Ben Smith (footballer, born 1986)

Benjamin James "Ben" Smith (born 5 September 1986) is an English football goalkeeper who last played for Southport. He also made senior appearances in the Football League for Doncaster Rovers and Lincoln City, and was part of the Shrewsbury Town squad which won promotion from League Two in the 2011–12 season.

For other uses, see Ben Smith (disambiguation).

Ben Smith
Personal information
Full name Benjamin David Smith
Date of birth (1986-09-05) 5 September 1986
Place of birth Whitley Bay, England
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
2004–2006 Newcastle United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006 Stockport County 0 (0)
2006–2010 Doncaster Rovers 15 (0)
2007–2008 → Lincoln City (loan) 9 (0)
2009 → Morecambe (loan) 3 (0)
2010–2012 Shrewsbury Town 36 (0)
2012–2013 Rochdale 0 (0)
2013 Southport 2 (0)
Total 65 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Biography

Smith is son of the renowned goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach Simon Smith. He attended Whitley Bay High School.

He has previously been on the books of Newcastle United's youth team, spending a period on loan with Middlesbrough[1] and on trial at Leeds United,[2] before joining Stockport County on non-contract terms on 23 March 2006.[3] He made his debut for Doncaster in a League Cup game against Wycombe Wanderers on 24 October 2006, which led to a run in the side as Rovers first choice goalkeeper, but the signing of ever-present goalkeeper Neil Sullivan saw Smith getting limited chances in the first team. He went on loan to Lincoln City in November 2007.

On 16 October 2009 Smith joined Morecambe on a one-month loan,[4] to cover for injured Barry Roche.

In May 2010, Doncaster announced that he was one of 6 players not asked to re-sign.[5]

On 29 July 2010, Smith joined League Two club Shrewsbury Town on a two-year contract after a successful trial period.[6] In May 2012, Smith was released by the club following their promotion to Football League One, having lost his place earlier in the season to Chris Neal.[7]

On 10 August 2012 it was announced that Smith had signed with League Two club Rochdale on non-contract terms to act as cover to first choice goalkeeper Josh Lillis. He then moved on to Conference Premier team Southport until the end of the season in March 2014. However, during his second start for the club, he suffered a torn groin muscle against Newport County, which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.[8]

Outside of football, Smith runs a number of businesses in Shrewsbury with his wife.[9]

Achievements

References
  1. "Reserves end all square". Middlesbrough F.C. Official Website. 12 October 2005. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  2. "Reserves held by Leeds". Newcastle United F.C. 21 December 2005. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  3. "New goalkeeper arrives". Stockport County F.C. 23 March 2006. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  4. "Smith joins Shrimps". doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Doncaster Rovers. 16 October 2009. Archived from the original on 19 October 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  5. "Six players released from Rovers". Doncaster Rovers F.C. 5 May 2010. Archived from the original on 8 May 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  6. "Shrewsbury sign Sean McAllister & goalkeeper Ben Smith". BBC Sport. 29 July 2010. Archived from the original on 31 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  7. "Four stay, four go at Shrews". Sky Sports. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  8. Southport: Keeper Ben Smith to miss rest of season https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21956521
  9. "Ex-Shrewsbury Town star Ben Smith running bar and spa in former chapel". Shropshire Star. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
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