Dave Smith – funeral details
Dave Smith (centre, with ball) in 1992 at Euro 92 Sweden
The funeral of Dave Smith, former Shoot editor who passed away recently, will be on October 4 in Peterborough.
Dave passed away at the age of 56 after a short illness. His son Joshua said:
"Dad's funeral will be held at Peterborough Crematorium, PE6 7JE at 1pm on Wednesday 4th October, with the wake at The Harrier, Gunthorpe Rd, Peterborough, PE4 7DS.
'Flowers may be sent to the chapel of rest, Co-operative Funeral Care, Fitzwilliam Street, Peterborough, PE1 2RX. Donations in lieu if desired may be made at the service for Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice.
"Please feel free to wear colours or football shirts! All welcome!"
Dave was a hugely popular character during his 30 years or so as a football writer, starting at the Spalding Guardian before going to Match magazine and then Shoot, where he became editor in its heyday of the early 1990s.
After leaving Shoot in 1997, he was as launch editor of Football 365, and then the Premier League's original website and latterly the PFA's website, as well as freelancing for the Sunday Mirror.
Dave had an amazing contacts book from his days as editor of the UK's leading football magazine, and he helped a number of players with their autobiographies.
He was also tremendous fun, as anyone who covered the 1990 and 1994 World Cups and 1992 European Championship can testify. Rob Shepherd said: “While he was a top guy, he was also a bloody good football journalist who had great contacts and knew the game.”
Dave had been on Derby County's books as a teenager and was regularly man of the match in England's media games, even when the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Trevor Brooking and Jean Tigana were playing. He once spent a week training at Fulham for a feature, and although the players treated him with derision on the first day, by the end of the week he had won them over and they were urging him to turn professional!
Adrian Curtis, who worked with him at both Match and Shoot, said: I only ever had good times with Dave and I cannot recall him ever losing his temper. Our friendship was a solid one and he would do anything for his mates.”
Lawrie Madden the former Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday defender who became a journalist and broadcaster, added: “I met Dave when he was at the PFA and he was always friendly and gave me a great deal of help and advice when I was starting in journalism.”
Dave is survived by his wife Carole and sons Josh and Ben, who have set up a Facebook page for friends and colleagues to post pictures and tributes here: http://bit.ly/2vXWDhQ
Funeral details to follow...
Twitter