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RIP Robert Smith

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Handsome.B.Wonderful

Handsome.B.Wonderful

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Robert Smith passed away last night, he was 61 years old.

A great North Melbourne man who played 48 games between 1971 and 1976, Robbie then served on the board as a director and ran the North Melbourne Social Club in Arden St for about 20 years.

'Smithy' was one of the all time greats.
 
sad news, personally knew smithy from social club days, and echo the sentiments above, sympathy and best wishes to his family :thumbsu:
 
Rob gave great service as an administrator and player for our club.

His playing career was hampered by early injury, then the arrival of legends Doug Wade, Snake Baker and Arnold Briedis to a list which already had the emerging emerging Sam Kekovich. He arrived as a 19 year old in the bad times of the early 70's and showed promise returning 16 goals in his first 17 games in a side that was regularly thumped. He started out 1972 well and then smashed his ankle in round 4 against Footscray which resulted in him missing all bar round 22 of that season.

Wade arrived in 73, which along with Kekovich and Briedis resulted in Rob clocking up only 12 senior games in the years 1973 to 1975.

Roberts break came in 76 after Wade retired and Kekovich was injured when he picked up 21 goals in 12 appearances but again, injury and relegation to the seconds stalled his progress.

In a cruel twist of fate his one and only finals appearance came in the 1977 qualifying final when he was brought in to the side by Barassi as an act of punishment to Arnold Briedis. Rob had only played a handful of minutes in round 18 of 1977 v Geelong until being promoted for the finals match. Arnold sat on the bench as the 20th man for the entire first half of the qualifying final and Rob struggled as North were well beaten by Hawthorn to the tune of 38 points. Rob was dragged at half time and was replaced by Briedis who went on to play a legendary role for North in the rest of it's 1977 finals campaign.

Rob never pulled on a North jumper again.

Robert was the NM social club manager back in the 80's when it was the hottest spot in Melbourne. He was given the honor of patron for life by the club back in 2008.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl...ome/story-e6frf38u-1111117631745#.UaAoU7UweDk

Vale Rob Smith
 

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Sad news. Very sad. Had a lot to do with Robbie over the years around events. Great bloke. Great North man. One of the people who made sure we knew that the board was trying to move the club. Unsung hero in that whole process. RIP Robbie.
 
Sad news. I had a bit to do with Robert back in the late 70s/early 80s, used to organise my cricket club's annual dinner at North Melb Social Club for several years. Always struck me as a very genuine bloke.

Can I share 2 classic stories Robert told me, both relating to GF night in 1975? (Quoted as I recall the stories, decades later, so excuse any inaccuracies).

* "The place was jam-packed, we had a huge crowd there out on the oval, we were running BBQs, selling beer by the barrel. Everyone was happy and excited, couldn't wait to see the team and show their appreciation. At one stage, it started to rain, and people were trying to get under shelter, and a couple of fights broke out. So I went out the front of the Social Club with a megaphone and tried to calm things down. I said 'Listen up, I'll give you a choice. Either calm down and behave yourselves, or we won't be presenting the team to you tonight!'

"This little old lady approached me. She was on a walking stick, had to be in her 80s. She waved her walking stick under my nose and told me, 'Listen you ****ing prick, I've been waiting 70 years to see this football club win a premiership, so I'll give YOU a choice! Either you present the team to us tonight, or your balls are gonna be hanging off that flagpole!!"



* "Later in the night, things were getting out of control. I spotted this bloke reaching over the bar, and grabbing a bottle of Johnnie Walker to help himself. I snapped. I grabbed him in a headlock, ran him down the stairs and out the door, and into the door of a car that was parked there, which left a bit of a dent in the panel. When he picked himself up and pissed off, I realised it was MY bloody car!!!"
 
Very sad news. A true north man.
 
Terrific bloke, ahead of his time as a social club manager. North Melbourne Social Club was the envy of all the other football club social clubs thanks to Smithy. PSMs were fantastic,two floor shows , live band, good food, cheap grog,pubs were shut on Sunday , so the crowds used to be lined up outside the front door.
 
Thanks to those above, who have enlightened those of us who never had the pleasure of meeting the man.

RIP Robert
 
Have a few memories myself of Rob attending the NMFCSCGC at Royal Park back in the day.

I was a little fella back then with the Social Club Golf Club & Rob would plays his 9 holes on a Saturday morning and pay me 50c for every beer l got him because he was to tired to get out of the chair. Needless to say l made a killing back in the day.

Funny bloke & a good family friend.

RIP Rob
 
Rob organised my wedding at the Social Club (sad, I know) and many other functions. For those of you old enough to remember my father used to show the movies at the club on Monday nights. I got to know him very well. He always told the story how he was selected to be FF in the 75 granny. He says that when Wade found out he was to be dropped he rang Barassi crying and begged for his place. Barassi changed his mind and the rest, as they say, is history. Rob was a good, average footballer with the biggest arse I have seen on a player at that level.
His catering business he ran outside the social club was legendary. I must have used Rob more than 20 times over the years for event organisation - mainly dinners. he was a very good businessman. He then took over the lodge at Oaklands Hunt Club and ran that very successfully.
Great bloke. Very sadly missed. Very North Melbourne.
 

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Interesting side story is that Rob was married to Laurie Dwyers daughter.
 
Sad to hear about Rob, I used to run into him at the social club during the 90's and always willing to talk football and North to anybody as he served you nice icy cold beers.
 
Very sad to hear of Rob's passing. He was a good player, very much a mark and kick forward,once the ball hit the ground he was in a spot of bother as pace was not one of his major assets! Could use his large frame and strength to good use in contests and was a very successful seconds player. As has been mentioned by several posters his main contribution to the club was as the social club's "main man" and those who had the good fortune to go there in the 70's-80's can vouch for its success. For a few years there it was THE place to go ,not sure what that says about Melbourne at the time but I was pleased to see heaps of people spending up big there!
 
gokangas said:
Rob organised my wedding at the Social Club (sad, I know) and many other functions. For those of you old enough to remember my father used to show the movies at the club on Monday nights. I got to know him very well. He always told the story how he was selected to be FF in the 75 granny. He says that when Wade found out he was to be dropped he rang Barassi crying and begged for his place. Barassi changed his mind and the rest, as they say, is history. Rob was a good, average footballer with the biggest arse I have seen on a player at that level.
His catering business he ran outside the social club was legendary. I must have used Rob more than 20 times over the years for event organisation - mainly dinners. he was a very good businessman. He then took over the lodge at Oaklands Hunt Club and ran that very successfully.
Great bloke. Very sadly missed. Very North Melbourne.
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Nothing sad about. As mentioned, Rob ran a tight shop and did a great job, as did Eddie and Ian and the whole schblong. The best part about Robert was you could always count on him for a decent meal and a great time. He was also one of the best bouncers the NMFC Social club has ever had. He did a lot of the bouncing himself - not that you'd know it. Essendon were after him, and if you'd been in their social club at the time you'd know why, and it took a bit to keep him but he wouldn't leave. Another true North man. He had a heart of gold if you were fairdinkum about North, (and the social club)
 
Sad news. Last time I spoke to Rob was outside the footy having a quiet smoke with both of us lamenting that we should give up, especially as Rob had just come out of hospital. He was a great North person and a consummate hospitality person.twenty years ago I took my mum, sister and wife for a Mother's Day lunch at the social club. Our then 5 year old was with us and declared that as he was at the footy wanted pies! Rob quietly organised a plate of party pies and sauce for him. Years ago when we at lunch organising a catering function ken Montgomery was on an austerity drive. Needless to say some pretty good wine appeared at the table in the house wine carafe! I was trying to remember the name of Rob's offsider with whom he a love/hate relationship, they always bickered but were great mates. Eddie ? Sait? Maybe somebody remembers.
 

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linnaeus said:
Sad news. Last time I spoke to Rob was outside the footy having a quiet smoke with both of us lamenting that we should give up, especially as Rob had just come out of hospital. He was a great North person and a consummate hospitality person.twenty years ago I took my mum, sister and wife for a Mother's Day lunch at the social club. Our then 5 year old was with us and declared that as he was at the footy wanted pies! Rob quietly organised a plate of party pies and sauce for him. Years ago when we at lunch organising a catering function ken Montgomery was on an austerity drive. Needless to say some pretty good wine appeared at the table in the house wine carafe! I was trying to remember the name of Rob's offsider with whom he a love/hate relationship, they always bickered but were great mates. Eddie ? Sait? Maybe somebody remembers.
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Eddie Sait is still around running Rob's last venture, Sherwood Lodge. Eddie is a great bloke. I was over there a year or so ago and Ian Fitzpatrick was the semi retired head chef. A lot of history about those three stooges - Rob, Ian and Eddie. So many great memories. Great blokes.
 
Thanks Go Kangas. Nice to know that my advancing years still allows me to dredge up names from the past. Eddie was a great bloke and a terrific foil for Robert.
 
Sensational bloke and a North man through and through. The Social club was the place to be and it was all down to Rob and the boys. Some of my best moments there were at the Grand Final washups. Booze laid on, bands, comedians, they were the highlight of the year. One year, I think it was 1986, Carlton lost the grand final and most of their players turned up to the wash up. Their own turn was crap but they knew where where go, straight to North.
 
I have fond memories of Robert Smith too. He was one of my favourite players in the 70s along with Robbie Briedis and I wore their badges with pride. Both great blokes.
RIP Rob and condolences to his family
 
linnaeus said:
Sad news. Last time I spoke to Rob was outside the footy having a quiet smoke with both of us lamenting that we should give up, especially as Rob had just come out of hospital. He was a great North person and a consummate hospitality person.twenty years ago I took my mum, sister and wife for a Mother's Day lunch at the social club. Our then 5 year old was with us and declared that as he was at the footy wanted pies! Rob quietly organised a plate of party pies and sauce for him. Years ago when we at lunch organising a catering function ken Montgomery was on an austerity drive. Needless to say some pretty good wine appeared at the table in the house wine carafe! I was trying to remember the name of Rob's offsider with whom he a love/hate relationship, they always bickered but were great mates. Eddie ? Sait? Maybe somebody remembers.
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He was a hard taskmaster Robert, and Eddie usually wore the brunt of it. :) But he's a Carlton supporter so nobody really cared.
 

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