I'm afraid that the sad news just keeps on coming this month....
https://southportfc.net/former-players-ossie-smith-rest-in-peace/According to my own records, Ossie Smith made his debut in a competitive first team fixture for Alty in a Cheshire Senior Cup Second Round tie against Runcorn staged at Moss Lane on Wednesday, 13th February 1980, which the Robins duly won 2-1.
One potentially significant social aspect of his debut is that it's entirely possible (although, alas, this statistic still remains unconfirmed - I'm working on it!) that this constituted the historic first appearance of a black player in a competitive first team fixture for Altrincham FC.
A graduate of Aston University, Birmingham, who went on to develop a career as a quantity surveyor, Ossie Smith made his first ever appearance at Moss Lane as a player for the Universities Athletic Union XI in a representative fixture against an FA XI on Tuesday, 14th March 1978. A former England Schoolboy International and Manchester United Junior, he also represented Great Britain in the 1979 World Student Games in Mexico.
Before he could attain another first team outing for the Robins, Ossie joined Runcorn at the end of the 1979/80 season, shortly after John Williams had assumed the role of the Linnets' manager. During a successful spell comprising over 400 appearances as a classy midfielder for the Canal Street club, he captained the Cheshire team to the 1980/81 Northern Premier League title and then the Alliance Premier League title the following season, whilst also winning one England Non League International cap versus Wales in 1984.
He eventually returned to Moss Lane for the start of the 1987/88 GM Vauxhall Conference campaign, where he was reunited with his erstwhile Runcorn boss, John Williams. Over the next two seasons, he would record a total of 55 (+2 as substitute) additional appearances for the Robins, scoring eight goals in the process.
Condolences to his family and friends.
Ossie Smith (left), seen here in 2010 alongside the ex-Runcorn & Alty full-back Tim Rutter and the former Runcorn & Alty manager John Williams:
