John Ross in his prime at full back, or as Needham does at half-back to-day. The effectiveness of Preston North End's forwards in the old days undoubtedly came, in great part, from the skill and generalship of Goodall, who always kept the wings working well together, showed great resource in front of goal, and was one of the best shots, if not the very best in England. The subject of your sketch enjoys all these attributes, which go to make a successful centre-forward.

"G. O.," happily nicknamed "G. O. A. L. Smith," was born at Croydon, on November 25th, 1872, and at the outset of his football career spent three years at a preparatory school at Godalming. There he was initiated into the art of forward play at outside left. When he went to Charterhouse in 1886 he played outside right. At Charterhouse he was in the eleven for four years, and in the last three seasons was captain. On proceeding up to Oxford he was at once installed in the centre position, and gained his Blue in the first year for football. The last year he was there, he captained the team, and in 1893, against Ireland, he first played for England. In the following year he played against Wales and Scotland; in 1895 against Wales; and in 1896, 1897, and last year in all three internationals. Then, of course, Smith has frequently played for the Old Carthusians and regularly for the Corinthians.

The feature I most admire about the English centre-forward's play is his absolute unselfishness. He many a time passes to one of his inside wing men when any other forward would stick to the ball and try to net it himself. He has speed, resource, sound judgment, and power; and his presence makes any forward rank dangerous, if only on account of his deadly shooting. Smith is thoroughly well-liked wherever he goes, amateur and professional each having the greatest respect for him, both as a player and a man. There is no false pride or vain glory about him, such as one too often finds in successful amateur sportsmen.

It is interesting to reflect on Mr. Smith's conception of a centre-forward's duties: "The chief point of centre-forward play is to feed the wings a great deal. Naturally, short passing with the insides is invaluable, but you see an outside often has a chance of a clear opening, and for want of being fed he misses it. Another point is to go straight ahead when you get the ball, and not to turn and twist about."

Smith is also a fine cricketer, and played in the inter-Varsity matches of 1895 and 1896. He was the eleventh hour choice in the latter year, but practically secured victory for Oxford, who wanted 330 to win, and Smith got no fewer than 132 of them, besides compiling 37 in the first innings.