Lankford Smith
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Lankford Daniel Smith | ||
Date of birth | 21 December 1914 | ||
Place of birth | Ngaio, New Zealand | ||
Date of death | 28 November 1978 | (aged 63)||
Place of death | Dunedin, New Zealand | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
Dunedin High School Old Boys | |||
International career | |||
1948 | New Zealand | 2 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Lankford Daniel Smith (21 December 1914 – 28 November 1978) was a football (soccer) player who represented New Zealand at international level.[1] He was also an accomplished cricketer, playing first-class cricket for Otago from 1935 to 1957.[2]
Smith played two official A-international matches for the New Zealand national football team in 1948,[1] both against visiting trans-Tasman neighbours Australia, the first a 0-7 loss on 28 August, followed by a 0-4 loss on 4 September.[3]
A middle-order batsman and left-arm spinner, Smith captained Otago in 1945-46 and from 1947-48 to 1955-56, leading the province to victory in the Plunket Shield in 1947-48, 1950-51 and 1952-53. He scored 2281 runs at 24.52, and took 85 wickets at 38.23. He scored his only century in the victory over Central Districts in Dunedin that gave Otago the 1952-53 shield.[4] Dick Brittenden said that apart from his batting, bowling and "inspiring example in the field", "perhaps his greatest asset as a captain was his firm belief in the ability of his team. He was so deeply convinced it was the better side that it very often was."[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b "A-International Appearances - Overall". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ "Lankford Smith profile at Cricket Archive". Cricket Archive.
- ^ "A-International Lineups". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
- ^ Otago v Central Districts 1952-53
- ^ R.T. Brittenden, New Zealand Cricketers, A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wellington, 1961, p. 157.