Although signed by the soon-to-depart Jock Wallace, the talented striker would come to be a valuable figure for Gordon Milne's Foxes as he linked up with the likes of Steve Lynex, Alan Young and Gary Lineker to help the Club become renowned for its attacking exploits.
While onlookers usually hailed Lineker first, it wasn't long before Smith earned plaudits in his own right, netting 13 goals in his first season at Filbert Street as Leicester were promoted back to the First Division in Milne's maiden season in charge.
As team-mates departed in the mid 1980s, Smith quickly become City's primary goal threat, eventually ending his association with Leicester with 84 goals in all competitions. His commitment to the Club, meanwhile, would be proved further by the circumstances of his move away.
Despite agreeing terms with Arsenal on an £800,000 switch to Highbury, the future England international immediately returned to Filbert Street on loan to aid their ultimately futile battle against relegation in 1986/87. On the anniversary of his Leicester transfer, we revisit an interview with Alan himself...
Starting out in the game
“I remember playing for the reserves against Northampton in a pre-season game at Belvoir Drive. The first team were playing Northampton’s first team and Gordon called me over for the second half. I replaced Alan Young, and got a hat-trick. This resulted in me starting the first game of the season which was at home against Charlton Athletic. Jock [Wallace] had said I would have to wait a couple of years to learn my trade but now that Gordon had put me straight into the team for my debut I had to learn as I went along. I was lucky. I formed a good relationship with Gary Lineker. Our styles suited each other and it went well. We had a very good team. We had some experienced old heads which was a great help to me. Stevie Lynex was great for me as a winger. He put in some great crosses and between us me Gary and Stevie scored a few goals!”
Hitting the heights
“My first year in professional football was incredible really, going from non-league football to the old First Division. I was training full time. My fitness improved. It was hard at the start, but the standard of football was much higher and I learnt a great deal. We did not have the best of starts in the top division, losing our first six games. Personally you wonder whether you are good enough at that level, but we gradually found our feet. You win a game or two and then think, ‘we can do this’ and you play with more confidence.”
Stepping into Lineker's shoes & leaving the Foxes
“It was difficult when Gary left. We were all wondering how we would manage without his goals. The onus was on me to produce a few goals and I managed to do that. We tried different partnerships with players like Mark Bright and Stevie Moran. (When he played against Arsenal, despite being on loan at Leicester from the Gunners), it was really odd! I remember telling Gordon that I didn’t really want to play in that game as it put me in an awkward situation, but Gordon said the reason I had been loaned back to Leicester was to help the fight against relegation. I remember going into the away dressing room and seeing some of the Arsenal lads passing the door and saying hello. It was a surreal experience. Both sets of fans were singing my name so I was waving to both ends. Gary McAllister gave me a right ear-full, telling me to keep my mind on the game! We got walloped 4-1. It was very weird!”
Impressing in north London
“I joined Arsenal at the right time. There was a core of good players coming through the youth team like Tony Adams and David Rocastle. George Graham was building a new side and releasing older players like Charlie Nicholas, Graham Rix and Tony Woodcock. He wanted a young and hungry team. The history of Arsenal hit me when I went to the ground. The chief scout showed me around. We went on to the pitch and he told me that a lot of centre-forwards had come to Arsenal and not done themselves justice. That put the fear of God into you! You could just feel the history and the expectation.”
Reflecting on five years as a Fox
“When I think back to my Leicester days I always get a warm feeling. They were a great first club to have and I made good friends there. I never actually lived in Leicester but a group of us, Stevie Lynex, Bob Hazell, Mark Hutchinson and Peter Eastoe, used to share lifts and meet at Corley Service Station. We would cram into the car and have a right laugh!”