Allan Smart

Football player infobox
playername = Allan Smart


fullname = Allan Smart
height = height|ft=6|in=2
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1974|7|8|df=y
cityofbirth = Perth
countryofbirth = Scotland
currentclub = (Free Agent)
clubnumber =
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1993–1994
1994–1996
1995
1996
1996–1998
1998–2001
2001
2001
2001–2002
2002–2003
2003–2004
2004–2005
2005–2006
2006–2007
2007–2008
clubs = Caledonian
Preston North End
→ Carlisle United (loan)
→ Northampton Town (loan)
Carlisle United
Watford
→ Hibernian (loan)
→ Stoke City (loan)
Oldham Athletic
Dundee United
Crewe Alexandra
Milton Keynes Dons
Bury
Portadown
Burscough
caps(goals) =
21 0(6)
04 0(0)
01 0(0)
45 (16)
56 (12)
05 0(1)
02 0(0)
21 0(6)
17 0(0)
06 0(0)
18 0(4)
13 0(1)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 18:25, 16 July, 2007 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Allan Smart (born 8 July 1974 in Perth, Scotland) is a professional footballer, currently without a club having parted company with Conference North side Burscough, where he played as a striker and also served as assistant manager.

Career

Smart began his career with junior club Balbeggie and had spells with St Johnstone and Brechin City, but without appearing for either's first team. In 1993 he joined Highland League club Caledonian; the following year Smart made his Scottish League debut following the merger which created Caledonian Thistle, but was soon sold to Preston North End for a fee of £15000. Here he was sent out on loan to a number of clubs in order to gain experience and match practice. These clubs included Carlisle United and Northampton Town. In between these loan deals he also managed to make some first team appearances for Preston. However, after just thirty-one appearances for the club he was signed permanently by Carlisle in 1996 and then moved on to Watford for £100,000 in 1998.

During his time at Watford he helped them get promoted to the Premier League for the 1999-00 season. He scored the second goal in Watford's 2-0 victory against Bolton (division one playoff final) [cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjunL7v7lNc&feature=related |publisher=YouTube |title=Watford vs Bolton Wanderers Play off final 1999 |format= |work= |accessdate=2008-05-22] . This ensured Watford's promotion was concrete. Soon after, Watford found themselves out of their depth in the division as they finished 20th with just 24 points. However Smart still managed to score some goals. He stayed with the club until November 2001, after two loan moves to Hibernian and Stoke City respectively. He signed for Oldham Athletic for a fee of £225,000 on 30 November 2001.

His time at Oldham was both frustrating and disappointing for Smart, as he managed just twenty-one appearances during his season-long stay at the club, before being released at the end of the season. Since leaving Oldham in 2002, he had spells at Dundee United, Crewe Alexandra, MK Dons and Bury before signing for Portadown in the close season of 2006.

In July 2007, Smart joined Conference North side Burscough on a season-long loan. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/6901436.stm|title=Smart exits Ports for Burscough |date=2007-07-16|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-09-02] When the loan deal expired, Smart made the move permanent as his Portadown cotract had also expired.

After the departure of manager, Liam Watson, from Burscough, his assistant, Joey Dunn was appointed as his replacement. The vacant assistant manager role was filled by Smart, whilst also remaining on the playing staff. In September of this year, he took up a full time job, as Head of Youth Development at Southport, however, he remains a player and assistant manager, part time at Burscough. He however soon left Burscough, with many linnets fans feeling having positions for two clubs in the same league was detriment to his contribution to their club.

References

External links

* [http://www.burscoughfc.co.uk/players.php Official Burscough profile]
*soccerbase|id=7360|name=Allan Smart