Smith Nicol “Nick” Image 1 Rangers 1900

Description

Darvel, Ayrshire born full back Nicol “Nick” Smith played for local sides Vale of Irvine, Royal Albert and Darvel, earning junior international selection for Scotland, before joining Rangers in 1893. He made his Scottish League debut at Heart of Midlothian in March the same year but made only 2 League appearances in his first season at the club but by 1893-94, he had established himself in Rangers team, missing just one of Rangers’ 18 matches. Smith was part of Rangers’ first ever Scottish Cup win, playing in all 6 games, including the Final in a 3-1 win over Celtic in 1894.

Smith was first capped at international level when he played in a 2-1 victory over England at The Crystal Palace in April 1897, making 12 appearances for Scotland, two of which as captain over the next five years. He also represented The Scottish League nine times, making his first appearance in a 2-0 win over The Irish League in Belfast in January 1897, scoring twice in a 2-1 victory over The Irish League in February 1901, and winning his last League cap, again against The Irish in a 3-1 win at Love Street in February 1904.

He played his last game for Rangers in November 1904, having scored 5 goals in 205 appearances. In January 1905, aged 31, Smith died from enteric fever, an illness which also caused his wife’s simultaneous death.