Background
Smith, who was born in Fenwick, East Ayrshire, played in junior football before signing for Kilmarnock.
Smith, who was born in Fenwick, East Ayrshire, played in junior football before signing for Kilmarnock.
Smith played for Scotland in a tour of the United States and Canada in 1935, but none of the tour matches counted as full internationals. A good performance in a 1936 inter-league match for the Scottish Football League against The Football League attracted the interest of Preston North End, and Smith agreed to sign for the Lancashire club soon afterwards. Smith played more regularly during the following season, when Preston finished third in the First Division.
To cap a highly successful year, Smith made his second (and last) appearance for Scotland, a 1–0 victory against England in the 1938 British Home Championship.
Smith was one of five Preston players to play for Scotland in that match. The outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 effectively curtailed Smith"s playing career.
Smith continued to play for Preston during the War, and also played in one wartime international against England. He returned to Kilmarnock in 1945 to serve as their manager.