John Smeulders

John Smeulders
Personal information
Date of birth28 March 1957
Place of birthHackney, England
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Youth career
1972–1978Orient
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1978–1979Orient0(0)
1979–1981Bournemouth14(0)
1981–1983Trowbridge Town83(0)
1983Weymouth23(0)
1983–1986Bournemouth75(0)
1986–1987Torquay United18(0)
1987Peterborough United (loan)1(0)
Poole Town (loan)
1987–1989Bournemouth9(0)
1988Brentford (loan)8(0)
→ Farnborough Town (loan)2(0)
Weymouth20(0)
1991–1992Fareham Town3(0)
National team
England Youth
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

John Smeulders is a retired English professional football goalkeeper, best remembered for his three spells in the Football League with Bournemouth.[1] He also played league football for Torquay United, Brentford and Peterborough United.[2]

Club career

A goalkeeper, Smeulders began his career as a youth with Orient.[2] He was unable to displace the number 1 shirt from Ray Goddard and John Jackson and made just a handful of League Cup appearances before departing the Os in 1979.[2] To revive his stalled career, Smeulders began the first of three spells with Bournemouth in 1979.[2] After failing to break into the first team, Smeulders dropped into non-league football in 1981 with Trowbridge Town, moving on to Weymouth and then back to Bournemouth in 1983.[2] This time he did establish himself in the first team, making 75 league appearances and setting a then-club record seven consecutive clean sheets, before moving to Torquay United in 1986.[2] After failing to hold down a first team place and spending time away from Plainmoor on loan, Smeulders returned to Bournemouth for the third time in 1987.[2] He again failed to hold down a regular place and dropped back into non-league football in 1989.[2] Smeulders retired at age 38, due to a damaged knee.[2]

Coaching career

Smeulders late returned to Bournemouth as a coach to goalkeepers Neil Moss and Ian Andrews.[2]

International career

Smeulders won caps for England at youth level and played in the same team as Bryan Robson, Ray Wilkins, Glenn Hoddle and Peter Barnes.[2]

Personal life

As of March 1996, Smeulders was working in a bakery in Bournemouth.[2]

References

  1. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. pp. 146, 147. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 Griffin Gazette: Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus Wrexham 09/03/96. Quay Design of Poole. 1996. p. 13.