ARTICLE: Fred Smith passes away

[ClaretTony]

Sad news with the passing of former Claret Fred Smith today

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/fred-smith-passes-away

[The Enclosure]

Lovely lad was Fred and a great full back.He ran the papershop on Walter Street in Brierfield I think with his wife for a few years when he finished playing.

[ClaretTony]

He did - only mentioned in the Ginger Pele thread today when I posted that he wasn't very well. Wasn't expecting this news today though.

[evensteadiereddie]

Thanks for the report, CT.
Fred was quite a stylish full-back if I recall correctly. A lot more around at the time weren't !

[ClaretTony]

Thanks for the report, CT.
Fred was quite a stylish full-back if I recall correctly. A lot more around at the time weren't !

Good player but had years of being understudy to John Angus

[boatshed bill]

R.I.P. Fred,
We did have some fine players back then.

[Vino blanco]

Freddie was a cracking full back who used to get forward to help the attack very well. Another good Claret leaves us. RIP Fred.

[warksclaret]

Was he in the team at the same time as Les Latcham (left back)
If so you could not get two more attack minded fullbacks in the same team

[Silkyskills1]

Oh dear! I was only talking to CT about him a.couple of hours ago on the 'Ginger Pele' thread. Very sad and I'm now thinking not only about him but also his friends in the north east who told.me.so much about him on my visits up there. RIP Freddie Smith.

[summitclaret]

RIP Fred. Great servant to the Clarets. Used to see him at Crowood. Condolences to the family.

[Cirrus_Minor]

That is really sad. As mentioned in the article I will always remember Fred during that run of 8 winning games during the 68/69 season. Very decent full back.

RIP.

[Tricky Trevor]

RIP Fred. A loyal servant who could have got more game time elsewhere.
Condolences to family and friends.

[Ashingtonclaret46]

RIP Fred, one of Jack Hixon's captures way back in the depths of time.
Great bloke and would have played many more games if John Angus had not been so reliable.
Condolences to his family and friends.

[ecc]

Sad news as always when we lose part of our family.

RIP Fred

[durhamclaret]

God bless you Fred, thanks for the memories.

[ClaretTony]

Oh dear! I was only talking to CT about him a.couple of hours ago on the 'Ginger Pele' thread. Very sad and I'm now thinking not only about him but also his friends in the north east who told.me.so much about him on my visits up there. RIP Freddie Smith.

I knew he was very poorly but not such that this would happen on the same day as we mentioned him on the other thread.

[conyoviejo]

R.I.P. Freddie Smith,one of my fav players in the defence .. Great attacking full back and thanks for the memories,I can still see you overlapping down the wing and producing some fantastic crosses into the box..

[evensteadiereddie]

It was interesting that he was drafted in and the Clarets went on that very good run of eight wins with John Murray who sensationally bagged, I think, eight goals in that run. Great times.
I've still got my sticker book with Fred in there.

[kindonesque]

Great little player Fred. He was one of the fastest full-backs we ever had. Certainly over 10-15 yards. Brennan was probably faster over a greater distance. Rip Freddie

[Buxtonclaret]

R. I. P Fred.

[Funkydrummer]

Very cultured and very able understudy to Angus. Pretty quick too.

RIP Freddy, thanks for the memories.

[Sarum]

Fred Smith holds a special memory for me. As a boy in the south east my mum or dad would take me to see Burnley play in London from time to time. I had never been to Lancashire until 1969, when, during a family holiday in Derbyshire, I persuaded my dad to take me to Turf Moor. It was a home match against Manchester City (1-1 draw).

Having parked up we made our way to the ground. I was already pretty spellbound seeing those massive floodlight pylons and the crowds flocking to the ground. And then I remembered something important: sweets. Spotting the little sweet shop near the corner to the Bee Hole terrace I was about to pop in when out hurried a man very smartly dressed in a suit and tie. I had never been up close to a footballer before: it was Fred. Fred Smith! I said "hello Mr Smith" and he smiled and said "hello" back. WOW.

Thank you Fred, won't ever forget that day.

[conyoviejo]

It was interesting that he was drafted in and the Clarets went on that very good run of eight wins with John Murray who sensationally bagged, I think, eight goals in that run. Great times.
I've still got my sticker book with Fred in there.

His son lived in Winewall,

[yorkyclaret]

Shock to me, used to see him at the dementure clinic at the Turf, great to talk to, didn't seem to have much dementure (guess I am comparing him to my Dad), seemed really healthy for his age, showed me his pic of Best walking off the pitch with a shoe in his hand that Fred had kicked off him. Rest in Peace mate.

[Juan Tanamera]

I was only a 15 year fan at the time when so many of the youth cup winning team were drafted in by Harry Potts.
Freddie was the 'old head' that guided some very talented young lads during that special 8 game run.
A very exciting team they were too.
RIP Freddie, I remember you well.

[Suratclaret]

Sad news indeed...good full back who, but for a certain John Angus, would have probably played many more games for Burnley.
RIP.

[Claret Till I Die]

I last saw Freddie at a dementia clinic at the beginning of November. He was in fine form that day, keeping the table we were sat at occupied with his tales.

RIP Freddie

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Fred Smith was one of my favourite Burnley players in the Sixties and like many have said would have played far more games but for the outstanding John Angus.
RIP and my condolences to his family and friends

[stansoffstump]

Used to deliver to Fred's paper shop in the 80's. A lovely bloke who always had time for a natter, even at 6 in the morning. Had loads of tales of his time at the Turf, including the dreaded " Managers office after training Fred". Also of preseason training after his move to Portsmouth, meeting Peter Marinello who beggared of to the pub after the first session not to be seen again for the rest of the week.
The type of humble footballer all too rare these days.

[box_of_frogs]

RIP Fred, great knowing you over the years!

Condolences to Jean and the family.

You’ll always be a Claret!

[Quicknick]

I really rated Fred as an attacking fullback. Very talented, indeed.
On the subject of him replacing Jim Thomson after the latter's debut, I witnessed that. Poor Thomson was totally ripped apart by Liverpool's Peter Thompson in a 4-0 home defeat.

[RalphCoatesComb]

R.I.P. Fred

I believe he was full back the first time I saw the Clarets at t'Turf