Rodney Smith was a young pupil taught by Ken Barlow at Bessie Street School. In April 1972, Rodney and his classmates played a football match against Regent's Road. Rodney played well on the field but was taken out of the match when he cut his leg. As the reserve Terry Bates had gone missing, a determined Rodney asked if he could go back on with three minutes to go, but his request was refused by headmaster Wilfred Perkins. The team was victorious in any case.