Paul_Smith_(footballer,_born_1971)

Paul Smith (footballer, born 1971)

Paul Smith (footballer, born 1971)

English footballer

For other people with the same name, see Paul Smith (disambiguation).

Paul William Smith (born 18 September 1971) is an English former professional footballer.

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Smith was born in East Ham, London and began his career as a trainee with Southend United, turning professional in 1990. He found his chances limited at Roots Hall and after a loan spell with Dover Athletic moved on to Brentford in August 1993 on a free transfer.

In August 1997 he joined Gillingham, where he enjoyed the most successful spell of his career. He captained the Kent side for a lengthy spell and was also named the club's player of the year on an unprecedented four occasions,[2] although his final reign ended in a bizarre dispute with chairman Paul Scally in which Smith reportedly refused to hand back the trophy until he was paid money he claimed the club owed him.[3]

While with Gillingham Smith played in both the 1999 and 2000 Football League Second Division play-off finals at Wembley, losing to Manchester City in 1999 on penalties, but achieving promotion to the second-tier for the first time in the Kent side's history in 2000 after defeating Wigan Athletic 3–2 (after extra time).[4][5]

He left Priestfield in 2005, after the team were relegated to Football League One and he was offered reduced terms.[6]

In July 2005 he joined Walsall, returning to Gillingham in October 2005 to play three times in a loan spell.[7] He moved to Swindon Town in January 2006,[8] but was released in June 2006 after Swindon sacked manager Iffy Onuora.[9]

He joined A.F.C. Sudbury in October 2006, but returned to league football when he joined Torquay United on 29 January 2007. He played eight times for Torquay as they were relegated to the Conference National. On the eve of the transfer window in August 2007, he joined Barnet, but just one day later Bees manager Paul Fairclough decided he didn't want the player and released him. Smith made one appearance for Great Wakering Rovers at the start of the 2007–08 season before moving to St Albans City for whom he made four starts before returning to A.F.C. Sudbury on 18 October 2007.

In May 2008 he joined Margate as a player/coach, forming part of a new management team headed by first team manager Barry Ashby, but the pair were sacked in October of the same year.[10] Smith next signed for Billericay Town, and on his debut scored the winning goal against Margate.[11]

Honours

Gillingham

Individual

  • Gillingham Player of the Season: 1997–98,[12] 2000–01,[13] 2001–02,[14] 2004–05[15]

Sources

  • Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
  • Paul Smith's at Soccerbase
  • Playfair Football Annuals 1990-91 to 2007-08

References

  1. [1]
    "Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk – Paul SMITH – Player Profile". swindon-town-fc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  2. [2]
    "BBC SPORT – Football – My Club – Gillingham – Captain Smith leaves Gillingham". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  3. [3]
    "Sky Sports – The Best Sport Coverage From Around The World". skysports.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2006. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  4. [4]
    "BBC News | Football | Shoot-out success for City". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  5. [5]
    "BBC News | FOOTBALL | Second time lucky for Gills". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  6. [6]
    "BBC SPORT – Football – My Club – Gillingham – Smith anguish at Gillingham exit". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  7. [7]
    "BBC SPORT – Football – My Club – Gillingham – Smith returning to Gills on loan". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  8. [8]
    "BBC SPORT – Football – My Club – Swindon Town – Swindon boss closes on Smith deal". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  9. [9]
    "BBC SPORT – Football – My Club – Swindon Town – Robins to part company with Smith". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  10. [10]
    "Ashby and Smith leave Gate". Kent Online. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  11. [11]
    Glenn Pearson (3 November 2008). "Smith and Trott team up to haunt Margate". YourThanet.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  12. [12]
    Triggs, Roger (1999). Images of England: Gillingham Football Club. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 0-7524-1567-0.
  13. [13]
    "Smith signs four-year contract". Kent Online. 17 September 2001. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  14. [14]
    "Gills skipper collects glittering prizes". Kent Online. 14 April 2002. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  15. [15]
    "Players sweat on futures". Kent Online. 8 May 2005. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
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