Tommy Smith

[scousemouse]

I will always remember me Dad introducing me to Tommmy Smith. He was telling me how great he was and how he did this and how he did that but I wasnt to impressed at all 'cause I had been watchin Robbie Fowler every week ( it was round the time when Fowler had blonde hair ) and hadnt even heard of Tommy Smith .

But when I met him I realised just how much Liverpool Football Club ment to him and what being a footballer playing for Liverpool back in the 60's and 70's must have felt like. My love for Liverpool , though very strong , became almost like a religion to me after my meeting with Tommy Smith.

Keep kickin Tommy .

Reds hero Smith has heart attack Smith was renowned for his hardman imageLiverpool legend Tommy Smith is in hospital after suffering a heart attack at his home on Tuesday.

The 62-year-old ex-defender collapsed at his Crosby home while mowing the lawn but crawled into the house before his wife, Sue, called an ambulance.

The former Reds skipper was taken to Fazackerley Hospital and is expected to be discharged at the weekend.

Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton said: "Everyone at Liverpool sends him their best wishes for a speedy recovery."

He added: "He is a legend of the club and remains a very popular figure in the press box on match days.

"We look forward to seeing him again fit and well next season."

Smith's former Anfield team-mate Ian Callaghan added: "I'm shocked to hear about this. But he is on the go all the time doing things.

"Only last week we were together for a lunch at the Crowne Plaza. Maybe this is just a little warning. I am sure will be up and about before long."

Smith was famed for his hardman reputation during his playing days and was a fierce tackler with a no-nonsense approach to the game.

Born just a mile from Anfield, he joined the club ground staff as a 15-year-old in 1960.

Smith went on to become the first Liverpool captain to lift a European trophy when Bill Shankly's side won the League and Uefa Cup double in 1973.

He headed the decisive second goal in the 1977 European Cup final against Borussia Monchengladbach on his 600th appearance.

He went on to make 637 appearances for the Reds and had complained recently of chest pains.

He has also been having treatment for painful rheumatoid arthritis.

[ThaiPauly]

I remember the late Peter Osgood when he did a footballers dinner talk recounting his first meeting with Tommy Smith,

It was gonna be Osgood's debut for Chelsea at Anfield and Ron Harris was showing Ozzie around Anfiled when they bumped into Tommy.

Smudger told Chopper that Ozzie should enjoy as much of the game as he could as he would be spending the next 6 weeks on he Phiso's bed.

As they walked off in different dirctions Chopper turned to Smudger and said that Ozzie could not possibly be afraid of someone whose face looked like a cheese and tomato pizza!!!!

Ozzie was intimidated but got through the game relatively unscathed

Get well soon Tommy.......one of the hardest men in football and considering how small he was..probably THE hardest

[kopite]

get well soon tommy lad