Athol William Smith (1913–1953) was an Australian

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

footballer who played in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. A

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

and Country New South Wales representative forward, he played club football in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

for Western Suburbs and Balmain (with whom he won the

1939 This year also marks the start of the Second World War, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 ** Third Reich *** Jews are forbidden to ...

and 1944 NSWRFL Premierships and also later coached)

Playing career

Smith played seven seasons for the Balmain club between 1939 and 1945. He was a dual premiership winner with the Tigers, winning both the

and the

1944 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 2 – WWII: ** Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is appointed to command French Army B, part of the Sixth United States Army Group in Nor ...

grand finals with them. He later coached the club between 1948-1950. In 1953, whilst playing for Toowoomba's Souths club, Smith was selected to play for

against the touring United States team.

Death

Smith died on 22 September, 1953, aged 40.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Athol 1913 births 1953 deaths Australian rugby league players Balmain Tigers coaches Balmain Tigers players Country New South Wales rugby league team players Queensland rugby league team players Rugby league second-rows Rugby league players from Lismore, New South Wales Western Suburbs Magpies players