Breaking News Dave Smith Southend United Manager RIP

[discord]

Apparently if Dave Smith had an backing, he would ended up taking Southend all the way into First Division for first time ever!!

What a team that was.
I recall he was sacked by the owners back then for being too ambitious, he then took Plymouth from Div 3 to 2 so yes I think we would have gone higher.

 

[The Big Dady]

Tribute to Dave Smith on the Newcastle United OS

Dave Smith 1933-2022

Former Newcastle United coach Dave Smith has died at the age of 88

www.nufc.co.uk

 

[LBBlue]

It when you look at the players signed, sold and released that you really appreciate what a clever manager Dave Smith was. He was also not afraid to give young players a chance. It seems he always had a plan to strengthen the team.

Personally I think that gaining promotion in 1977/78 as runners up to Watford was a greater achievement than winning Div 4 in 1980/81. The team that finished 1979/80 by getting unfortunately relegated - the pre season food poisoning really weakened a number of players stamina wise. It would have been fascinating to have been able to see how well the 80/81 team would have done if it had stayed in Div 3.


So back to his players

Alan Moody, Tony Hadley and Ron Pountney were there for all his 7 seasons.

Dave Smith arrived after relegation in 75/76.

He brought in players he had worked with before Neil Freeman, Dave Young and Micky Laverick as well as Frank Banks. Terry Nichol was soon on his way and after 26 games we had only lost 2. However I think that Dave didn't really like Stuart Parker so sold him to Chesterfield even though he'd scored 16 times in 25 league and cup starts. In came Colin Morris and 20 year old Derrick Parker both from Burnley. Young Paul Clark was given a good number of games and Steve Goodwin earned his place in the side. Goals were hard to come by and we slumped to 10th.

1977/78 He signed the Flying Pig -Alan Foggon from Newcastle - that didnt really work out - then sold Paul Clark to Brighton - and got Gerry Fell and Steve Yates. He need a left back after Andy Ford had left. In the new year Foggon went back up north and we signed a tall centre forward Peter Abbott - who didn't score a lot of goals. We got promoted on the back of a strong defence which only conceded 39 times. When Neil Freeman got injured we struggled a bit until the shrewd loan signing of Budgie Burridge - 6games 5 wins 1 draw.

1978/79 Freeman sold to Birmingham - in comes Mervyn Cawston and £50k paid for each of Micky Stead and Dave Cusack. Young Phil Dudley played all 46 games and Anton Otulakowski was signed towards the end of the season. Goals were still hard to come by _ only scored 51 , fell away with just 3 points from the last 9 games.


79/80 Tried another centre forward _ Micky Touhy - that didn't work and signed goal scoring winger Terry Gray . After a nice league cup run the dodgy coronation chicken took it out of them and we struggled. New year he got his decent centre forward swapping Colin Morris for Derek Spence ( £111,111) sold Derrick Parker to Barnsley and signed Keith Mercer. With just 14 goals away from home we didn't beat the drop and fell back to Div 4.

80/81 - The side he had put together without signing anyone else was far too good for Div 4 and we walked it even though Lincoln didn't give up easily.

81/82 Back in Div 3 - Glenn Pennyfather, Garry Nelson , Danny Greaves and John Keeley were all given their chance. We finished 7tth but a run of just 1 win in 14 mid season left too much to make up after he finally signed a goalscorer - Steve inchy Phillips.

82/83 Paul Clark came back - Spence and Gray had gone - 13 games to go Cusack and Otulakowski were given to Millwall for £60k and it was all downhill as the Rubins sold to Anton Johnson and Dave Smith was told he was no longer wanted. Just 2 wins in his last 15 games. He had been stitched up somewhat.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

However I think that Dave didn't really like Stuart Parker so sold him to Chesterfield even though he'd scored 16 times in 25 league and cup starts.

13 games to go Cusack and Otulakowski were given to Millwall for £60k and it was all downhill as the Rubins sold to Anton Johnson and Dave Smith was told he was no longer wanted. Just 2 wins in his last 15 games. He had been stitched up somewhat.

Would be interesting to hear Stuart Parker's side of that, as a few of us thought the same thing.
Shame the Rubin brother's didn't have their father's dedication for the club?.

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

Yep, Smithy was a bit brutal at times - Derek Spence will testify to that although he still respects him.

He did go that extra or two mile tho - he flew out to the States to bring Mervyn Cawston back to the club.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Good to have a minute’s silence for him and a home clean sheet to boot.

 

[Thundersley]

What would we give to be in the same position as when fans held banners "SOS SACK OLD SMITH" Compare that with the bloody awful position today in the National League? Unbelievable!!

 

[LCBB72]

Yep, Smithy was a bit brutal at times - Derek Spence will testify to that although he still respects him.

He did go that extra or two mile tho - he flew out to the States to bring Mervyn Cawston back to the club.

If I remember right Dave did not have a lot of time for Peter Silvester when he came back late from America to start the season for Southend .

 

[OldBlueLady]

Would be interesting to hear Stuart Parker's side of that, as a few of us thought the same thing.
Shame the Rubin brother's didn't have their father's dedication for the club?.

I have an idea that the feeling was mutual - think Stuart told me that on one of his visits back to us a few years back.