Jimmy Smith

James Terence Smith is a legendary goalscorer in Ayr United‘s history as he made the Guinness Book of Records for holding the British seasonal record of 72 goals, four in friendlies, two in the Scottish Cup and a phenomenal 66 in 38 matches as Ayr won the Scottish Second Division Championship in the 1927/28 season. Smith was introduced into the Liverpool side for the sixth first division fixture of the 1929/30 season. He scored twice on his debut against Manchester United and played in 38 consecutive League and cup games before the season ended, scoring 23 times. Smith grabbed another 14 League goals a year later but lost his place halfway through the season, usually being replaced by Dave Wright. Wright continued to be selected ahead of Smith when the 1931/32 season opened and Smith was restricted to just three more appearances for the club. His final game was in a defeat at Sheffield United on the last day of October 1931, the last of his 62 appearances for Liverpool, in which he had scored an impressive total of 38 goals.

Smith‘s career took a decidedly downward turn after Liverpool. He played one season as an amateur for Tunbridge Wells Rangers in the Eastern Section of the Southern League before joining third division south team Bristol Rovers where he struggled to hold a regular place. Smith scored ten goals in 26 League games for third division Newport County in the 1935/36 season. He just touched down at Notts County before returning to his homeland to Dumbarton in 1937. He had a much happier time once back in the Scottish Second Division and scored 36 goals in 49 league games. He took over as Dumbarton‘s manager in 1939. He was appointed as director in 1941 as the club could no longer afford a manager and stayed in that capacity until 1943.