"Liverpool Football Club owes this guy a debt of gratitude because it was his attitude in the mid-60s that set the ball rolling," says Phil Thompson
Saturday 13 April 2019 08:11, UK
Liverpool legend Tommy Smith has died aged 74 after a long battle with dementia.
Smith played for Liverpool for 18 years and was affectionately nicknamed the 'Anfield Iron' by supporters.
Born in Liverpool in 1945, he made 638 appearances for the club between 1960 and 1978, scoring 48 goals and winning nine major trophies, as well as captaining the Reds for three years.
Smith was a key part of the Liverpool team that won the FA Cup for the first time back in 1965, with Bill Shankly as manager.
In 1977, he scored in the club's maiden European Cup win against Borussia Monchengladbach in Rome.
In all, Smith lifted four league titles, a European Cup, two FA Cups and two UEFA Cups during his time with Liverpool.
Speaking to the club's website Tommy's daughter, Janette Simpson, said: "Dad died very peacefully in his sleep shortly after 4.30pm today at Green Heyes nursing home in Park Road, Waterloo, Crosby.
"I was on my way to see him when he passed a couple of minutes before I arrived.
"He had been growing increasingly frail and suffering from a variety of ailments over the last three months especially.
"We are obviously all devastated."
Former team-mate Phil Thompson said: "I loved him from the Kop because of his passion, his will, his commitment, never say die attitude, it was everything Bill Shankly wanted from a player.
"To go and play alongside him, rub shoulders with him, go through battles with him, football battles with him. He was just iconic.
"He was an incredible figure, he helped me out enormously. Just going from being a fan to playing with this guy, you're seeing him, he never gave up.
"Liverpool Football Club owes this guy a debt of gratitude because it was his attitude in the mid-60s that set the ball rolling. He was an incredible figure."
Tommy is survived by Janette, son Darren and four grandchildren, Matthew, William, Jessica and Imogen.
