Sam Smith (footballer, born 1998)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sam Smith

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Samuel Toby Smith{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/efl-released-and-retained-list---2016-17.pdf |title=EFL Released and Retained List 2016–17 |publisher=English Football League |access-date=21 September 2017}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|3|8|df=y}}{{cite web |title=Sam Smith |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/sam-smith-254547/|publisher=11v11 |access-date=21 September 2017}}

| birth_place = Manchester, England

| height = {{convert|1.85|m|order=flip}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/Teams/first_team_players/forward/sam-smith/ |title=Sam Smith – Forward – First Team – Cambridge United |publisher=Cambridge United F.C. |access-date=7 October 2022}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Wrexham

| clubnumber = 28

| youthyears1 = 2004–2014

| youthclubs1 = Manchester United

| youthyears2 = 2014–2016

| youthclubs2 = Reading

| years1 = 2016–2021

| clubs1 = Reading

| caps1 = 8

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2016

| clubs2 = → Bishop's Stortford (loan)

| caps2 = 7

| goals2 = 2

| years3 = 2018–2019

| clubs3 = → Oxford United (loan)

| caps3 = 14

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2019

| clubs4 = → Shrewsbury Town (loan)

| caps4 = 3

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2019–2020

| clubs5 = → Cambridge United (loan)

| caps5 = 28

| goals5 = 7

| years6 = 2020

| clubs6 = → Tranmere Rovers (loan)

| caps6 = 5

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2021

| clubs7 = → Cheltenham Town (loan)

| caps7 = 21

| goals7 = 4

| years8 = 2021–2023

| clubs8 = Cambridge United

| caps8 = 91

| goals8 = 28

| years9 = 2023–2025

| clubs9 = Reading

| caps9 = 59

| goals9 = 26

| years10 = 2025–

| clubs10 = Wrexham

| caps10 = 42

| goals10 = 18

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| club-update = 22:13, 26 April 2025 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Samuel Toby Smith (born 8 March 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for {{English football updater|Wrexham}} club Wrexham.

Career

=Reading (2016–2021)=

Smith signed his first professional contract with Reading in 2016.{{cite web |title=43. Sam Smith |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/academy/graduates/sam-smith/ |website=Reading FC |access-date=18 July 2023}} He made his debut appearance during a 2–0 EFL Cup win over Gillingham on 8 August 2017, and scored his first goal for Reading in the cup's second-round tie against Millwall on 22 August.{{cite web

|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40932153

|title=Reading 3–1 Millwall

|publisher=BBC

|date=22 August 2017 |access-date=29 August 2017}}

In February 2018, Smith signed a new contract with Reading until the end of the 2020–21 season.{{cite web|title=Sam Smith signs new Royals contract|url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2018/february/sam-smith-signs-new-royals-contract|publisher=Reading F.C.|access-date=2 February 2018|date=2 February 2018}}

==Loan periods (2016–2021)==

On 26 August 2016, Smith joined Bishop's Stortford on a four-month loan.{{cite web|title=Sam's the man for Blues|url=http://www.bsfc.co.uk/sams-the-man-for-blues/|publisher=Bishop's Stortford F.C.|access-date=28 August 2016|date=26 August 2016}} In July 2018 he joined Oxford United of League One on a season-long loan.{{cite web |title=Sam Smith seals loan switch to Oxford United |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2018/july/sam-smith-seals-loan-switch-to-oxford-united/ |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=31 July 2018 |date=31 July 2018}} He made his debut as a substitute in the first match of the league season, a 4–0 away defeat to Barnsley.{{cite web |url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/matches/fixtures/first-team/2018192/august/barnsley-vs-oxford-united-on-04-aug-18/ |title=REPORT Barnsley 4 Oxford United 0 |publisher=Oxford United F.C. |date=4 August 2018 |first=Chris |last=Williams |access-date=20 August 2018}} His first start and home debut came in the following match, a 2–0 defeat to Fleetwood Town.{{cite web |url=https://www.oufc.co.uk/matches/fixtures/first-team/2018192/august/oxford-united-vs-fleetwood-town-on-11-aug-18/ |title=REPORT Oxford United 0 Fleetwood Town 2 |publisher=Oxford United F.C. |date=11 August 2018 |first=Chris |last=Williams |access-date=20 August 2018}} He scored his first goal for Oxford in a 3–0 EFL Trophy win over Fulham Under 21s on 4 September 2018.{{cite news|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/16688206.oxford-united-3-smith-31-holmes-58-spasov-pen-86-fulham-under-21s-0/|title=Oxford United 3–0 Fulham Under 21s|newspaper=Oxford Mail |first=David |last=Pritchard |date=4 September 2018|access-date=10 September 2018}} His loan was ended early at the end of 2018, with Smith's record standing at 3 goals (all in the EFL Trophy) in 23 appearances in all competitions.{{cite news |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/oxfordunited/usnews/17325658.sam-smith-leaves-oxford-united-with-tony-mcmahon-on-verge-of-exit/ |first=David |last=Pritchard |title=Sam Smith leaves Oxford United with Tony McMahon on verge of exit |newspaper=Oxford Mail |date=29 December 2018 |access-date=30 December 2018}}

In January 2019, Smith signed for Shrewsbury Town on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46921814 |title=Sam Smith: Shrewsbury Town sign Reading striker on loan |newspaper=BBC |date=18 January 2019 |access-date=18 January 2019}} He played the 2019–20 season with Cambridge United in League Two,{{cite news |url=https://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/2019/august/sam-smith-signs/ |title=U'S ADD READING STRIKER SAM SMITH ON SEASON LOAN |newspaper=BBC |date=2 August 2019 |access-date=21 October 2019}} and the first half of the 2020–21 season with Tranmere Rovers.{{Cite web |date=16 October 2020 |title=Tranmere sign Reading striker Smith |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54575855 |access-date=16 October 2020 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} After making five appearances, Smith returned to Reading{{cite web|url=https://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/2021/january/young-and-smith-return-to-parent-clubs-after-loan-spell-at-prenton-park/|title=Young and Smith return to parent clubs after loan spell at Prenton Park|publisher=Tranmere Rovers F.C.|date=11 January 2021|access-date=11 January 2021}} before signing a loan deal with Cheltenham Town on 29 January 2021.{{cite web |url= https://www.ctfc.com/news/2021/january/robins-welcome-smith-arrival/ |title=Robins welcome Smith arrival |publisher=Cheltenham Town FC |date=29 January 2021 |access-date=29 January 2021}}

=Cambridge United (2021–23)=

On 11 May 2021, Reading announced that Smith would leave the club when his contract expired on 30 June 2021.{{cite web |title=Contracts offered, clauses triggered, loans end and best wishes issued for those set for pastures new… |url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2021/may/contracts-offered-clauses-triggered-loans-end-and-best-wishes-issued-for-those-set-for-pastures-new/ |website=readingfc.co.uk/ |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=11 May 2021 |date=11 May 2021}} On 7 July 2021, Smith signed a permanent deal with Cambridge United, signing a 2-year contract.{{cite web |title= Sam Smith signs for U's |url=https://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/2021/july/new-signing-cambridge-united-sam-smith-sky-bet-league-one-efl-english-football-league-transfer-news-wednesday-7th-july-2021/|website=www.cambridge-united.co.uk/|publisher=Cambridge United F.C. |access-date=7 July 2021 |date=7 July 2021}}

He was released at the end of the 2022–23 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.cambridgeunited.com/news/2023/may/retained-list-cambridge-united-2023-sky-bet-league-one-efl-english-football-league-friday-12th-may-2023/|title=2023 Retained List published|website=www.cambridgeunited.com|date=12 May 2023|accessdate=14 May 2023}}

=Reading (2023–2025)=

On 17 July 2023, Smith returned to Reading, signing a three-year contract with the club.{{cite web |title=WELCOME HOME, SAM! SMITH SIGNS THREE-YEAR DEAL WITH THE ROYALS|url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/july/17/sam-smith-signs-three-year-deal-with-reading-fc/ |website=readingfc.co.uk |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=17 July 2023 |date=17 July 2023}}

=Wrexham (2025–)=

On 31 January, 2025, Smith joined Wrexham for $2.5 million, signing a three-and-a-half year deal with the option to extend.https://www.themirror.com/sport/soccer/ryan-reynolds-wrexham-sam-smith-1026196

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 26 April 2025}}{{cite web|title=S.Smith|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/sam-smith/457303/|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=26 April 2025}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="2" valign="center"\|Reading \|2017–18{{Soccerbase season\|99462\|2017\|name=Sam Smith\|access-date=29 August 2017}} \|Championship \|8	1	1	0	2	1	colspan="2"\|–	11	2
colspan="2"\|Total !8	1	1	0	2	1	0	0	11	2
valign="center"\|Bishop's Stortford (loan) \|2016–17 \|National League North \|7	2	0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	7	2
valign="center"\|Oxford United (loan) \|2018–19 \|League One \|14	0	2	0	3	0	4{{efn\|name=EFLT}}	3	23	3
valign="center"\|Shrewsbury Town (loan) \|2018–19 \|League One \|2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
valign="center"\|Cambridge United (loan) \|2019–20 \|League Two \|28	7	2	1	0	0	0	0	30	8
valign="center"\|Tranmere Rovers (loan) \|2020–21 \|League Two \|5	0	0	0	0	0	2{{efn\|name=EFLT\|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}	0	7	0
valign="center"\|Cheltenham Town (loan) \|2020–21 \|League Two \|21	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	21	4
rowspan="3" valign="center"\|Cambridge United \|2021–22 \|League One \|46	15	4	2	2	0	5{{efn\|name=EFLT}}	4	57	21
2022–23 \|League One \|45	13	3	1	2	0	2{{efn\|name=EFLT}}	0	52	14
colspan="2"\|Total !91	28	7	3	4	0	7	4	109	35
rowspan="3" valign="center"\|Reading \|2023–24{{Soccerbase season\|99462\|2023\|name=Sam Smith\|access-date=12 December 2023}} \|League One \|34	15	1	0	0	0	2{{efn\|name=EFLT}}	1	37	16
2024–25 \|League One \|25	11	1	0	0	0	0{{efn\|name=EFLT}}	0	26	11
colspan=2\|Total !59\|\|26\|\|2\|\|0\|\|0\|\|0\|\|2\|\|1\|\|63\|\|27
Wrexham \|2024–25 \|League One \|17	7	0	0	0	0	1{{efn\|name=EFLT}}	0	18	7
colspan="3"\|Career total !251	74	14	4	9	1	16	8	290	87

Honours

Cheltenham Town

League Two: 2020–21{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12296730/cheltenham-4-1-harrogate-michael-duffs-robins-clinch-league-two-title-in-style|title = Cheltenham 4–1 Harrogate: Michael Duff's Robins clinch League Two title in style}}