First Stop Tinto Park

John 'Eric' Smith made his way to Celtic Park earlier in the Fifties. He signed for Celtic in 1953 and played for the Parkhead club until 1960 when Don Revie tempted him south to join a struggling Leeds United side.

Born in 1934, when the Bens were at their peak, he was a highly rated junior with a will to win. His ability to get stuck into the fray made him a popular name on the teamsheet whether at Tinto, Parkhead or Elland Road. A player who relished the physical challenge, his career at Leeds was ended in 1962 when he suffered a double leg break in a home game to Chelsea. He moved on to Morton in 1964 spending a couple of seasons there, and later managed the Cappielow side and Hamilton Accies in the 1970s.

Eric also coached football abroad and died in Dubai in 1991.

Thanks to http://www.thecelticwiki.com/ for information and picture.