Neil Smith (footballer)

Neil Smith

Personal information
Full name	Neil James Smith
Date of birth	30 September 1971 (1971-09-30) (age 40)
Place of birth	Lambeth, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Lewes (Assistant manager)
Youth career
1990–1991	Tottenham Hotspur
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1991–1997	Gillingham	213	(10)
1997–1999	Fulham	75	(1)
1999–2002	Reading	64	(3)
2002	Stevenage	8	(0)
2002–2007	Woking	142	(5)
2007–2008	Welling United	?	(?)
2008	Bromley	?	(?)
2008	Maidstone United
Teams managed
2007	Woking (caretaker)
2007–2008	Welling United
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:26, 26 October 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

Neil Smith (born Lambeth, 30 September 1971) is an English former professional football player and currently assistant manager at Lewes.^[1]

Playing career

Smith started his career at Tottenham Hotspur as an apprentice but after a year had failed to break through to the team. He went on loan to Gillingham and then signed for them permanently in 1991, going on to make over 200 appearances. During his time at the Gills in 1995, Smith was on the verge of a move to then Division Two club Brentford. However, when the fee was set at £50,000 by a tribunal, then Brentford manager David Webb felt he could find better value elsewhere, hence the deal fell through and Smith remained at Gillingham for two more seasons.^{[citation needed]}

He moved to Fulham in 1997 for two seasons, making 75 appearances and memorably scoring against former club Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup,^[2] before joining Reading, where he made some 65 appearances in a three year spell. He was part of promotion-winning sides at Gillingham, Fulham and Reading.

Smith briefly joined Stevenage Borough in 2002 before Glenn Cockerill bought him to Woking where he played a vital part in the escape from relegation that season. He made 180 appearances for Woking and had a short spell as caretaker manager before being released in 2007. He signed for Bromley in 2008 before calling time on his playing career. On July 19, 2008, Kingfield hosted a benefit game for Smith to celebrate the six years he spent at Woking.

Smith joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Maidstone United as a player on 18 October 2008 following his release from the coaching staff at financially troubled Grays Athletic. He made his debut in the FA Trophy 1st qualifying round tie against AFC Hornchurch.

Managerial career

Smith was appointed joint caretaker manager of Woking in March 2007 with Graham Baker following the departure of Glenn Cockerill, helping the club to stay in the Conference National.

On May 4, 2007, after failing to get the job full-time, Smith was released by Woking following the appointment of Frank Gray as manager.^[3] Two weeks later Smith was appointed as the new manager of Conference South team Welling United following the departure of Adrian Pennock to Stoke City. He held the job until January 7, 2008, when he was sacked.^[4] Shortly after this he signed for Bromley as a player.^[5]

Smith joined Grays Athletic as part of their coaching staff on 21 February 2008.^[6] He then joined Tim O'Shea, with whom he worked with at Grays, at Croydon Athletic as a coach and again followed O'Shea to Lewes as his assistant.

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ Moore, Glenn (5 January 1998). "Tottenham advance at expense of more injuries". London: The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-fa-cup-third-round--tottenham-advance-at-expense-of-more-injuries-1137141.html. Retrieved 10 March 2010. 
3. ^ Smith 'hurt' after Woking release, BBC Sport
4. ^ Wings sack boss Smith, KentOnline
5. ^ Leisurely Lillies concern Osborn, Bromley Times
6. ^ New Coach At Grays, graysathletic.co.uk

External links

• Neil Smith career stats at Soccerbase

Persondata
Name	Smith, Neil
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	30 September 1971
Place of birth	Lambeth, England
Date of death
Place of death