Gary Smith (footballer, born 1984)
![]() Smith in 2011 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Gary Stephen Smith[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 30 January 1984||
Place of birth | Middlesbrough, England | ||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1999–2003 | Middlesbrough | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2003–2004 | Middlesbrough | 0 | (0) |
2004 | → Wimbledon (loan) | 11 | (3) |
2004–2007 | Milton Keynes Dons | 71 | (5) |
2007–2009 | Brentford | 33 | (1) |
2009–2011 | Darlington | 71 | (2) |
–2012 | Brotton Railway Arms | ||
Total | 186 | (11) | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Gary Stephen Smith (born 30 January 1984) is an English retired professional football midfielder who played in the Football League for Milton Keynes Dons, Brentford and Darlington.
Career
Middlesbrough
A midfielder, Smith began his career in the academy at hometown Premier League club Middlesbrough and signed his first professional contract in July 2002.[1] While a reserve team player, Smith admitted liability for breaking the leg of Manchester United midfielder Ben Collett, who was eventually forced to retire from football due to the tackle.[3] Smith failed to win a call into the first team squad before being released at the end of the 2003–04 season.[4]
Milton Keynes Dons (loan and permanent transfer)
On 23 March 2004, Smith joined Milton Keynes-based First Division strugglers Wimbledon on loan until the end of the 2003–04 season.[5] The following day, he made the first senior appearance of his career as a 37th-minute substitute for Albert Jarrett in a 1–0 defeat to Millwall.[6] Smith scored the first senior goal of his career in the following match, with what proved to be a consolation in a 2–1 defeat to Ipswich Town.[6] He finished the season with 11 appearances and three goals,[6] but despite suffering relegation to League One, Smith signed a three-year contract with the club (now renamed Milton Keynes Dons) on a free transfer in May 2004.[7]
Over the course of the 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons and despite being a popular player,[8][9][10] Smith found himself in and out of the team and was out of favour with new manager Martin Allen after the Dons' relegation to League Two in 2006.[11] He played no part in the Dons' 2007 Football League play-off campaign,[10] in which the club's hopes of a return to League One were ended in the semi-finals by Shrewsbury Town.[12] Smith was released in May 2007,[13] having made 91 appearances and scored 12 goals in just over three seasons for Wimbledon and Milton Keynes Dons.[14]
Brentford
On 1 August 2007, Smith signed a one-year contract with newly relegated League Two club Brentford on a free transfer.[15] He found it difficult to settle in a turbulent time under new manager Terry Butcher,[16] but after Butcher's sacking in December 2007,[17] his assistant Andy Scott took over and Smith finished the season ever-present in the team.[18] He signed a new 18-month contract in January 2008.[16] He finished the 2007–08 season with 32 appearances and 1 goal,[18] which came with a low-drilled shot in a 2–1 victory over Chesterfield on 12 January 2008.[19]
An ankle injury reduced Smith to just four appearances during the 2008–09 season,[20][21] which was not enough for him to claim a medal as Brentford sealed a return to League One after winning the League Two championship.[22] He was released in May 2009,[23] having made just 36 appearances and scored one goal in two seasons at Griffin Park.[14]
Darlington
Smith remained in League Two to join Darlington on a free transfer on 1 July 2009.[24] He made 38 appearances and scored one goal in a disastrous season for the Quakers,[25] which resulted in relegation to the Conference Premier,[26] but he signed a new contract to remain with the club.[27] Despite suffering from niggling thigh, knee and ankle injuries,[28] Smith had a good 2010–11 season, scoring five goals in 45 appearances and helping the club to a 7th-place finish and the FA Trophy Final.[26][29] Despite victory versus Mansfield Town at Wembley Stadium,[30] Smith suffered an injury to his cruciate and medial ligaments on 39 minutes and was substituted for Aman Verma.[31] The club was unable to offer a new contract and he was released at the end of the 2010–11 season,[31] having made 83 appearances and scored 6 goals during two seasons at the Darlington Arena.[29]
Career statistics
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Wimbledon (loan) | 2003–04[6] | First Division | 11 | 3 | — | — | — | 11 | 3 | |||
Milton Keynes Dons | 2004–05[8] | League One | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 28 | 1 |
2005–06[9] | 25 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 3 | 29 | 7 | ||
2006–07[10] | League Two | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
Wimbledon/MK Dons total | 82 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 91 | 12 | ||
Brentford | 2007–08[18] | League Two | 29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 32 | 1 |
2008–09[20] | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
Total | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 1 | ||
Darlington | 2009–10[25] | League Two | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 38 | 1 |
2010–11[29][32] | Conference Premier | 37 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 7[b] | 2 | 46 | 5 | ||
Total | 71 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 84 | 6 | ||
Career total | 186 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 211 | 19 |
Honours
Darlington
References
- ^ a b c "Gary Smith". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011. Headline. p. 460. ISBN 978-0-7553-6107-6.
- ^ "Man Utd player wins £4.5m payout". 11 August 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Played for both: Middlesbrough". Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Milton Keynes Dons | News | Dons Latest | Dons Latest | DONS SIGN MIDFIELD TALENT". mkdons.com. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Games played by Gary Smith in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Smith ready for three-year deal". www.miltonkeynes.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Games played by Gary Smith in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Games played by Gary Smith in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Gary Smith in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Smith lets rip after Dons release". www.miltonkeynes.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "MK Dons 1–2 Shrewsbury". 18 May 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Winkelman defends Smith exit". www.miltonkeynes.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ a b Gary Smith at Soccerbase
- ^ "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | GARY`S NUMBER NINE". brentfordfc.co.uk. 1 August 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Smith extends Brentford contract". 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Boss Butcher leaves Brentford job". 11 December 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ a b c "Games played by Gary Smith in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Brentford 2–1 Chesterfield". 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Games played by Gary Smith in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ Murtagh, Jacob (13 March 2009). "Brentford FC's Gary Smith feels stronger than ever". getwestlondon. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Brentford Complete History - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | SCOTTY RELEASES NINE". brentfordfc.co.uk. 6 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- ^ "Meet the players". Darington F.C. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Games played by Gary Smith in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Darlington History". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2016.
- ^ Wilkinson, Andrew (12 April 2010). "Quakers can make quick return – Gary Smith". gazettelive. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ "Smith playing through the pain for Darlington". gazettelive. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ a b c Gary Smith at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ a b "FA Trophy final: Darlington 1–0 Mansfield Town". BBC Sport. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ a b Gazette, Evening (27 May 2011). "Gary Smith facing a battle to save his career". gazettelive. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ For FA Trophy appearance omitted by Soccerway: Newsum, Matt (12 March 2011). "Darlington 3–2 Gateshead". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
External links
- Gary Smith at Soccerbase
- Living people
- 1984 births
- Footballers from Middlesbrough
- English footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Middlesbrough F.C. players
- Wimbledon F.C. players
- Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players
- Brentford F.C. players
- Darlington F.C. players
- English Football League players
- National League (English football) players