Player-Manager Profile

After a short and unsuccessful spell at Port Vale, Bobby Smith was appointed Swindon manager in May 1978, with the Town having to pay a compensation fee of £10,000. Despite being a relatively young manager, he guided Swindon to a promotion challenge in his first season in charge - missing out by three points, after losing the last two games of the season.

Smith's major achievement at the club came the following year, when the Town beat Arsenal to reach the League Cup semi-final. They only narrowly missed out on Wembley, when Wolves scored the winner five minutes from the end of the second leg.

The cup run took it's toll on the players - before the semi, they were just five points from a promotion place, with four games in hand. The points were squandered - winning only five of their last eighteen games and losing nine away games on the trot, the Town finished in a disappointing tenth place.

By now, Smith had spent a huge amount of money by Swindon's standards - including £250,000 on two players, David Peach and Glenn Cockerill, both of whom never fitted in at the club. When the Town lost their first five matches of the 1980/1981 season, the board considered the money Smith had spent, and relieved him of his duties.

Managerial Record

Playing Record

Reserve and Youth Team Appearances

Note that appearance data for reserve and youth teams may not be complete. Expand for more information.

Career details

Club	Details
Manchester United Man Utd	April 1961 (signed professional contract); transferred out (March 1965)
Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe United	March 1965 (transferred in); transferred out (January 1967)
Grimsby Town Grimsby Town	January 1967 (transferred in , £8,000 )
Brighton and Hove Albion Brighton	June 1968
Chester Chester	June 1971
Hartlepool Hartlepool	October 1971
Bury Bury	August 1973 (player-coach) October 19th, 1973 (appointed manager); sacked (November 16th, 1977)
Port Vale Port Vale	November 17th, 1977 (appointed manager); resigned (May 17th, 1978)
Swindon Town Swindon	May 17th, 1978 (appointed manager, compensation); sacked (September 30th, 1980)
Blackpool Blackpool	1981 (appointed coach)
Newport County Newport County	July 1982 (appointed coach) June 1st, 1985 (appointed manager); sacked (March 1st, 1986)
Cardiff City Cardiff City	1989 (appointed coach)
Hereford United Hereford United	1990 (appointed assistant manager)
Swansea City Swansea City	March 1991 (appointed coach) 1992 (appointed assistant manager) October 2nd, 1995 (appointed manager); resigned (December 28th, 1995)
Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield Wednesday	1996 (appointed coach)