September 28, 1951
Stoke City are expected to complete negotiations today for the transfer of Sammy Smyth, Wolverhampton’s Irish international inside forward. Last night Stoke reached agreement with the Wolves on the transfer fee – which is in the region of £20,000 – a record sum for the Potteries club to pay.
Earlier in the day Stoke’s manager, Mr. Bob McGrory, had settled terms with Smyth. Manager McGrory is due at Wolverhampton at mid-day today to complete the transfer deal. If it goes through according to plan, Smyth will be at inside forward in the Stoke team at home to Burnley.
This is the third transfer buy by the injury-hit City club in four weeks. Willie McIntosh was secured from Blackpool for £9,000 and Alan Martin from Port Vale for £14,000 – a then club record fee – plus the player-exchange of Albert Mullard.
Smyth, aged 26, joined Wolves from Linfield, the Irish League club four seasons ago and was in Wolves’ FA Cup winning team.
(Birmingham Daily Gazette: September 28, 1951; via http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) © 2018 Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited)
Watched by Stoke City’s veteran manager, Mr. Bob McGrory, £20,000 Sammy Smyth signs for the Potteries club at Molineux yesterday.
(Birmingham Daily Gazette: September 29, 1951)
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