In 1958 Rodney George Smithson was taken on as an apprentice by Arsenal, having already received schoolboy representative honours in his native Leicester and a call-up to the England Youth side (in which John Milkins also featured). He turned professional in 1962, and signed with Oxford United in the summer of 1964, after making only two appearances for the Gunners. He didn’t immediately gain a place in the side, however Smithson soon established a reputation as one of the best anchormen around, and by the time United reached Division Two in 1968 he was a regular in the side. Smithson was linked with a move to higher-placed clubs, but with his son Jeremy ill in hospital he opted to remain at the Manor. During the 1972–73 season, Smithson played only two games, one of which was in the Anglo-Italian Tournament in a 1-1 draw with Torino. The following season he again appeared just twice, and in his final season he played three games. This lack of first-team games meant that Smithson consolidated himself as captain of the reserves. He was granted a testimonial, against Swindon Town, in May 1975. After leaving Oxford, Smithson went on to be player-manager of Witney Town.