Robert Smalley made his League Debut on 8 September 1888, playing as goalkeeper, at
Anfield, then home of Everton. The home team defeated the visitors,
Accrington 2–1. Robert Smalley appeared in 18 of the 22 League games played by Everton in season 1888–89. As a goalkeeper (18 appearances) he played in an Everton defence that kept two clean sheets and restricted the opposition to one–League–goal–in–a–match on five separate occasions. ==1889 onwards==