He was born and educated in Ealing and was a junior with Petersham,[3] before joining Brentford as an amateur on 26 June 1934.
He also played 13 wartime internationals for England, 11 whilst a Brentford player and 2 once transferred to Aston Villa.
[7] In October 1945, Smith signed for Aston Villa for a fee of £7,500,[4] where he spent six seasons and became a crowd favourite.
Smith was the son of Francis Edmond and Ethel-May and he had one sister, Frances (m. Byrne).
Smith attended St Dunstan's College in Ealing, where he was a friend of his future Brentford manager Harry Curtis' son Gordon.