Former Palace keeper John Smout passes away aged 77

Former Crystal Palace and Exeter City goalkeeper John Smout has recently passed away aged 77.

John joined Palace in 1965 aged 23 and was the side's third-choice goalkeeper, covering John Jackson and Tony Millington as he featured regularly in the reserve and London Challenge Cup teams.

His only first team opportunity came on 4th December 1965 when Palace faced Cardiff City in a Division Two fixture at Selhurst Park.

With both Millington and Jackson unable to play through injury or illness John was selected for the first XI. He suffered a knee in the ribs in the first half and following a diving save at the foot of a Cardiff player in the fifty-fourth minute had to be stretchered off the field.…