Some Portsmouth fans are cherishing the memories left behind by the club’s former manager Jim Smith after his death yesterday.
Smith was in charge of the club in the 1990s and he was pronounced dead last night at the age of 79. Not just Portsmouth, but Smith was also in charge of the likes of Oxford United, Derby County and Queens Park Rangers too.
He had started his managerial career by first managing Boston United in 1969. His managerial career spanned 39 years and ended when he was last a caretaker boss at Oxford in 2008.
Was Jim Smith one of Portsmouth's greatest ever?
Yes
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Some Portsmouth fans are visibly emotional and nostalgic after the passing of one of the club’s greats.
Childhood memories built around Jim Smith and the players that played out of their skin for him and the fans. FA Cup run I’ll never forget. Thanks Jim!
— Tom Aitken (@TAitken25) December 10, 2019
RIP. Underrated imo. Left most clubs in a better shape than he found them and improved a lot of players. Decent of SaggyChops to have him as his number 2 as well.
— Rob Sutherland (@zeribbo) December 10, 2019
One of the greatest moments I’ve experienced following Pompey was that goal, Smithy will always be remembered
— Rob Vaughan (@RobVaughan18) December 10, 2019
Pre-season friendly in his honour?@Pompey @dcfcofficial
— Boro Ram (@TS7Ram) December 10, 2019
Sad to see Jim Smith has passed away,a good no nonsense football man #oldschool
— JOHN NESFIELD (@NesfieldJohn) December 10, 2019
A truly great man and great manager. A huge amount of fantastic memories over so many years. RIP Bald Eagle #ripjimsmith
— Mike Shipp (@mikeshipp1971) December 10, 2019
Jim Smith was in-charge of Portsmouth from 1991 to February of 1995, after which he left for Derby County in the 1995-1996 season and stayed there till the summer of 2001. Smith didn’t win a single trophy for Pompey, but he came back to the club as an assistant manager. He was there from 2002 to 2004.
He had started off as a player-coach and Boston, then moving over to Colchester United in the same capacity. His first full managerial stint was at Blackburn Rovers in 1975 and it ended in March 1978.
At Oxford United, Smith helped the club win the Football League Second and the Third Division title in 1985 and 1984 respectively. At Derby, he saw the side achieve promotion to the first division in 1996. He picked up one Premier League Manager of the Month award in November 1996 when he was in charge of the Rams.
What do we think?
Smith was a real servant of the game. He is proof of the fact that managers don’t need to be prominent players to become famous managers in the future. He spent a vast majority of his playing career at non-league clubs like Halifax Town, Boston, Colchester and Lincoln City.
He should be remembered fondly by not just Pompey fans, but also by fans of every club that he managed.