Gordon Smith (footballer, born 1991)

Gordon Smith
Personal information
Date of birth14 February 1991
Place of birthEdinburgh, Scotland
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Stirling Albion
Youth career
Calvary Park Colts F.C.
Hibernian
Livingston
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2008–2009Livingston5(0)
2009–2013Heart of Midlothian24(1)
2010–2011Stirling Albion (loan)34(11)
2011–2012Hamilton Academical (loan)3(0)
2013–2014Raith Rovers33(5)
2014–Stirling Albion19(6)
National team
2007–2008Scotland U17[1]13(4)
2009Scotland U19[2]2(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 January 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).

Gordon Smith (born 14 February 1991 in Edinburgh) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a striker, who plays for Stirling Albion. Smith has previously played for Raith Rovers, Livingston, Hearts and Hamilton Academical.

Youth career

Smith played for Hibs' youth teams as a goalscoring midfielder, but was released by the club after he went on a two-day trial with Newcastle United.[3]

Career

Smith signed for Livingston, who coached him to play as a striker.[3] and gave him some appearances in the First Division. In the summer of 2009, with Livingston experiencing financial difficulties, Smith allowed his contract to expire.

Smith signed for Hearts in the summer of 2009.[3] It was originally intended that he would play for their under 19 squad, but manager Csaba László promoted him to the first team after it became clear that the club would not sign another striker[4] and pledged his faith in youth.[5] He made his debut as a second-half substitute against Dinamo Zagreb in a UEFA Europa League tie.[6] Smith scored his first goal for the club in his first league appearance, scoring Hearts' goal in a 1–1 draw with Edinburgh derby rivals Hibs at Easter Road.[7] The following season Smith was sent on loan to Stirling Albion. Having impressed manager Jim Jefferies whilst on loan at Stirling Albion, Smith was awarded a new contract with Hearts.[8]

On his return to Hearts games were limited to substitute appearances[9] under new manager Paulo Sergio, although he played against Tottenham in the Europa League. Smith was sent on loan to Hamilton in December 2011.[10] On his return he played the full 90 minutes against Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup scoring the only goal of the game in the 84th minute.[11]

After the arrivals of Kevin Kyle and Stephen Elliott, Smith signed on loan for First Division club Stirling Albion in August 2010.[12] Smith made 34 appearances and scored 11 league goals, although Stirling were relegated from the First Division. On 7 December 2011 Smith signed for Hamilton Academical on a months loan deal,[13] making his debut on 10 December against Falkirk.[14] He played in all 3 matches played during his loan spell and Hamilton requested it be extended[15] but he returned to Hearts.

On 26 June 2013 Smith signed for Raith Rovers.[16] After one season with Raith, he signed for Stirling Albion in June 2014.[17]

Personal life

Smith's father, also called Gordon, played for Hearts and several other Scottish Football League clubs.[3] His brother, Kevin Smith, has played for Dundee United and Raith Rovers amongst others.[3]

Career statistics

As of 19 December 2012[18][19][20]
Club statistics
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Livingston 2007–08 100000000010
2008–09 401021000071
Total 501021000081
Hearts 2009–10[n 1] 8110201000121
2010–11 100000000010
Stirling Albion
(loan)
2010–11[n 2] 3411110000003512
Total 3411110000003512
Hearts 2011–12 601110100091
Hamilton Academical
(loan)
2011–12 300000000030
Total 300000000030
Hearts 2012–13 900000000090
Total 19121302000262
Career Totals 6112425120007215

Notes

  1. Soccerbase did not record an appearance made by Smith against Dinamo Zagreb on 27 August 2009.
  2. Soccerbase did not record an appearance made by Smith against Partick Thistle on 20 November 2010.

References

  1. http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football_player_profile.cfm?page=462&playerID=39647&squadID=13
  2. http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football_player_profile.cfm?page=462&playerID=39647&squadID=9
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Hibs blew big chance with my boy, says Gordon Smith senior, The Scotsman, 5 January 2010.
  4. Paterson, Colleen. "Fans warned after Hearts chief denied striker". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  5. "Csaba's faith in youth | Hearts News | Hearts News | News | Hearts | Hearts". Heart of Midlothian F.C. official website. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
  6. "Gordon Smith Hearts Profile". Heart of Midlothian F.C. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  7. "Smith's joy at dream Hearts goal". BBC Sport. 4 January 2010.
  8. "New Hearts Deals". Heart of Midlothian F.C. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  9. "Smithy's starting ambition". Heart of Midlothian F.C. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  10. "Gordon joins Accies". Heart of Midlothian F.C. official website. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  11. "Hearts 1 – 0 Auchinleck Talbot". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  12. "Smith joins Stirling Albion on loan". Heart of Midlothian F.C. official website. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  13. "Hamilton Accies take Hearts striker Gordon Smith on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  14. "Falkirk 0 – 0 Hamilton Academical". Scottish Football League. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  15. "Registrations Window Opens". Hamilton Academical F.C. January 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  16. "Further Signing Announced". raithrovers.net. Raith Rovers F.C. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  17. Binos land attacking trio, SPFL
  18. "Gordon Smith". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  19. Gordon Smith career statistics at Soccerbase
  20. "Gordon Smith Stats". London Hearts. Retrieved 7 December 2011.