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Bobby
Smith is a pioneer in the development of American
Soccer. During his professional career from 1973
through 1981 he was the only American named NASL
first team all-star in 1975, NASL second team all-star
in 1974 and 1979, and is one of only three American
players who won three NASL Championships. Smith’s
career play, from 1973 and 1981, includes 18 full
U.S. Men’s international games, four U.S. Men’s
World Cup qualifiers, 167 NASL regular season games,
and 10 NASL playoff games.
Smith attended Rider College from 1969 through
1972. He was twice selected as the All-Middle
Atlantic Conference
West Division Most Valuable Player and was inducted
in February of 1997 to the Rider University Athletics
Hall of Fame. He still held the college records for
career goals (46) and goals in a season (18) at the
time of his induction.
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After college, Smith began his NASL nine season
career as one of the original players
for the Philadelphia Atoms, formed by Tom McCloskey
in 1973. McCloskey
appointed Hartwick College coach Al Miller (Hall
of Fame Class
of 1995) as the head coach and encouraged him to
draft Americans for the team. Smith was one of
the first
Americans selected as a second round pick in the
1973 College Draft. As a rookie defender Smith
helped the
team win the NASL Championship and was a key factor
in the team’s a record for fewest goals allowed
in a season (14). The Atoms were the first team
coached by an American to win an NASL championship.
Smith played for the Atoms until 1976. After leaving
the Atoms he played for the New York Cosmos, alongside
soccer legend Pelé, through 1978. While playing
for the Cosmos Smith won two NASL Championships.
He then
played for the San Diego Sockers in 1979. He finished
his NASL career playing one year for the Philadelphia
Fury in 1980 and one year for the Montreal Manic
in 1981.
Smith continues his involvement in the soccer by
running the Bob Smith Soccer Academy in his hometown
of Hamilton,
NJ. The academy invites children of all ages to
come play indoor soccer and focus on developing
skills,
knowledge, and love of the game.
BigAppleSoccer.com’s
Michael Lewis, who began his sports writing
career covering the NASL and still enjoys remembering
the thrills of that era, writes about the induction
of Bobby Smith, one of the NASL’s American
pioneers.
http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/article.php?article_id=9147 |
Hall
of Fame Announces Bobby Smith as 2007 Veteran
Inductee
ONEONTA,
NY (Tuesday, April 3, 2007) The
Hall of Fame announced today that Bobby Smith,
U.S. National Team defender, three-time NASL
all-star, and three-time NASL Champion has
been elected to the National Soccer Hall of
Fame as a Veteran Player.
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