G. O. Smith

Who was G. O. Smith?

Gilbert Oswald Smith, familiarly known as G. O. Smith or simply as G. O. or Jo, was a nineteenth-century amateur footballer often referred to as "the first great centre forward". In addition, Smith played first-class cricket for Oxford University and Surrey.

Smith was educated, from 1886 to 1892, at Charterhouse School, one of the principal nurseries of the Association Football game, and learned many of the skills that subsequently brought him fame while boarding at the school. He went on to study at Keble College, Oxford, and was by profession a school teacher. He was unmarried.