Born at Huddersfield on 28th April 1946, Stephen Smith’s football career was always intertwined with that of Huddersfield Town F.C.. The following is ‘lifted’ from Lee Morris’ excellent book, ‘Where Are They Now?’.
Left-Back, Midfielder, Chief Scout, Coach, Youth Coach, Caretaker Manager, Manager, Head of Academy Recruitment, Academy Scout.
Town Years: 1963-1977, 1979-1987 (non-contract player), 1979-1987 (chief scout, coach, youth coach), 1986-1987 (caretaker manager), 1987 (manager), 1978-1988 (youth coach), 2012-2013 (head of Academy recruitment)
Playing career: Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers (loan), Halifax Town (1961-1987)
Steve Smith is the only man to manage his home-town club but began his Town career in 1961 as an apprentice. Smith spent sixteen years at Leeds Road and was part of the 1969-70 promotion season and was in the side that was relegated in 1972, 1974 and 1975, thus becoming one of the select few players to play in all four divisions for the club. Tom Johnston allowed Smith to leave in 1977 to join Halifax Town but he returned two years later to become Mick Buxton’s chief scout. Smith was also a regular in the Reserves from 1979 onwards before he returned to the first team in 1981 to play in an FAC game [at Workington]. Smith later took the youth team before he was appointed caretaker manager after Mick Buxton was sacked, getting the job full time in January 1987. He lasted less than a year in the top job before resigning and reverting to his previous role of youth coach. Smith was sacked in 1988 for economy reasons and went on to work at Bradford City as Youth Development Officer. He later returned to Town in 2012 as Head of Academy Recruitment before stepping down just a year later.
Smith was always an invited guest to Town home games but in later years he suffered from dementia, a disease which finally claimed him on 13th March 2024 at a Bradford card home. A very sad end for such a stalwart Town figure.
The Huddersfield Town Collection 