A former footballer, who lined up alongside the fabled Denis Law as a youngster has been remembered fondly for terrorising full backs by his ex-Don brother.
Hugh Smith, brother of former Aberdeen midfielder David and the late Dundee United defender Doug, died on September 2 at the age of 79 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Mr Smith, who was also a highly-respected accountant in the north-east, helped Greenock Morton win promotion to the old Scottish Division One, had two spells at Forfar Athletic and played for Forres Mechanics.
As a youngster, he was so highly rated that he was capped for Scotland at junior level, and won the Scottish Primary Schools Cup in 1951, alongside ex-Scotland and Manchester United star Law.
His football career may not quite have hit the illustrious heights of his brothers, but he was part of one of the successful families in the history of the Scottish game.
One of his siblings, Doug, captained Dundee United in the 1974 Scottish Cup final against Celtic in a one-club career spanning more than 620 games, while his other brother, Dave, won the Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup with Rangers and was capped by Scotland, while also making over 130 appearances for Aberdeen.
However, Dave, 73, is convinced that, if his elder brother had put football before his fledging accountancy career, he could have established himself as a top flight force to be reckoned with.
He said: “When he played, a lot of rival full backs would get booked or sent off. He liked a dribble.
“Whenever I used to watch him play, they would give him an awful time, kicking him. They didn’t know where the ball was, and neither did he half the time.
“He was tall, very fast and very strong.”
He added: “I never played against him. It was always me against Doug. I played with him when I was younger.
“He probably could have played in the first division and done well. But the job he had was more important to him.”
Alongside his playing career, Hugh built a big reputation in accountancy. He worked for several firms and amassed a formidab;e string of contacts during more than 40 years in the trade.
Hugh is survived by his wife Helen, his daughters Dawn, Annette and Arlene as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dave concluded: “We have a big family, so lots of people will miss him.
“He would want to be remembered just the way that he was – a very nice person who would help anybody out at any time.”
