Len Smith (footballer, born 1912)

For other people named Leonard Smith, see Leonard Smith (disambiguation).

Len Smith
Personal information
Full name	Leonard Victor Smith
Date of birth	(1912-02-09)9 February 1912
Date of death
Original team(s)	Northcote (VFA)
Height/Weight	180 cm / 74.5 kg
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1934–1935 1937–1945 Total -	Melbourne Fitzroy	19 0(3) 76 (52) 95 (55)
Coaching career
Years	Club	Games (W–L–D)
1958–1962 1964–1965 Total -	Fitzroy Richmond	092 (50-40-2) 015 0(3-12-0) 107 (53-52-2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1945 season.
Career highlights
Victorian coach 1961

Leonard Victor "Len" Smith (9 February 1912 – 23 July 1967) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1934 to 1935 and then for the Fitzroy Football Club from 1937 to 1943. Due to service during World War II with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) he missed the 1944 season altogether but returned for a final year in 1945.

Like his younger brother, the legendary Norm Smith, it is as a coach that Len is best remembered. During his first stint as a coach, of the Fitzroy Under 19s (1948–1957), he guided the side to the 1955 Premiership. His first senior coaching role was with Fitzroy, taking them to the finals in 1958 and 1960. He then coached Coburg in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) for the 1963 season before heading to Richmond. He suffered a heart attack in 1964 and further health concerns saw him relinquish the coaching reins at the Tigers early in 1965. Smith died of a heart attack in 1967.

References

• Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old, Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996

External links

• Len Smith's playing record at AFL Tables
• Len Smith's coaching record at AFL Tables