Chris Smith (footballer, born 1990)
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Chris Smith
| image = Chris Smith 2012.jpg
| caption =
| fullname = Christopher David Smith{{Hugman|25349|accessdate=12 May 2019}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|10|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = Stoke-on-Trent, England
| height =
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Chasetown
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Everton
| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Stoke City
| youthyears3 = | youthclubs3 = Kidsgrove Athletic
| years1 = 2009–2010 | clubs1 = Alsager Town | caps1 = 40 | goals1 =
| years2 = 2010–2012 | clubs2 = Stone Dominoes | caps2 = 55 | goals2 = 5
| years3 = 2012–2013 | clubs3 = Swindon Town | caps3 = 1 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2012–2013 | clubs4 = → Northampton Town (loan) | caps4 = 0 | goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2013–2014 | clubs5 = Kidsgrove Athletic | caps5 = | goals5 =
| years6 = 2014– | clubs6 = Chasetown | caps6 = | goals6 =
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| club-update = 23:00, 28 March 2013 (UTC)
}}
Christopher David Smith (born 12 October 1990) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Chasetown.
Playing career
Smith came up through the youth ranks at Everton before moving to Stoke City's youth system.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/9525602.Decision_time_looms_for_Win_A_Pro_hopefuls/|title=Decision time looms for Win A Pro hopefuls|date=11 February 2012|work=Swindon Advertiser|accessdate=9 May 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505142543/http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/9525602.Decision_time_looms_for_Win_A_Pro_hopefuls/|archivedate=5 May 2012}} Upon his release from Stoke City, Smith enrolled at the University of Staffordshire to study a degree in Sports Coaching and Development, sharing his studies with playing for Non-League side Stone Dominoes.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/9582172.Smith_takes_an_educated_gamble/|title=Smith takes an educated gamble|date=10 March 2012|work=Swindon Advertiser|accessdate=9 May 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505142746/http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/9582172.Smith_takes_an_educated_gamble/|archivedate=5 May 2012}}
In June 2011, along with 5,000 hopefuls, Smith entered Samsung's Win A Pro Contract competition in a bid to earn a professional deal with Swindon Town. In February 2012, Smith was chosen by then Swindon manager Paolo Di Canio as the competition winner.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17097928|title=Stone Dominoes player wins contract at Swindon Town|date=20 February 2012|work=BBC Football Online|accessdate=9 May 2012}} Di Canio said of Smith, "he looked older than his age. As a right-back he has a fantastic quality. He's not very tall but when he challenges the opponent he has balance. Also, on the ball he is very good."
Smith made his League debut for Swindon in the 0–0 draw at Bradford City in May 2012. In November 2012, Smith joined Northampton Town on loan.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20449845|title=Swindon Town's Chris Smith joins Northampton Town on loan|date=22 November 2012|work=BBC Football Online|accessdate=6 June 2013}}
Following Swindon's decision to halve its wage bill over the summer of 2013, Smith was released by the club in May 2013,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22454081|title=Swindon Town: Simon Ferry leaves as playing budget is halved|date=9 May 2013|work=BBC Football Online|accessdate=6 May 2013}} with Swindon manager Kevin MacDonald saying "the wage bill that was used this season was not sustainable so we have to reduce it. It's just a shame some good footballers have had to be released."
After leaving Swindon Smith returned to his native Stoke-on-Trent and signed for non-league Kidsgrove Athletic.{{cite web|title=Two added to squad|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/kidsgroveathleticfc/news/two-added-to-squad-1027715.html|work=Kidsgrove Athletic|accessdate=31 August 2013}} He moved on to Chasetown in January 2014.{{cite web|title=Saturday's Transfer List|url=http://www.evostikleague.co.uk/saturdays-transfer-list-17900/|work=Evo Stik League|accessdate=25 February 2014}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120522160114/http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10341~60463%2C00.html Profile] at the official Swindon Town website
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Chris}}
Category:Footballers from Stoke-on-Trent
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Wales men's youth international footballers
Category:Wales men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Alsager Town F.C. players
Category:Stone Dominoes F.C. players
Category:Swindon Town F.C. players
Category:Northampton Town F.C. players
Category:Kidsgrove Athletic F.C. players
Category:Chasetown F.C. players