- Darren Smith (footballer born 1988)
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This article is about the Stirling Albion player. For the Airdrie United player, see Darren Smith (footballer born 1986).
Darren Smith Personal information Full name Darren Lee Smith Date of birth 27 March 1988 Place of birth Lanark, Scotland Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Playing position Winger/Forward Club information Current club Stirling Albion Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2004–2010 Motherwell 58 (8) 2010 → Stenhousemuir (loan) 2 (0) 2010–2011 Ross County 7 (0) 2011– Stirling Albion 8 (3) National team‡ 2007 Scotland U21 1 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:24, 2 October 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 24 July 2010Darren Lee Smith (born 27 March 1988, in Lanark) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for Stirling Albion. Smith represented the Scotland national under-21 football team once and played nearly 60 SPL games for Motherwell.[1]
Darren's maternal grandfather Billy Kennedy played for Linfield (Northern Ireland) in the 1950s and represented Ireland at junior and amateur level.
He qualifies for at least 3 countries at international level; Scotland, Northern Ireland and England (perhaps also Republic of Ireland) via parents and grandparents.
Contents
Club career
Motherwell
Smith started his football career at boyhood heroes Motherwell[2], and became one of their youngest ever players when he made his debut aged 16, appearing as a substitute against Inverness CT in the 2004–05 season. It would be the 2005–06 season before he would feature in the team again, coming on as a substitute as Motherwell defeated Falkirk 5–0. A few days later, he scored his first goal for the club against St. Mirren in the League Cup. He then suffered an injury which ruling him out for the rest of the season.
The 2006–07 season was a more prolific one for Smith. Despite this being an unsuccessful season for Motherwell, who finished 10th in the SPL, Smith made 13 starts and 6 substitute appearances, scoring three goals. The first and most notable of his goals was a last minute equaliser against Celtic on Boxing Day 2006.
The 2007–08 season was Smith's most successful in his time at Motherwell so far, as Motherwell finished 3rd in the SPL and qualified for the UEFA Cup. He made 27 appearances, scoring four goals. Two came against Aberdeen in the SPL, the second being the opener in the 2–1 victory on 10 May that effectively sealed Motherwell's UEFA Cup qualification.
Smith found himself on the fringes of the first team in the 2008–09 season, making only 1 start and failing to find the net. At the start of the 2009–10 season, Smith was forced to have hip surgery after tearing cartilage during pre-season.[3]
Smith spent a month on loan at Stenhousemuir in early 2010, but played only twice due to injury.[4]
Ross County
He was released by Motherwell at the end of the 2009–10 season.[2] [1] Smith had a trial at Inverness CT. Smith then signed for Ross County on a one year deal.[1] Manager Derek Adams commented that "Darren is a young player with a lot of potential as well as a lot of experience. I'm delighted that after his trial period we have been able to reach an agreement with him."[1]
Stirling Albion
On 28 July 2011, Smith signed for Stirling Albion of the Second Division after being released by Ross County.[5]
International career
Smith made his debut for the Scotland under–21s in the spring of 2007, playing the second half of a 2–0 defeat against Germany under–21s. He also played for his country at under–19 level.
References
- ^ a b c d "Ross County sign former Motherwell winger Darren Smith". BBC Sport. 23 July 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/ross_county/8850866.stm. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
- ^ a b "Darren Smith leaves the club". Motherwell F.C. Official Website. 11 May 2010. http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2010/05/11/darren-smith-leaves-the-club/. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- ^ Well Star Darren in Hip Op Hell, Scottish Sun, 25 Aug 2005.
- ^ "Smith returns to Motherwell". Scottish Football League. 19 March 2010. http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/news.cfm?curpageid=945&newsid=3338. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
- ^ "Bar bill buys striker". Stirling Observer. 29 July 2010. http://www.stirlingobserver.co.uk/stirling-sport/stirling-football/stirling-albion/2011/07/29/bar-bill-buys-striker-51226-29136605/. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
External links
Stirling Albion F.C. – current squad Categories:- 1988 births
- Living people
- People from Lanark
- Scottish footballers
- Association football wingers
- Scottish people of Irish descent
- Scotland under-21 international footballers
- Motherwell F.C. players
- Stenhousemuir F.C. players
- Ross County F.C. players
- Stirling Albion F.C. players
- Scottish Premier League players
- Scottish Football League players
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