Thomas Smith (Australian footballer)


Thomas George Smith was an Australian football player. He was a foundation player of the Football Club in 1870 and was also an inaugural player in the club's first SAFA season. During the first three seasons of the SAFA, Thomas Smith won 's best and fairest award every year.

Early life

Thomas Smith was born in 1851 in Woolwich, England. His family brought him to Australia when he was three years old.

Football

Thomas Smith was arguably the first star player for the Port Adelaide Football Club. He won three consecutive best and fairest for Port Adelaide during the first three years of the South Australian Football Association from 1877 to 1879.

Later life

Outside of football Smith was a tailor who worked on Commercial Road Port Adelaide.

Personal life

Thomas Smith was a cousin to Australian artist Mortimer Menpes.