Christian Smith (footballer)

Christian Smith

Smith in 2011
Personal information
Full nameChristian Daniel Smith[1]
Date of birth10 December 1987[1]
Place of birthCrewe, England
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Chelmsford City
Youth career
2004–2006Port Vale
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2006–2007Port Vale1(0)
2007→ Cambridge United (loan)6(1)
2007→ Northwich Victoria (loan)3(0)
2007–2008Clyde25(0)
2008–2009Wrexham8(1)
2009York City15(2)
2009–2011Wrexham34(6)
2010–2011→ Newport County (loan)1(0)
2011→ Barrow (loan)13(2)
2011→ Tamworth (loan)7(1)
2011–2012Chester31(6)
2012–2013Nantwich Town18(2)
2013AFC Telford United6(0)
2013–Chelmsford City45(6)
2015→ Hayes & Yeading United (loan)12(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:03, 25 April 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Christian Daniel Smith (born 10 December 1987) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Conference South club Chelmsford City.

A former Port Vale youth team player, he was a first team squad member in the 2006–07 season, also spending time on loan at Cambridge United and Northwich Victoria. In 2007 he signed with Clyde, moving on to Wrexham a year later. In 2009 he signed with York City, only to return to Wrexham later in the year. After loan spells at Newport County, Barrow and Tamworth, he left the club for a second time in 2011, after which he joined Chester. He helped the club to the Northern Premier League title in 2011–12. He signed with Nantwich Town in August 2012, before joining AFC Telford United in March 2013. He signed with Chelmsford City in June 2013. He was loaned out to Hayes & Yeading United in February 2015.

Career

Smith playing for York City in 2009

Born in Crewe, Cheshire, Smith started his career with the Port Vale youth system in 2004.[3] He was to train with the first team in the 2006–07 season and was first involved after being named on the bench in a 1–1 against Hartlepool United on 6 May 2006.[4][5] He made his debut, and only appearance, on 1 January 2007 against Scunthorpe United in a 0–0 draw after coming on as a 70th minute substitute.[6] He was loaned out to Conference National side Cambridge United on 25 January for a one-month period.[7] He made his debut in a 3–0 victory over Woking on 27 January and scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Stafford Rangers.[8][9] The loan was extended until 21 April in March,[10] but was recalled on 20 March.[11] He finished the spell with six appearances.[8] He then joined Conference National team Northwich Victoria on loan on 22 March.[12] He made his debut in a 4–0 defeat to former club Cambridge on 25 March and finished the spell with three appearances.[8] Smith finished the 2006–07 season with one appearance for Vale and the club announced on 9 May that he would be released when his contract expired on 30 June.[8][13]

Smith trialled with League Two team Bury before moving to Scotland to sign with Scottish First Division side Clyde in August.[14][15] He made his debut in the opening game of the 2007–08 season, a 3–2 defeat away to Greenock Morton on 4 August.[8] Smith started in Clyde's first 11 matches of the season, before being handed a red card against Livingston on 29 September in the 88th minute, which led to him dropping out of the team due to suspension.[16][17] He made his return as an 81st minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Morton on 20 October.[16][18] He was released by Clyde in June 2008 after making 32 appearances.[16][19]

Smith playing for Tamworth in 2011

He had a trial with newly-relegated Conference Premier side Wrexham in August 2008, and was offered an initial one-month contract.[20] He scored Wrexham's fourth goal in a 5–0 victory over Stevenage Borough on 9 August, his debut for the team.[21][22] He was offered two new contracts at Wrexham in December, but rejected these and left on 5 January 2009 following the expiry of his short-term contract.[23][24] He trialled with League Two side Macclesfield Town and was expected to sign a contract with the club, but this was delayed.[23] He eventually signed for Conference Premier rivals York City on a short-term contract until the end of the 2008–09 season on 15 January.[25] He scored on his debut with a shot from 30 yards, with York beating Lewes 3–0 on 17 January.[22][26] This was followed by Smith scoring York's goal with a header in a 2–1 defeat at Eastbourne Borough.[22][27] He was released by York following the end of the 2008–09 season,[28] after making 15 appearances and scoring two goals for the team.[22]

He had a trial with former club Wrexham in July and played in the second half of a 0–0 draw with Prestatyn Town in a pre-season friendly.[29] He was offered a contract to return to Wrexham in August.[30]

On 26 November 2010, Smith joined Conference Premier rivals Newport County on loan until January 2011, and made his debut a day later as a 70th minute substitute in a 2–1 victory over Hayes & Yeading United.[31][32][33] This would prove his only Newport appearance.[32] Upon his return to Wrexham in January he was suspended by manager Dean Saunders for insulting the club over Twitter.[34] He was sent out on loan to Barrow later in the month.[35] After five appearances he returned to Wales,[32] then in March went on to join Tamworth on an emergency loan.[36] He made seven appearances for Tamworth and in his final appearance, a 2–1 victory over Forest Green Rovers on 30 April, he scored the opening goal of a result that ensured the team's survival from relegation.[32][37]

Released by Wrexham, he joined Chester of the Northern Premier League Premier Division in August, after impressing on trial.[38] The "Blues" stormed to the league title in 2011–12 with a tally of 100 points, and thereby won promotion into the Conference North. He left the club at the end of the season.[39] Following his release he spent most of the pre-season on trial with AFC Telford United.[40]

He signed for Jimmy Quinn's Northern Premier League side Nantwich Town in August 2012.[41] He moved on to AFC Telford United in March 2013, who were struggling to avoid relegation out of the Conference Premier.[42] He moved onto Dean Holdsworth's Conference South side Chelmsford City in June 2013.[43] He helped the "Clarets" to a 17th-place finish in 2013–14.

He was loaned out to Conference South rivals Hayes & Yeading United in February 2015.

Career statistics

As of 11 February 2015.
Club Season Division League[A] National Cup League Cup Other[B] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale 2005–06[44]League One0000000000
2006–07[8] 1000000010
Port Vale Total 1000000010
Cambridge United (loan) 2006–07[8]Conference National6100000061
Northwich Victoria (loan) 2006–07[8] 3000000030
Clyde 2007–08[16]Scottish First Division270201020320
Wrexham 2008–09[22]Conference Premier8100000081
York City 2008–09[22] 152000000152
Wrexham 2009–10[45] 283100000293
2010–11[32] 6300000063
Wrexham Total 427100000437
Newport County (loan) 2010–11[32]Conference Premier1000000010
Barrow (loan) 2010–11[32] 5000000050
Tamworth (loan) 2010–11[32] 132000000132
Chester 2011–12[46]Northern Premier League316001060386
AFC Telford United2012–13[47]Conference Premier6000000060
Chelmsford City2013–14[48]Conference South284000000284
2014–15[48]172200000192
Chelmsford City Total 456200000476
Hayes & Yeading United (loan) 2014–15[48]Conference South0000000000
Career total[C] 18123601010020823
A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League, Football Conference, Northern Premier League and Scottish Football League.
B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Conference League Cup, FA Trophy, Cheshire Senior Cup and Scottish Challenge Cup.
C. ^ Nantwich Town statistics not included.

Honours

Chester

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2007). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2007–08. Mainstream Publishing. p. 377. ISBN 978-1-84596-246-3.
  2. ↑ "Profiles". Wrexham F.C. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  3. ↑ York City F.C. programme, v. Eastbourne Borough F.C., 18 April 2009, p. 21.
  4. ↑ "– Reserves". Port Vale F.C. 28 April 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  5. ↑ "Hartlepool 1–1 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 6 May 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  6. ↑ "Port Vale 0–0 Scunthorpe". BBC Sport. 1 January 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  7. ↑ "Valiants loan Smith to Cambridge". BBC Sport. 25 January 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 "Season 2006/2007:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  9. ↑ "Stafford 1–2 Cambridge Utd". BBC Sport. 3 March 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Vale star Smith extends U's stay". BBC Sport. 7 March 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  11. ↑ "Midfielder Smith recalled by Vale". BBC Sport. 20 March 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  12. ↑ "Vale allow duo to leave on loan". BBC Sport. 22 March 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  13. ↑ "Vale boss Foyle clears the decks". BBC Sport. 9 May 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  14. ↑ "Christian Smith". Port Vale F.C. 16 July 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2007.
  15. ↑ "Clyde's Hendry snaps up quartet". BBC Sport. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "Season 2007/2008:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  17. ↑ "Livingston 4–2 Clyde". BBC Sport. 29 September 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  18. ↑ "Clyde 0–1 Morton". BBC Sport. 20 October 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  19. ↑ "Clyde release Bestvina and Smith". BBC Sport. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  20. ↑ "Christian To Sign One-Month Deal". Wrexham F.C. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  21. ↑ "Wrexham 5–0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 "Season 2008/2009:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Flett, Dave (24 January 2009). "Town's loss is City's gain as Christian calls shots". The Press. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  24. ↑ "Fleming agrees new Wrexham deal". BBC Sport. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  25. ↑ "Minstermen complete double swoop". BBC Sport. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  26. ↑ "York 3–0 Lewes". BBC Sport. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  27. ↑ "Eastbourne 2–1 York". BBC Sport. 24 January 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  28. ↑ "York City release seven players". BBC Sport. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  29. ↑ Currie, Mark (14 July 2009). "Trialist Hedi Taboubi impresses for Wrexham FC". Daily Post. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
  30. ↑ Currie, Mark (14 August 2009). "Christian Smith given second chance at Wrexham FC". Daily Post. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
  31. ↑ "Christian Smith to replace Charlie Henry at Newport". BBC Sport. 26 November 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 32.6 32.7 "Season 2010/2011:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  33. ↑ "Newport 2–1 Hayes & Yeading". BBC Sport. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  34. ↑ Bloom, Mark (8 January 2011). "Dean Saunders gets tough with twitter Christian Smith". Western Mail. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  35. ↑ "Barrow sign Andy Cook and Christian Smith". BBC Sport. 14 January 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  36. ↑ "Smith Heads To Tamworth on Loan". Wrexham F.C. 17 March 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  37. ↑ "Tamworth 2–1 Forest Green". BBC Sport. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  38. ↑ Wheelock, Paul (11 August 2011). "Chester FC: Neil Young wants Christian Smith to add to Matty Woodward capture". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  39. ↑ "Young Tweaks Chester Midfield". Blue Square Bet North. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  40. ↑ "TNS 0 AFC Telford 3 – Report and pictures". Shropshire Star. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  41. ↑ "Dabbers Sign Christian Smith". 18 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  42. ↑ "AFC Telford United: Struggling Bucks sign Christian Smith". BBC Sport. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  43. ↑ May, Adam. "Smith Joins the Clarets". chelmsfordcityfc.com. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  44. ↑ "Season 2005/2006:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  45. ↑ "Season 2009/2010:". Sportbox.tv. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  46. ↑ "Statistics 2011/12". Unofficial Chester FC website. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  47. ↑ "Games played by Christian Smith in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 "Stats". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 May 2014.

External links

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