Newtown to Crystal Palace and back again - the story of John Smout

While the legends of the earliest Newtown sides which won the Welsh Cup and represented Wales in the 19th century, other players emerged from the town during the 20th century to play at the highest level.

John Smout was born on October 31,1941, the son of a baker and dressmaker, and raised near Dinam Terrace where he was known as a quiet and well-mannered youth and always well dressed.

He was also a talented goalkeeper and emerged through Newtown Football Club’s youth team in the 1950s before breaking into the first team in the 1960s where he soon won rave reviews.

Newtown's Welsh Youth Cup Final side in 1960. Clive Williams, David Owen, Melvyn Jones, John Smout, Howard Williams, Mike Rutter, Edward Logue, Alan Owen, Alan Sefton, Jacky Evans and Merrick Corfield 

Former Newtown player Peter Jones, by now an assistant coach at English League side Crystal Palace, invited the goalkeeper for a three day trial at Selhurst Park and impressed to earn himself a contract.

So John Smout departed for London in 1965, aged 23, to become the second Newtown-born player to join the Eagles after Billy Williams, Palace’s first ever international player at the turn of the 20th century.

The transfer was completed for £100.

Smout made his Palace debut against Cardiff City on December 4, 1965, sustaining a punctured lung in a particularly rough English League fixture and was stretchered off after 55 minutes.

John Smout with his Exeter teammates in the 1960's Pic: Grecian Archive/HLF/Exeter University.

The following year Smout joined Exeter City and served as first choice goalkeeper, making 75 appearances for the club over several seasons until the call of home saw him appointed player-coach of Newtown.

Smout also had a spell with Berriew in the Mid Wales League in 1972.

He passed away aged 77 on February 18, 2019.

With thanks to Newtown Local History Group.