Vale Aidan Smith

Aidan Smith unfortunately passed away on Tuesday 16 May 2017 in Blacktown Hospital after a series of illnesses.

After leaving school at Marcellin College and then South Sydney Tech, Aidan played his football in the South Sydney Junior League in the 1950s and 1960s with Maroubra, South Sydney Monarchs and finished his career as the Captain Coach of the winning Kensington A Grade side.

Aidan was a member of the winning 1964 South Sydney Presidents’ Cup side that toured Papua New Guinea – that side contained 3 Internationals, Eric Simms, George Piggins and Gary Stevens. In 1965, Aidan also had a year playing in the Corrimal first grade side playing in the Illawarra competition.

Apart from being well known in rugby league circles, Aidan had about 40 years as a popular publican (always with his magnificent wife Edie beside him) in hotels including The Intersection at Ramsgate, Raby Hotel, the Maroochydore Hotel in Queensland, the Winston Hills Hotel in North West Sydney and finally The Freeway Hotel at Artarmon Sydney.

Aidan was tough as teak and never played at much more than 70 kilograms. He had an extreme passion for South Sydney having grown up in Maroubra and was equally passionate about referees, particularly if he felt Souths had been wronged by them.

Aidan’s funeral service was held at Rouse Hill on Friday 19 May 2017. At that service, all seats were taken and there were over 100 attendees standing.

Aidan will be missed by all of his many friends and particularly those at Chelsea Old Mates and Men Of League Foundation functions at which he been a regular attendee in recent times.

By Brian Finegan.