Leicester City Football Club are extremley sad to announce the death of former player Bobby Smith. Bobby was diagnosed with terminal cancer just five months ago and chose not to have treatment on the illness.
Smith made exactly 200 appearances for the Foxes scoring 21 goals. The Scotsman was signed by Jock Wallace for £85,000 and made an instant impact, scoring on his debut against Oldham Athletic on New Years day 1979.
Smith was the second top scorer in 1980 when the club were promoted as Division Two champions and played an integral part as City were promoted again in 1983.
Saturday's game against Nottingham Forest, will now be marked with a minutes silence to show appreciation for everything Bobby did for the club.
Leicester City Football Club's thoughts are with Bobby's wife Dot and the rest of his family.
Tributes To Bobby
"Bobby Smith was a fine footballer, a true gentleman and was very proud to be a City man, always making sure he was on the front row of all the team pictures we took during his time with the club." - Neville Chadwick.
"I remember Bobby's debut very well. It was a freezing cold New Year's Day (1979).Oldham were the opponents. I was sitting huddled in the centre of the upper section of the Double Decker. Small crowd. Lots of empty seats around me.To keep warm, I had a whisky hip flask.
Jock Wallace's team were in the lower reaches of the 2nd Division.Bobby with his distinctive perm was one of three players making their debuts. The other two were 16 year old Dave Buchanan and a young Gary Lineker. Bobby and Dave did very well.
Bobby was all action and commitment, strengths he never lost whilst at Leicester, Bobby and Dave both scored. By contrast, Gary Lineker looked hopeless, and it was some weeks before he had another chance." John Hutchinson
"Of all the City players that have passed through over the years, Bobby became a close friend along with his lovely wife Dot and his family. When something needed doing he was always there to lend a hand.
It's a very sad day for Leicester City Football Club, a legend and hero is no longer with us. I speak for City fans of all generations, Bobby was a fantastic player and captain, and more importantly a fantastic man." Alan Birchenall
Leicester City Football Club welcome your tributes to the late, great Bobby Smith via fanzone@lcfc.co.uk - make sure you enter the subject line Bobby Smith
