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The National Records of Scotland (NRS) holds the official records of vital events of our lives. Every January, the records of people who were born 100 years ago, married 75 years ago or died 50 years ago in Scotland are added to our website.

The entries of people who were born in Scotland in 1924 are now available to search and save on Scotland’s People. They are part of almost 250,000 images released in January 2025 which include death entries in 1974 and marriage entries in 1949.

In 1924, a total of 106,900 living children were registered in Scotland. Of this number 54,919 were male and 51,981 female. This was 5,002 fewer births than the preceding year; the only years which had seen fewer births since 1860 were 1917, 1918 and 1919 due to war conditions. The highest number of births registered before 1924 had been in 1920 with a total of 136,546 (Source: Registrar General’s Report of 1924 (pages xi-xii).

One of the babies born in 1924 was Gordon Smith (not related to the former Scottish Football Association executive and Manchester City player Gordon Smith, born 1954). Smith became one of the greatest wingers Scottish football ever produced, being the only player to have won a Scottish league championship with three clubs: Hibernian, Heart of Midlothian and Dundee Football Clubs.

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Gordon Smith (left) playing in a match against Partick Thistle at Easter Road.  Credit: private collection.
Gordon Smith (left) playing in a match against Partick Thistle at Easter Road. 
Credit: private collection. 

Smith was born on 26th May 1924 at 4 Springvalley Terrace, Edinburgh, to Robert Smith, a grocer’s assistant and Christina Sutherland. 

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Gordon Smith’s birth entry. Crown copyright, NRS, Statutory Register of Births, 1924, 685/7 211 page 71
Gordon Smith’s birth entry
Crown copyright, NRS, Statutory Register of Births, 1924, 685/7 211 page 71

Smith spent his childhood in Montrose. Whilst playing for Dundee North End Football Club, Smith was scouted by Willie McCartney, the Hibernian (popularly known as ‘Hibs’) manager and returned to Edinburgh at the age of 16. He played his first game for Hibs on 28th April 1941, scoring a hat-trick in a friendly game against Hearts in the Scottish Southern League at Tynecastle Park.

During his time at Hibs he became part of the ‘famous five’ forward line alongside Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormand. The five made their collective debut in a friendly game against Nithsdale Wanderers on 21st April 1949; Hibs won 8-1. On 15th October that year they played their first competitive game together when Hibernian beat Queen of the South 2-0. The famous five proved to be an important component to Hibs winning subsequent league championships. All five were induced into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.

During 18 seasons with the team Smith helped them to win the league in 1947-48, 1950-51 and 1951-52. Playing in over 700 games, he scored a total of 364 goals for the team (only 170 of the goals were deemed to be competitive: fixtures which were played between 1939-1945 are not included in Scottish statistical records [source]).

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A photograph of the Hibernian 1947-48 League Championship winners. Smith is second from the left in the front row. Credit: private collection.
A photograph of the Hibernian 1947-48 League Championship winners. Smith is second from the left in the front row.
Credit: private collection.

In the summer of 1958 Smith underwent surgery to his ankle and, for a short period, the future of his football career was uncertain. The following year he moved to play for Hibs rivals Heart of Midlothian Football Club at Tynecastle Park under a free transfer, being sought after by both Hearts and Dundee. In his first season for Hearts he helped the team win both the league in the 1959-60 season and the Scottish League Cup.

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The Hearts of Midlothian team 1959-60. League and League Cup winners. Smith is third from the left in the middle row.  Credit: private collection
The Hearts of Midlothian team 1959-60. League and League Cup winners. Smith is third from the left in the middle row. 
Credit: private collection

After two seasons at Hearts, Smith moved to Dundee on another free transfer. He played an important role in helping the club win the Scottish Championship for the first time as he collected his fifth League Championship medal in the 1961/62 title under manager Bob Shankly.

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Gordon Smith in his Dundee Football Club strip. Credit: courtesy of Dundee Football Club
Gordon Smith in his Dundee Football Club strip
Credit: courtesy of Dundee Football Club

In July 1964, Smith hung up his boots at the age of 40 after 23 years at the top of his game. He was never once sent off the pitch  during his career and became known as the ‘gentleman of the football field’. Smith won all of Scottish football’s top honours except a Cup Winner’s Medal. He scored almost 400 goals in an incredible 900 games of his professional career. [Source]

Internationally, Smith played for Scotland for the first time in 1946 in a game against Belgium which resulted in a score of 2-2. He was made captain in 1955 at the age of 31 when Scotland defeated Hungary 3-1. Despite his talents, Smith was only chosen to play for his country on 19 occasions. [Source]

In his personal life, Smith married Joan Anne Parry, a 30 year-old newsagent’s shop assistant, on 16th June 1960 at the Registrar’s Office in Morningside, Edinburgh. His occupation was given as ‘professional footballer.’ The couple had a son, born in 1963.

At the time of retirement, Smith was said to have been unsure of his future involvement with football, although was certain he would be an active spectator. He later opened a pub called the Right Wing (due to his preferred position on the pitch ), although he never drank alcohol.

He enjoyed his retirement in North Berwick, often playing golf.

Smith died on 7th August 2004 in North Berwick, aged 80.

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A photograph of Gordon Smith (1924-2004). Credit: private collection.
A photograph of Gordon Smith (1924-2004). 
Credit: private collection. 
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