Dean Smith (footballer, born 1958)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 November 1958 | ||
| Place of birth | Leicester, England | ||
| Date of death | 17 April 2009 (aged 50) | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1975–1977 | Leicester City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1977–1978 | Leicester City | 10 | (1) |
| 1978 | → Houston Hurricane (loan) | 17 | (6) |
| 1978–1980 | Brentford | 54 | (16) |
| 1980–1981 | Nuneaton Borough | 4 | (0) |
| Shepshed Charterhouse | |||
| Enderby Town | |||
| Hinckley Town | |||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Dean Smith was an English football forward who played in the Football League for Brentford and Leicester City.[1]
Career
Leicester City
A forward, Smith began his career in the youth system at hometown Division One club Leicester City in April 1975.[2] Smith had to wait until September 1977 to make his first team debut, which came when he replaced Eddie Kelly during a 5-1 defeat to Everton.[3] He had to wait until 14 January 1978 for his next appearance, which came with a start in a 0-0 draw with Bristol City.[4] Smith's most notable moment in a Foxes shirt came on 23 March 1978, when he scored his only goal for the club in a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United.[5] Smith made 10 appearances during the 1977/78 season, but departed Filbert Street in October 1978 after failing to make an appearance during the early months of the 1978/79 season.[2]
Houston Hurricane (loan)
During the English off-season in the summer of 1978, Smith moved to the United States to join North American Soccer League side Houston Hurricane on loan.[6] He scored six goals in 17 appearances for the Hurricane in a disappointing 1978 season,[6] which saw the club finish bottom of the American Conference Central Division.
Brentford
Smith signed for Division Three side Brentford for a £20000 fee in October 1978.[1] He made something of a breakthrough into the first team, making 25 appearances and scoring 9 goals during the 1978/79 season. Smith made a further 22 appearances during the 1979/80 season, but the arrival of Fred Callaghan as manager changed the team's style of play, which saw Smith ask for a mutual termination on his contract early in the 1980/81 season.[1] He made 54 appearances and scored 16 goals during his time at Griffin Park.[1]
Non-league football
After his departure from Brentford, Smith dropped into non-league football and played for Nuneaton Borough, Shepshed Charterhouse, Enderby Town and Hinckley Town.[1][7]
Personal life
It was reported in September 2008 that Smith had suffered a stroke and was battling throat cancer.[8] He passed away on 17 April 2009 at the age of 50.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 147. ISBN 0955294916.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/page/playerdetails.php?pid=551
- ↑ http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/page/matchdetails.php?mid=1827
- ↑ http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/page/matchdetails.php?mid=1847
- ↑ http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/page/matchdetails.php?mid=1856
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/S/Smith.Dean.htm
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-City-targeting-Premier-League-says-Jack-Hobbs/story-12030901-detail/story.html
- ↑ http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/City-news-Walsh-supports-ex-City-striker/story-12032220-detail/story.html