Rider University alumnus and former professional soccer player Bobby Smith has been inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, adding another honor to a career that took the Hamilton Township native from the soccer fields of Mercer County to some of the biggest stages in professional soccer.
The induction ceremony was held Thursday, Nov. 5, at Live! Casino in Philadelphia. Smith, a member of Rider’s Class of 1973, played on the university’s soccer team for four years before beginning a professional career that included three North American Soccer League championships and 18 appearances for the U.S. men’s national team.
Smith, who lives in Hamilton Township, was previously inducted into the Rider Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997 and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007. Rider retired his No. 10 jersey in 2007.
“It’s a great honor to be inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. I wouldn’t have gotten here without Rider giving me a scholarship,” said Smith, who graduated from Steinert High School in 1969.
“I played four years at Rider, and I had some success there. I was drafted by the Philadelphia Atoms from Rider, so I wouldn’t have made it to professional soccer if it wasn’t for Rider.”
At Rider, Smith scored 46 goals and recorded 112 career points. He scored 16 goals during the 1971 season, setting a program record for the most goals in a single season that stood until 1997.
He was twice named Most Valuable Player of the Middle Atlantic Conference West Division.
Smith was selected by the Philadelphia Atoms of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in the second round of the 1973 college draft. Playing as a defender, he earned second-team All-NASL honors as a rookie and helped the Atoms win the league championship in their inaugural season.
“So, in eight months I went from the Rider College team to being on the best professional team in the country. So, it was quite a step, and I wouldn’t have done that without Rider.”
Smith played for the Atoms from 1973 to 1975 and also played for an Irish team during the 1974-75 NASL offseason.
In 1975, he was the only American-born and trained player among the 33 players receiving first-team, second-team or honorable-mention All-NASL recognition.
The following year, Smith joined the New York Cosmos, becoming part of one of the most celebrated teams in American professional soccer history.
The Cosmos featured international stars Pelé, Giorgio Chinaglia and Franz Beckenbauer and regularly attracted crowds of 50,000 to 75,000 spectators to the Meadowlands. Celebrities, including Mick Jagger and Rod Stewart, were among the team’s fans.
Smith’s aggressive playing style helped him earn a starting position at fullback alongside some of the world’s best players. The Cosmos won NASL championships in 1977 and 1978, making Smith one of only three players to earn three NASL championship rings.
Smith also represented the United States internationally, making 18 appearances for the men’s national team between 1973 and 1980. He received his first call-up following the Atoms’ 1973 championship season.
He remained with the Cosmos through 1978 before playing for the San Diego Sockers and Philadelphia Fury and spending time on loan with the Philadelphia Fever. He finished his professional career with the Montreal Manic in 1981.
Despite playing alongside some of the biggest names in international soccer, Smith said in a 2014 interview with Hamilton Post sportswriter Rich Fisher that what mattered most to him was the experience of playing the game.
“I’d have to say that just caring about something enough to give everything in your life to it, is what I’m most proud of,” Smith said. “You gotta love what you do.”
Smith recalled the camaraderie he experienced with his teammates as one of the most rewarding parts of his career.
“I’ve played with Pele’, played with the National Team. Those things are way up there. Those are great accomplishments. But going out there with my guys, looking out at the other team and both of you are going to war – ‘C’mon, let’s go!’ – I really enjoyed that. That was awesome. To me, that was the best.”
After retiring from professional soccer, Smith initially had little interest in becoming a coach or remaining involved in the sport.
“After playing, I did not want to coach at all,” Smith told Fisher in 2014. “I didn’t want to do anything (in soccer) if I wasn’t playing.”
Instead, Smith purchased the former Greenwood Tavern in Hamilton and renamed it Smitty’s Kicks. The bar opened in 1983 and became a popular gathering place for soccer players and other area residents.
Smith recruited soccer friends Toby Hankins and Alan “Rock” DeAngelo to work as bartenders. The business gave him an opportunity to maintain the sense of teamwork he had enjoyed as a player.
“I couldn’t get on another team,” he said. “That became like my team.”
Smith operated Smitty’s Kicks until 1995, when the demands of running the business and raising a family prompted him to pursue other opportunities.
He and his wife, Claudia, whom he met in New York while playing for the Cosmos, raised four children — Dylan, Corey, Ryan and Gabby — all of whom played soccer at Steinert.
After closing the bar, Smith accepted an invitation from Rutgers women’s soccer coach Charlie Duccilli to become an assistant coach. The position marked his return to organized soccer and eventually led him into youth player development.
Smith began training local teams and working with young players throughout Central Jersey. In 2005, entrepreneur Chris Vernon built an indoor athletic complex in Robbinsville and invited Smith to become involved.
That opportunity led to the development of the Bob Smith Soccer Academy, which Smith operated with the assistance of longtime partner Joe Donigan.
The academy grew into a major soccer training program, offering instruction to hundreds of players and hosting leagues for youth and adult teams.
Smith told Fisher in 2014 that his approach to developing young players emphasized teaching the game properly rather than focusing solely on winning or making money.
“We’re developing kids, that part of it is very cool,” Smith said. “I’m not looking at the big overall numbers, how much we’re charging and how many kids we can get in to make a lot of money. I’m looking at the quality of what we’re doing first.”
His commitment to the local soccer community also earned him recognition from the Trenton Select Committee, which honored him at its 42nd annual dinner in 2014.
Rick Freeman, then president of the organization, grew up across from Smith in Hamilton Square and described him as both an exceptional athlete and someone who remained committed to his hometown.
“He’s been arguably the greatest soccer player ever to come out of this area, and he’s also a first-class person,” Freeman told Fisher.
Freeman said Smith’s decision to remain involved in the community after his professional career was an important part of his legacy.
“He hasn’t forgotten where he’s from. The fact guys like him have stuck around says a lot for our area.”
Smith expressed similar feelings about his hometown.
“The Trenton soccer community is so tight, and I have so many great relationships in this community, it’s just natural for me to come home here,” he said in the 2014 interview. “Training kids. Watching kids develop. I really enjoy that, especially in the soccer community in Trenton. It’s a small, tight group.”
Smith continues his involvement in soccer through the Bob Smith Soccer Academy, which previously operated in Robbinsville Township and is now based in Morganville.
