Before we get into the Smith v Hughes debate compare these statistics;
Tommy Smith: League appearances 467, League goals 36. Total appearances 633, Total goals 48.
Emlyn Hughes: League appearances 474, League goals 35. Total appearances 657, Total goals 48.
Uncannily similar aren't they? Yet why should Smith have such a hatred of Hughes when they were both such brilliant servants to our club? Why should Smith vilify Hughes when they played alongside each other virtually week in, week out for eleven years?
To give Emlyn's side of the story is to say that he has always maintained a dignified silence on the matter.
Tommy's side is that Emlyn was arrogant, had no real feeling for the club and was more interested in his England career.
My opinion, which I don't expect many people to agree with, is that Tommy's feelings towards Emlyn were born more of jealousy than anything else. Remember, Emlyn took the captaincy from Tommy as Tommy had from Rowdy. I didn't hear Rowdy bleating though. I also didn't hear anything from Emlyn when Thommo took his captaincy. Emlyn won 62 England caps, 59 of them whilst playing for us; Tommy won just one although there is no doubt he should have won many more. To say Emlyn had no real feeling for the club is ludicrous when you consider their almost identical Liverpool records (Emlyn in fact having played slightly more games). You only have to look at the sheer, unrestrained joy on Emlyn's face when he scored, especially the two goals against Everton in 1973, to realise his commitment to our club.
I did send a very similar letter to Tommy's letters page in the Echo a while ago but obviously it didn't get published. Even if it had have been I'm sure I would have got an Over The Top.
Anyway, I hope that's opened people's minds somewhat. Not everything's black and white. I just find it very sad that Tommy should feel so badly towards another great Red. Listen to Shanks talking about both Emlyn and Tommy and tell me that you don't feel the same way.
Peter Evo.