Geoffrey Smith was born on the 24th of October 1953 in Liverpool and was brought up in the Deysbrook area of West Derby, going to Bankfield, and later West Derby Comprehensive School on Queens Drive. An Everton supporter, he enjoyed playing football, although not that well, and when he left school, he joined the Fire Service where, continuing to play football, he started running with a couple of work mates to keep fit. Then, when he was 21 years old, he heard about an international Fire Brigades cross-country meeting in Paris, with expenses paid and a week off on full pay. So training hard for five weeks, he won the trial race and finished third in Paris. That was the beginning of a sporting career which would see him competing all over the world, including appearances at two Olympic Games. In the mid-1970s he joined Southport Harriers with a mate and, showing considerable promise, he realised he needed to train and race with a stronger club and joined Liverpool Harriers. There he immediately impressed them with his ability and, more notably, his incredible ambition and confidence. He was soon under the wing of coach John Butler, who was to guide him through three successful years. In 1979, Geoff clocked the fastest 10,000 metres in the world of 28mins 03secs, but then he developed the dreaded 'shin splints', but it was Eddie Soens, the 'Bill Shankly' of the cycling world who began to get him back to full fitness. Geoff made his international debut in the semi final of the European Cup, and was chosen for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, in the 10,000 metres. However with his heat including Lasse Viren (who had won the gold in 1972 and 1976), Ireland's John Treacy, and eventual gold medal winner Miruts Yifter (known as "Yifter the Shifter"), he failed to make the final. After ten years as a fireman, he took up an offer of a Scholarship at Providence College, USA, aged 26, which changed his life as he finished with a degree in Business Studies and signed agreements with Nike and another sports equipment company, which helped him financially. By 1981, Geoff was demonstrating ability across a wide range of events. He topped Liverpool Harriers rankings at 1500 metres (3mins 42.6secs), one mile (3mins 55.8secs), 5,000 metres (13mins 26.33secs) and 10,000 metres (27mins 43.76secs). He had a particularly good run in the prestigious 'Emsley Carr Mile', where he was regarded as an outsider but led every step of the way for a famous victory. He finished second to Barry Smith in the 10,000 metres event at the 1981 AAA Championships and in 1982 ran a sub- four-minute mile in Wales in a time of 3.55 minutes. Also in 1982 he won the world class Bermuda 10K on a very hilly course in a record time of 28:14, although many world class runners have attempted this race over the years since, none have been any closer than 54 seconds behind this record. Having finished second behind Charlie Spedding at the AAA Championships, his thoughts were moving towards the marathon.
By 1983 the New York Marathon had become a major event on the world-wide calendar, and Geoff ran brilliantly in his first attempt at the distance but was caught within sight of the finish, by New Zealand's Rod Dixon losing by nine seconds. Having done four years of college at Providence and still needing to go back for a month, he decided that instead of going back to London for the Olympic trials, the Boston race was to be his Olympic trials. He won the 1984 Boston Marathon by over four minutes and was the last person to win it before the race organizers began giving out prize money to the winners. The West Derby lad was to become a legend in the 'Boston', winning the event again in 1985 and finishing third in 1987, and he eventually settled in the area. On the 18th of August 1985, he married his girlfriend, Linda, a tennis coach, and took out American citizenship in 1988, on the birth of their first child. This made him eligible for the USA Olympic team, but he missed the trials through illness. His last major victory was a marathon in China, before retiring in 1990. He still attends each Boston Marathon, but now as a celebrity, being interviewed and giving advice to competitors. Geoff earned his living firstly as a financial adviser, before going back to college and getting a teaching degree. For over a decade he has been teaching youngsters with learning and behaviour problems. The family is now two daughters and a son, who are all into football. Geoff's own sporting activities are limited since he had a hip replacement, but he recognises that his running was the key to what has been a different and very successful way of life.
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2026/10/merseyside-for-sport-steve-rule.html
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