GoS: Player Details

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Greens on Screen started its life in 1999 before many of the football sites that we are familiar with today, including Plymouth Argyle's own official site. Greens on Screen is dedicated to the sights, sounds and history of Plymouth Argyle Football club. It is owned and run by the Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive, a charity dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and display of the heritage of our great football club.

The site owes its existence to Steve Dean. Without Steve's dedication and commitment for over 25 years, GoS would not exist and be the valued and loved resource for all football fans that it is today. The site is truly the envy of many clubs, and we owe a huge debt to Steve for his tireless work, and continued support behind the scenes.

Greens on Screen's first page was published in January 1999. Its early purpose was to bring Plymouth Argyle a little closer to those unable to see their team, and whilst it has changed a great deal over the years, its core themes - sights and sounds for Westcountry exiles - still stand. The site was very lucky to take on the content of Trevor Scallan's Semper Viridis in the summer of 2007, and in 2009 launched GoS-DB, a wealth of facts and figures from PAFC's history. A year later, we embarked on a complete history of Argyle, with much-valued contributions from chapter authors. Greens on Screen was taken over by its new custodians, The Argyle Archive, in 2024.

Greens on Screen is an amateur website and proud of it. It is run by a team of volunteers from the Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive (Argyle Archive). Without the hard work and much-valued contributions of these volunteers, running the site would not be possible. Greens on Screen is self-taught and as a result, a little bit quirky.

Greens on Screen remains advertisement free, which means we are grateful for the generous support of our donors and the work of our volunteers to help keep it free of promotions. If you would like to support the work of Greens on Screen, please consider donating to the Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive.

GoS's sole aim is to be a service to fellow supporters, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate Argyle's history for many years to come.

Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive.
April 2024

Can you help? This page is the result of the best endeavours of all concerned. If you spot a mistake or know of facts to add, or have a better photo, please get in touch using 'Contact Us' (top, right).

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JACKIE SMITH

Full Name: John Smith

Born: 17 September 1910

1. Came from: Barnsley Went to: Career interrupted by WW2

1. First game: 31 August 1935 Last game: 11 May 1940

2. Came from: Career interrupted by WW2 Went to: Retired

2. First game: 19 January 1946 Last game: 16 February 1946

Appearances: 113 (113/0) Goals: 22

The inside-right was born in the colliery village of Littletown, east of Durham.

He began his career in local non-league football in the north-east, first with County Durham side Sherburn Hill in 1930 and then West Stanley in 1931. Some records then suggest an association with Gateshead, who were a Third Division North club at the time, although no appearance data has been found. His performances had nevertheless brought him to the attention of Football League clubs, and he was signed by Barnsley in 1932. The step up proved seamless, and he went on to make 104 appearances, scoring 26 goals, during a two-year spell.

The diminutive forward was soon on Bob Jack's scouting list. Jack reportedly made two bids for Smith at half-time during a Barnsley versus Luton Town FA Cup third-round tie in 1933, having travelled to watch him in action.

He eventually got his man, although not that day. Smith moved to Home Park in 1935 and went on to make 113 appearances, scoring 22 goals. His time at the club straddled the Second World War. The conflict interrupted the 1939-40 Football League season and effectively brought his career to an end, although he played regularly in the 1939-40 South West Regional League. He was still at Home Park after the war and made a further two appearances in the Football League South season of 1945-46.

He played under three managers at Argyle: two spells under Jack Tresadern, either side of a period under Rollo Jack, Bob's son. Bob Jack had retired in 1938, bringing his remarkable 28-year second tenure at the club to an end.

Smith returned to the north and, into the late 1940s, was known to be scouting for Argyle in the north of England. Little is known about his later life.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION

If you can add to this profile, perhaps with special memories, a favourite story or the results of your original research, please contribute here.

APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]

The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.

We are very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree and the PAFC Media Team for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.

The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.

Greens on Screen is run as a service to fellow supporters, in all good faith, without commercial or private gain. We have no wish to abuse copyright regulations and apologise unreservedly if this occurs. If you own any of the material on this site, and object to its inclusion, please get in touch using the 'Contact Us' button at the top of the page.