The Mikes mourn the passing of Ricky Smith
We sadly have to report the death of former Boldmere St. Michael's player and assistant Manager Ricky Smith, who passed away peacefully last week after suffering prostate cancer, aged just 53 years old.
Alan Parsons made Ricky his first signing in November 1988 when he joined from Redditch United. He was recommended to Boldmere by current Manager Rob Mallaband, who had joined Redditch around that time.
Ricky was an important member of the successful Mikes side that won consecutive Midland Combination titles and the Combination Challenge Cup, securing the double in 1989/90. Three years earlier, Ricky had been part of the Stratford Town squad that achieved the same feat.
Ricky originally hailed from the Bristol area where he played for Keynsham Town, before moving to South Birmingham to work for Kalamazoo, signing for nearby Northfield Town. He is best remembered at Northfield for an excellent hat trick registered early in his career, at the Tally Ho - home of their fierce local rivals West Midlands Police.
In his playing days in the Midlands he also saw service with Bromsgrove Rovers and Moor Green. He also represented Kalamazoo at athletics, running the 400 metres in a businesses event in Brussels.
In his early days at Church Road, he was nicknamed 'Sydney' after the film star Sydney Poitier. Latterly in his time at Boldmere he helped to manage the Reserve team, before becoming Parso's first team Assistant Manager in the mid-nineties. Ricky is pictured with Alan Parsons, before an away fixture at Stourport Swifts. On moving to Banbury he had a short spell on the football staff at Stratford Town.
Ricky leaves a widow Louise, young daughters India (4) and Jasmine (1) not forgetting his son Jordan from his first marriage. Our sincere condolences go out to all of his family.
Alan Parsons commented, 'I was fortunate to be able to visit Ricky on 9th March, but so sad at the same time; he was a true gentleman and will be sadly missed'.
Rob Mallaband added 'I first met Ricky in 1988 when I left Boldmere to play for Redditch United under Barry Lynch, Ricky had excellent people values and was highly respected by everyone who knew him'.
The Mikes will wear black arm bands in their forthcoming Polymac Services League Cup Final, where they face another of Ricky's most prominent former clubs, Stratford Town.
The funeral service will be at 12.45pm on Thursday 28th April at St Mary's Church, Church Street, Bloxham, Oxfordshire OX15 4PY.
If anybody with Boldmere connections wishes to attend, please contact Alan Parsons - EMAIL ALAN
