David Smith (footballer born 1968)

For other people named David Smith, see David Smith (disambiguation).

David Smith

Personal information
Date of birth	29 March 1968 (1968-03-29) (age 43)
Place of birth	Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder (retired)
Club information
Current club	Grimsby Town (Commercial Manager)
Youth career
1984–1986	Coventry City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1986–1993	Coventry City	154	(19)
1993	→ A.F.C. Bournemouth (loan)	1	(0)
1993–1994	Birmingham City	35	(3)
1994–1998	West Bromwich Albion	102	(2)
1998–2002	Grimsby Town	112	(9)
2002–2003	Swansea City	4	(1)
National team
1988–1989	England U21	10	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

David Smith (born 29 March 1968 in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire) is a retired English football midfielder who made more than 400 appearances in the Football League and Premier League and won 10 caps for the England under-21 team. He is currently the Commercial Manager for Grimsby Town.

Career

David Smith started his career at Coventry City after signing professional terms with the club in 1986. He had previously failed trials at Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Luton Town, Swindon Town, and Bristol Rovers before becoming an apprentice at Coventry City in 1984. Four years on Smith made his debut as a teenager in the Premier League against Manchester United at Old Trafford, this ended in a 1–0 defeat. Smith became a regular in the side and earned several England under 21 caps. After a loan spell at A.F.C. Bournemouth where he made one league appearance in 1993 he moved to Birmingham City where he spent a season before moving to local rivals West Bromwich Albion under Alan Buckley. He spent four years at the club before re-joining Alan Buckley half way through the 1997–1998 season. He scored on his debut for the club in a 4–0 win over Brentford F.C.in a league match at Blundell Park. Smith helped Grimsby Town win the Auto Windscreens Shield and Second Division play-offs. David Smith was a key member of that squad, proving his versatility by performing as a deputy for Tony Gallimore and regularly playing there for tactical reasons. One of his most notable moments at Grimsby Town was when he scored in the first-leg of the Division 2 play-off semi-final against Fulham F.C. in the 1997–1998 season. David Smith continued as a regular first-team player at Grimsby Town until he picked up an injury in 2001–02. He later had a spell at Swansea City.

After football

Upon retiring, Smith returned to Grimsby where he worked in a local car dealership, before going into marketing. He was appointed commercial manager at Grimsby Town F.C. in 2004^[1]

Honours

Grimsby Town

• Auto Windscreens Shield winner: 1998
• Second Division playoff winner: 1998

References

General

• Rob Briggs and Dave Wherry (2007). Mariner Men: Grimsby Town Who's Who 1892-2007. Yore Publications. pp. 205. ISBN 978-0955294983. 
• Barrie Courtney (2004-01-10). "England - U-21 International Results 1986-1995 - Details". RSSSF. http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng-u21-intres86.html. Retrieved 2008-03-11. 
• David Smith career stats at Soccerbase

Specific

1. ^ "Who's Who at Blundell Park". Grimsby Town F.C.. 2008-02-23. http://www.grimsby-townfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/WhosWho/0,,10417,00.html. Retrieved 2008-03-11. 

Persondata
Name	Smith, David
Alternative names
Short description	Professional footballer
Date of birth	1968-03-29
Place of birth	Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England
Date of death
Place of death