Career
Signed as an understudy to Jimmy Collins, Jim Barrett or Albert Cadwell, Smailes made his debut for West Ham on 9 February 1929, in a game that saw Vic Watson smash six goals past Leeds United. He played 10 league and cup games for the east London club Smailes played 11 Third Division South games for Coventry after leaving West Ham.
He joined Ashingdon in August 1931.