HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES BOBBY SMITH AS 2007 VETERAN INDUCTEE

Bobby Smith
2007 Veteran Inductee

“Bobby Smith was a feared and respected defender during his career in the North American Soccer League,” said George Brown, President of the Hall of Fame. “At a time when foreign stars were getting all the headlines, Smith was the quiet American star who anchored his team’s defense. Werner Roth, Rick Davis and Bobby were the only Americans to win three NASL championships and he now joins Davis and Roth in the Hall of Fame. Bobby Smith was a credit to the game as a player and he will be a credit to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.”

In an historically tight election, Smith was named on 26 ballots, 50% of the 52 ballots cast by Hall of Famers, the only voters in the Veteran’s election. A player has to be named on at least 50% of the ballots in order to be elected.

The voting results of the top candidates were:

Complete voting results are available here>

“ The results of this election show the great work of the Veteran’s Screening Committee did in selecting the finalists,“ Hall of Fame Director of Museum and Archives Jack Huckel said. “ This is the tightest election in our history and we know the other eligible players who were not elected will continue to be strong candidates for election in the future.”

Smith’s career included 18 U.S. Men’s international games, 4 U.S. Men’s World Cup qualifiers, 167 NASL regular season games, and 10 NASL playoff games. Smith played 9 seasons in the NASL from 1973 through 1981. During his career he was NASL first team all-star in 1975 and was an NASL second team all-star in 1974 and in 1979. He continues his career by running the Bob Smith Soccer Academy in his hometown of Trenton, NJ. The academy invites children of all ages to come play indoor soccer and focuses on developing skills, knowledge, and love of the game.

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. A graduate of Rider University, Smith was one of the first Americans selected 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 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. In 1976 he moved to the New York Cosmos, alongside soccer legend Pele, playing through 1978. While playing for the Cosmos, Smith won two NASL Championships. He played for the San Diego Sockers in 1979, and finished his NASL career playing one year for the Philadelphia Fury in 1980 and one year for the Montreal Manic in 1981.
Smith will be inducted alongside previously announced Player Inductees Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy and Builder inductee Alan Rothenberg.