United Debut: v Falkirk (H) 0-3 LC 2/9/59.
Signed From: Aberdeen Lads Club.
Transferred to: Retired in 5/5/76.
Smith started of as deputy to Ron Yeats in the centre of United's defence, and eventually took over when Yeats left for Liverpool in 1961, and was rarely out of the No.5 jersey for the next 15 years, missing only 2 League matches between 1961 and 1971. A classy and reliable centre-half who was never booked in his 18 years as a professional footballer, Smith was a vital part in United's rise in the 60's, and played in United's first ever matches in European competition against Barcelona and Juventus, and was United's captain for their first ever Scottish Cup Final. After nearly two decades at United, Smith retired after the club's first season in the Premier Division in 1975/76, joined the board at Tannadice in 1983, then spent many years as Vice-Chairman before eventually becoming Chairman in 2000.
Inter Cities' Fairs Cup 1966
4 Appearances
Scottish Cup Final 1974
7 Appearances 2 Goals
| League | Scot Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | |
| 1958-59 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 |
| 1959-60 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 |
| 1960-61 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 0 |
| 1961-62 | 33 | - | 1 | - | 6 | - | - | - | 40 | 0 |
| 1962-63 | 34 | 1 | 8 | - | 6 | - | - | - | 48 | 1 |
| 1963-64 | 33 | - | 2 | - | 6 | - | - | - | 41 | 0 |
| 1964-65 | 33 | - | 2 | - | 7 | - | - | - | 42 | 0 |
| 1965-66 | 34 | - | 3 | - | 6 | - | - | - | 43 | 0 |
| 1966-67 | 34 | - | 4 | - | 6 | - | 4 | - | 48 | 0 |
| 1967-68 | 34 | - | 2 | - | 6 | 1 | - | - | 42 | 1 |
| 1968-69 | 34 | - | 3 | - | 5 | - | - | - | 42 | 0 |
| 1969-70 | 34 | 1 | 2 | - | 6 | - | 2 | - | 44 | 1 |
| 1970-71 | 34 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 6 | - | 4 | - | 48 | 6 |
| 1971-72 | 25 | 2 | 1 | - | 6 | - | - | - | 32 | 2 |
| 1972-73 | 31 | 5 | 1 | - | 8 | 3 | - | - | 40 | 8 |
| 1973-74 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 1 | - | - | 39 | 6 |
| 1974-75 | 22 | 1 | 2 | - | 6 | - | 4 | - | 34 | 1 |
| 1975-76 | 7 | - | - | - | 3 | - | 2 | - | 12 | 0 |
|
Total
|
456 | 18 | 42 | 3 | 90 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 604 | 26 |
