GO Smith was an international footballer who represented England 20 times scoring 11 goals. His first cap was against Ireland on 25th February 1893 at 20 years old, and his last was vs Scotland on 30th March 1901 aged 28. Smith, born on 25th November 1872, in Croydon, Surrey, has a FA Legacy Number of 204 and played as a Inside Right and
Centre Forward for his country.
GO Smith - 20 caps (11 goals)
- Full Name: Gilbert Oswald Smith
- Born: 25th November 1872, Croydon, Surrey
- Died: 6th December 1943, Lymington, Hampshire aged 71
- England Career: 1893 - 1901
- Positions whilst with England: Inside Right and Centre Forward
- Clubs (and caps) whilst with England: Corinthians (20)
- FA Legacy Number: 204
- Like his contemporary CB Fry, known usually just by his initials GO or sometimes Joe - and like Fry considered a sporting polymath - others, however, go further, and consider him to be the world's best centre forward of the 19th Century. Studied at Charterhouse School before going down to Oxford University in 1892 where he captained the University Blues. After graduation turned out for the Old Carthusians and then the Corinthians for over ten years until 1903 - being joint secretary of the latter for four years too. Capped by England at 20 years of age, captain at 23 and with Steve Bloomer, another superstar of the late Victorian era - England had a forminable strike force. Slight of build, asthmatic, and a reluctance to head the ball, he made up for his deficiencies with positioning, footwork and a deadly accurate shot - scoring at almost a goal a game throughout his career. He was, probably, the greatest amateur player the world has ever seen. He also played first-class cricket for Surrey.
England Career Statistics
- Debut: v Ireland (HC) on 25th February 1893 aged 20 years, 3 months, 0 days
- Last Cap: v Scotland (HC) on 30th March 1901 aged 28 years, 4 months, 5 days
- First Goal: v Ireland (HC) on 25th February 1893 aged 20 years, 3 months, 0 days
- First Captaincy: v Wales (HC) on 16th March 1896 aged 23 years, 3 months, 21 day
- Career Length: 8 years, 32 days
- Starts: 20
- Substitute: 0
- Withdrawn: 0
- Full Games: 20
England Match Statistics
- Match Type
- Caps
- Goals
- Capt
- British Home ChampionshipHC
- 20
- 11
- 14
- 0
- 0
- Competitive
- 20
- 11
- 14
- 0
- 0
- Home, Away or Neutral
- Caps
- Goals
- Capt
- Home
- 9
- 6
- 7
- 0
- 0
- Away
- 11
- 5
- 7
- 0
- 0
- Match Result
- Caps
- Goals
- Capt
- Won
- 13
- 11
- 9
- 0
- 0
- Drawn
- 4
- 0
- 2
- 0
- 0
- Lost
- 3
- 0
- 3
- 0
- 0
- Playing Positions
- Caps
- Goals
- Capt
- Centre Forward
- 19
- 10
- 14
- 0
- 0
- Inside Right
- 1
- 1
- 0
- 0
- 0
- Total
- 20
- 11
- 14
- 0
- 0
England Managers
- Manager
- Caps
- Goals
- Capt
- England Committee
- 20
- 11
- 14
- 0
- 0
England Team Mates (Top 10)
- William Oakley
- 14 Matches
- Ernest Needham
- 12 Matches
- Charlie Athersmith
- 11 Matches
- Steve Bloomer
- 11 Matches
- Jack Robinson
- 10 Matches
- Jimmy Crabtree
- 9 Matches
- Frank Forman
- 6 Matches
- Billy Williams
- 6 Matches
- Tommy Crawshaw
- 6 Matches
- Rupert Sandilands
- 4 Matches
Sources
- An English Football Internationals' Who's Who by Douglas Lamming (Hutton Press 1990)
- England's Who's Who by Tony Matthews (Pitch Publishing 2013)
- ESPN cricinfo.com
- 30 sources from 20 matchesSelect from match list to see sources.
Match List
- SCO, 2 - 2, 30th Mar 1901 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 20.
Age: 28 years, 4 months, 5 days. - SCO, 1 - 4, 7th Apr 1900 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 19.
Age: 27 years, 4 months, 12 days. - WAL, 1 - 1, 26th Mar 1900 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 18.
Age: 27 years, 4 months, 1 day. - IRE, 2 - 0, 17th Mar 1900 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 17.
Age: 27 years, 3 months, 22 days. - SCO, 2 - 1, 8th Apr 1899 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 16.
Age: 26 years, 4 months, 13 days. - WAL, 4 - 0, 20th Mar 1899 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 15.
Age: 26 years, 3 months, 25 days. - IRE, 13 - 2, 18th Feb 1899 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 14.
Age: 26 years, 2 months, 23 days. - SCO, 3 - 1, 2nd Apr 1898 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 13.
Age: 25 years, 4 months, 7 days. - WAL, 3 - 0, 28th Mar 1898 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 12.
Age: 25 years, 4 months, 3 days. - IRE, 3 - 2, 5th Mar 1898 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 11.
Age: 25 years, 3 months, 10 days. - SCO, 1 - 2, 3rd Apr 1897 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 10.
Age: 24 years, 4 months, 8 days. - WAL, 4 - 0, 29th Mar 1897 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 9.
Age: 24 years, 4 months, 4 days. - IRE, 6 - 0, 20th Feb 1897 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 8.
Age: 24 years, 2 months, 25 days. - SCO, 1 - 2, 4th Apr 1896 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 7.
Age: 23 years, 4 months, 9 days. - WAL, 9 - 1, 16th Mar 1896 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 6.
Age: 23 years, 3 months, 21 day. - IRE, 2 - 0, 7th Mar 1896 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 5.
Age: 23 years, 3 months, 12 days. - WAL, 1 - 1, 18th Mar 1895 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 4.
Age: 22 years, 3 months, 23 days. - SCO, 2 - 2, 7th Apr 1894 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 3.
Age: 21 years, 4 months, 12 days. - WAL, 5 - 1, 12th Mar 1894 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 2.
Age: 21 years, 3 months, 17 days. - IRE, 6 - 1, 25th Feb 1893 (HC) Corinthians, Cap: 1.
Age: 20 years, 3 months, 0 days. - * Match was concluded via extra time, penalties or both.