Gary Smith (footballer, born 1984)

Gary Stephen Smith (born 30 January 1984) is an English retired professional footballer who played in the Football League for Milton Keynes Dons, Brentford and Darlington as a midfielder.

Gary Smith
Smith in 2011
Personal information
Full name Gary Stephen Smith[1]
Date of birth (1984-01-30) 30 January 1984[1]
Place of birth Middlesbrough, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1999–2003 Middlesbrough
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Middlesbrough 0 (0)
2004 → Wimbledon (loan) 11 (3)
2004–2007 Milton Keynes Dons 71 (5)
2007–2009 Brentford 33 (1)
2009–2011 Darlington 71 (2)
0000–2012 Brotton Railway Arms
Total 186 (11)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Middlesbrough

A midfielder, Smith began his career in the academy at hometown Premier League club Middlesbrough and signed his first professional contract in July 2002.[1] While a reserve team player, Smith admitted liability for breaking the leg of Manchester United midfielder Ben Collett, who was eventually forced to retire from football due to the tackle.[3] Smith failed to win a call into the first team squad before being released at the end of the 2003–04 season.[4]

Milton Keynes Dons (loan and permanent transfer)

On 23 March 2004, Smith joined Milton Keynes-based First Division strugglers Wimbledon on loan until the end of the 2003–04 season.[5] The following day, he made the first senior appearance of his career as a 37th-minute substitute for Albert Jarrett in a 1–0 defeat to Millwall.[6] Smith scored the first senior goal of his career in the following match, with what proved to be a consolation in a 2–1 defeat to Ipswich Town.[6] He finished the season with 11 appearances and three goals,[6] but despite suffering relegation to League One, Smith signed a three-year contract with the club (now renamed Milton Keynes Dons) on a free transfer in May 2004.[7]

Over the course of the 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons and despite being a popular player,[8][9][10] Smith found himself in and out of the team and was out of favour with new manager Martin Allen after the Dons' relegation to League Two in 2006.[11] He played no part in the Dons' 2007 Football League play-off campaign,[10] in which the club's hopes of a return to League One were ended in the semi-finals by Shrewsbury Town.[12] Smith was released in May 2007,[13] having made 91 appearances and scored 12 goals in just over three seasons for Wimbledon and Milton Keynes Dons.[14]

Brentford

On 1 August 2007, Smith signed a one-year contract with newly relegated League Two club Brentford on a free transfer.[15] He found it difficult to settle in a turbulent time under new manager Terry Butcher,[16] but after Butcher's sacking in December 2007,[17] his assistant Andy Scott took over and Smith finished the season ever-present in the team.[18] He signed a new 18-month contract in January 2008.[16] He finished the 2007–08 season with 32 appearances and 1 goal,[18] which came with a low-drilled shot in a 2–1 victory over Chesterfield on 12 January 2008.[19]

An ankle injury reduced Smith to just four appearances during the 2008–09 season,[20][21] which was not enough for him to claim a medal as Brentford sealed a return to League One after winning the League Two championship.[22] He was released in May 2009,[23] having made just 36 appearances and scored one goal in two seasons at Griffin Park.[14]

Darlington

Smith remained in League Two to join Darlington on a free transfer on 1 July 2009.[24] He made 38 appearances and scored one goal in a disastrous season for the Quakers,[25] which resulted in relegation to the Conference Premier,[26] but he signed a new contract to remain with the club.[27] Despite suffering from niggling thigh, knee and ankle injuries,[28] Smith had a good 2010–11 season, scoring five goals in 45 appearances and helping the club to a 7th-place finish and the FA Trophy Final.[26][29] Despite victory versus Mansfield Town at Wembley Stadium,[30] Smith suffered an injury to his cruciate and medial ligaments on 39 minutes and was substituted for Aman Verma.[31] The club was unable to offer a new contract and he was released at the end of the 2010–11 season,[31] having made 83 appearances and scored 6 goals during two seasons at the Darlington Arena.[29]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Wimbledon (loan) 2003–04[6] First Division 11 3 — — — 11 3
Milton Keynes Dons 2004–05[8] League One 23 1 3 0 1 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 28 1
2005–06[9] 25 3 2 1 0 0 2[lower-alpha 1] 3 29 7
2006–07[10] League Two 23 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 1
Wimbledon/MK Dons total 82 8 5 1 1 0 3 3 91 12
Brentford 2007–08[18] League Two 29 1 1 0 1 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 32 1
2008–09[20] 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Total 33 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 36 1
Darlington 2009–10[25] League Two 34 1 1 0 1 0 2[lower-alpha 1] 0 38 1
2010–11[29] Conference Premier 37 1 2 2 — 7[lower-alpha 2] 2 46 5
Total 71 2 3 2 1 0 9 2 84 6
Career total 186 11 9 3 3 0 13 5 211 19
  1. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearances in FA Trophy. For appearance omitted by Soccerway:[32]

Honours

Darlington

References
  1. "Gary Smith". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011. Headline. p. 460. ISBN 978-0-7553-6107-6.
  3. "Man Utd player wins £4.5m payout". 11 August 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  4. "Played for both: Middlesbrough". Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  5. "Dons sign midfield talent". mkdons.com. 23 March 2011. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  6. "Games played by Gary Smith in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  7. "Smith ready for three-year deal". www.miltonkeynes.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  8. "Games played by Gary Smith in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  9. "Games played by Gary Smith in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  10. "Games played by Gary Smith in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  11. "Smith lets rip after Dons release". www.miltonkeynes.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  12. "MK Dons 1–2 Shrewsbury". 18 May 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  13. "Winkelman defends Smith exit". www.miltonkeynes.co.uk. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  14. Gary Smith at Soccerbase
  15. "Gary's number nine". brentfordfc.co.uk. 1 August 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  16. "Smith extends Brentford contract". 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  17. "Boss Butcher leaves Brentford job". 11 December 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  18. "Games played by Gary Smith in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  19. "Brentford 2–1 Chesterfield". 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  20. "Games played by Gary Smith in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  21. Murtagh, Jacob (13 March 2009). "Brentford FC's Gary Smith feels stronger than ever". getwestlondon. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  22. "Brentford Complete History - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  23. "Scotty releases nine". brentfordfc.co.uk. 6 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  24. "Meet the players". Darington F.C. 2 July 2009. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  25. "Games played by Gary Smith in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  26. "Darlington History". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2016.
  27. Wilkinson, Andrew (12 April 2010). "Quakers can make quick return – Gary Smith". gazettelive. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  28. "Smith playing through the pain for Darlington". gazettelive. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  29. Gary Smith at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  30. "FA Trophy final: Darlington 1–0 Mansfield Town". BBC Sport. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  31. "Gary Smith facing a battle to save his career". gazettelive. 27 May 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  32. Newsum, Matt (12 March 2011). "Darlington 3–2 Gateshead". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
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