- Tommy Smith (footballer born 1980)
Football player infobox
playername = Tommy Smith
fullname = Thomas William Smith
height = height|ft=5|in=8
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|5|22
cityofbirth =Hemel Hempstead
countryofbirth =England
currentclub = Watford
clubnumber = 21
position =Midfielder /Striker
youthyears = 1995–1997
youthclubs =
years = 1997–2003
2003–2004
2004–2006
2006–
clubs = Watford
Sunderland
Derby County
Watford
caps(goals) = 149 (33)
035 0(4)
090 (20)
079 (10)
nationalyears =
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 001 0(1)
pcupdate = 16:29, 23 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 16:29, 23 August 2008 (UTC)Thomas William "Tommy" Smith (born
May 22 ,1980 inHemel Hempstead ) is an English professional footballer. He currently plays for Watford in theFootball League Championship . Although he started his career as a striker, he now plays as right winger.Career
Watford
Smith began his career in the youth system at Watford, where his father was the head of the academy and his younger brother Jack was also a trainee. He had played for Comets Sports club in Sunday league football.
He broke into the first team in 1997 making his debut on
18 November 1997 in 2–1 win over Oldham Athletic. Smith made several appearances for the Watford side which won the play-offs in the 1998–99 season, gaining promotion to the Premiership. Smith established himself in the team that season, making 23 appearances and scoring two goals, including a memorable finish in a game against Manchester United.Although relegated, Smith continued with Watford playing under Gianluca Vialli and Ray Lewington. In 2003, he finished second highest goalscorer, with nine goals in all competitions, which included crucial goals in Watford's 2003 Fa Cup run. As Watford reached the semi-final, he scored the winning goal against
Burnley FC in the quarter final, having recovered from a car crash and in the 5th round he scored a controversial re-taken penalty againstSunderland FC . However he was dropped to the bench for Watford's 2003FA Cup semi-final with Southampton, with on-loan strikerMichael Chopra chosen instead. He later admitted that it played a part in his decision to leave the club and joinSunderland FC at the end of the season.After Watford
Smith spent just one season at Sunderland, but it was a successful one. He helped them finish third in the Championship but they lost 5–4 on penalties to Crystal Palace in the play-off semi-finals. He also reached another Fa Cup semi final, this time against
Millwall FC - which he played from the start, but the game was lost 1-0. At the end of the season Smith moved to Derby County, making his debut in a league game against Leeds United. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 victory over Queens Park Rangers.Return to Watford
After 97 games and 21 goals as a Derby player (in all competitions), Smith was the subject of an approach from his first club, Watford. On
30 August 2006 , Smith rejoined Watford for a fee of £500k, he signed a four year deal, taking him through to the summer of2010 . He scored the first league goal of his second spell at Watford against Arsenal in a 2–1 defeat atVicarage Road . Smith reached his third FA cup Semi final, that year - and was again defeated, this time 4-1 toManchester United . He had scored in the 3rd round of the competition, againstStockport County .After relegation from the Premier League, Smith had a successful season in the Championship. He helped Watford to reach the play-offs, where they lost to Hull City. Smith scored seven goals for Watford and made nine assists - which helped him gain the 2008 Watford player of the season award. One of his goals was the equalising goal in a 1-1 draw against Blackpool on the last day of the regular season, which secured Watford's berth in the 2007/2008 Championship play-offs.
Smith scored Watford's first goal of the 2008/2009 season, in a 1-0 victory over Charlton.
External links
* [http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10400~11657,00.html Tommy Smith profile] at watfordfc.co.uk
*soccerbase|id=12983|name=Tommy Smith
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