Player #420 for Aston Villa, Herbert Henry Smith known as Herbert Smith, played as a winger for the club in the outside right position between 1948-49 and 1953-54 making 54 appearances and scoring 9 goals.

Herbert was born in Small Heath, just 4 miles from Villa Park on 17 December 1922 and made his debut appearance for Villa on Saturday, 15 January 1949 at the age of 26.

Villa had signed Herbert from Moor Green in May 1947 and he was used sparingly by his new club until the 1950-51 season when he reached double figure league appearances for the first time in his career.

Standing just 5ft 6in tall and weight less than 10st, Herbert nevertheless proved himself as a valuable member of Villa’s reserve forward line, as his speedy and tricky talents as well as his ability to predict the journey and destination of the ball meant he was ever ready to cut in and have a shot.

Joining from famed local amateur side Moor Green in May 1947, Herbert would make his first team bow in the 1948-49 season before being used as a regular back up player over the following 6 campaigns.

Herbert proved a dreadful terror to his opponents and would score the goal that put Villa into the 4th Round of the FA Cup in 1948.

The smallest player on Villa’s books for a long time, Herbert was an opportunist of the higher calibre.

1951-52 saw Herbert score 4 goals in 24 appearances in what was to prove his most productive season for the club and he played his last game for Villa on Wednesday, 19 August 1953 aged 30, before moving to Southend United in June 1954.

Herbert made his final appearance for the club on Wednesday, 19 August 1953 at the age of 30 before moving on to Southend United in June 1954.

Herbert had played under managers Alex Massie, George Martin and Eric Houghton

Herbert passed away in Birmingham on 11 January 1996 aged 73.