Paul Smith (footballer born 1971)

Football player infobox
playername = Paul Smith


fullname = Paul William Smith
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1971|9|18
cityofbirth = East Ham, London
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Margate
clubnumber =
position = Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1990–1993
1993
1993–1997
1997–2005
2005–2006
2005
2006
2006–2007
2007
2007
2007
2007 2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Southend United
→ Dover Athletic (loan)
Brentford
Gillingham
Walsall
→ Gillingham (loan)
Swindon Town
AFC Sudbury
Torquay United
Barnet Great Wakering Rovers St Albans City AFC Sudbury Margate
caps(goals) = 018 (2)
00? (?)
157 (0)
338 (4)
008 (0)
003 (0)
005 (4)
001 (1)
008 (0)
000 (0)
001 (0)
004 (0)
014 (2)
000 (0)
pcupdate= January 26th 2008 (UTC)

Paul William Smith (born 18 September 1971) is an English professional footballer.

Smith was born in East Ham, London and began his career as a trainee with Southend United, turning professional in 1990. He found his chances limited at Roots Hall and after a loan spell with Dover Athletic moved on to Brentford in August 1993 on a free transfer.

In August 1997 he joined Gillingham, where he enjoyed the most successful spell of his career. He captained the Kent side for a lengthy spell and was also named the club's player of the year on an unprecedented four occasions, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/football/teams/g/gillingham/4649483.stm Captain Smith leaves Gillingham] ] although his final reign ended in a bizarre dispute with chairman Paul Scally in which Smith reportedly refused to hand back the trophy until he was paid money he claimed the club owed him. [ [http://home.skysports.com/column.aspx?hlid=381162&lid=Back_of_the_Net_column&title=Pets+and+Prizes&channel=skysports_home_page Pets and Prizes] ]

He left Priestfield in 2005, after the team were relegated to Football League One and he was offered reduced terms. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4652235.stm Smith anguish at Gillingham exit] ]

In July 2005 he joined Walsall, returning to Gillingham in October 2005 to play three times in a loan spell. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4385322.stm Smith returning to Gills on loan] ] He moved to Swindon Town in January 2006, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/4606458.stm Swindon boss closes on Smith deal] ] but was released in June 2006 after Swindon sacked manager Iffy Onuora. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/5052262.stm Robins to part company with Smith] ]

He joined A.F.C. Sudbury in October 2006, but returned to league football when he joined Torquay United on January 29 2007. He played eight times for Torquay as they were relegated to the Conference National. On the eve of the transfer window in August 2007, he joined Barnet, but just one day later Bees manager Paul Fairclough decided he didn't want the player and released him. Smith made one appearance for Great Wakering Rovers at the start of the 2007-08 season before moving to St Albans City for whom he made four starts before returning to A.F.C. Sudbury on the 18 October 2007.

On 22 May 2008, it was announced that Smith had signed for Margate as a player/coach, forming part of the new management team headed by first team manager Barry Ashby.

ources

*cite book | last=Triggs |first=Roger| title=The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club| publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd | year=2001| id=ISBN 0-7524-2243-X
*soccerbase|7431|Paul Smith's

References

Persondata
NAME=Smith, Paul William
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Smith, Paul
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Football (soccer) player
DATE OF BIRTH=18 September 1971
PLACE OF BIRTH=East Ham, Greater London, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=