Background
Smalley was born at Kinsley, West Yorkshire and after school he worked for the nearby South Kirby Colliery.
Smalley was born at Kinsley, West Yorkshire and after school he worked for the nearby South Kirby Colliery.
He also made one appearance for England in 1936. Whilst playing for the colliery team, he was spotted by a scout from who signed him in May 1931. Smalley had a "never-say-die" attitude which brought him to the attention of the England selectors who picked him to play at right-half for the Home Championship against Wales at Ninian Park, Cardiff on 17 October 1936.
England lost the match 2–1, with Wales going on to claim the championship.
Smalley was replaced in the next international, against Ireland, by Everton"s Cliff Britton and never played international football again. Smalley helped Wolves reach the runners-up position in the First Division in 1937-1938 before being sold to Norwich City for £4,500 in August 1938.
In his seven years at Wolves, Smalley made nearly 200 first-team appearances in all competitions. On joining Norwich, Smalley was appointed team captain and was ever-present during the 1938-1939 season.
Smalley"s experience, however, was not able to prevent Norwich finishing in the penultimate position in the table and they were relegated to the Third Division South.
Smalley played in the first three matches of the 1939-1940 season before the League was abandoned following the outbreak of the Second World War. He remained with "the Cobblers" until 1951 when, in his fortieth year, he dropped out of League football. He then had a spell as player-coach at Lower Gornal Athletic before retiring completely.