Tributes pour in for Hibs legend

Published on Monday 9 August 2004 15:36

TRIBUTES have poured in to "perfect role model" Gordon Smith following the death of the Hibs and Hearts legend.

As well as being one of the most outstanding players to play for the Capital’s teams, Smith, who died on Saturday at the age of 80 after a long illness, was described as handsome and always impeccably behaved and dressed.

"The Gay Gordon", as he was known, was a member of the revered Famous Five at Easter Road in the 1950s alongside Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormond. Still idolised by Hibs supporters, a stand at the stadium is named in their honour.

Supporters at Hibs’ home game with Kilmarnock on Saturday held a one-minute silence in his memory. Hibs chief executive Rod Petrie said the club would decide in the next few days how they best to pay tribute to the "Hibernian giant".

Smith went on to secure his place in the history of Hearts by playing in their league title-winning side in 1960.

Widely acclaimed as one of the greatest Scottish footballers of all time, he is regarded by many of the older generation of Hibs supporters as the best to have graced the green and white of Hibs.

Born in Edinburgh and brought up in Montrose, Smith was signed by Hibs manager Willie McCartney in 1941. He worked in the Leith shipyards during the war.

The striker instantly endeared himself to the Hibs faithful, scoring a hat-trick on his debut in a 5-3 win over Hearts. He went on to score 170 competitive goals for the Easter Road side, including 17 hat-tricks.

He is still the only player in the Scottish game to have won a League Championship badge with three different clubs outside the Old Firm. He won the league with both Hearts and Dundee after leaving Hibs, where he won league titles in 1948, 1951 and 1952.

Smith was appointed Hibs club captain in the early 1950s and was top scorer seven times in eight seasons.

He won 18 caps for his country plus one wartime international cap after representing his country at schoolboy level. He retired in 1964 after a 23-year career.

Lawrie Reilly, the centre-forward who benefited most from Smith’s immaculate service from the right wing, remained a close friend and today said he was deeply saddened by his death.

He said: "From the day Gordon came to Easter Road - he was 17, I was 13 - we struck up an enduring friendship.

"He was the most handsome looking guy. An athlete, a thoroughbred among Clydesdales. If he fell over the ball, he looked good doing it.

"He was shy, not a good mixer. I never heard him use bad language, even when some full-backs played him pretty rough. In short, he was the perfect example for youngsters to look up to. He was meticulous about dress, on and off the pitch.

And he added: "God knows what Gordon could have done with the ball now because he could make it speak then when it was just a heavy, leather pudding.

"Football won’t see his like again."

Reilly will be a pall-bearer at the winger’s funeral, which is expected to take place later this week in North Berwick, where he will be laid to rest alongside Joan, his "wife and best pal".

Eddie Turnbull said: "I knew Gordon a long, long time. He was a lovely guy.

"It was great to be a part of that team with him."

Taken from the Scotsman