Graham Smith (footballer, born 1947)

Graham Smith is an English former professional footballer and former technical director of Sacramento Republic FC.

Graham Smith
Personal information
Full name Graham William Charles Smith
Date of birth (1947-11-02) 2 November 1947
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1967–1968 Loughborough College
Liverpool FC (A Team)
England (under 18's)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1968–1969 Notts County 10 (0)
1969–1972 Colchester United 95 (0)
1972–1973 West Bromwich Albion 10 (0)
1973–1976 Cambridge United 85 (0)
Wigan Athletic
Total 200 (0)
Managerial career
2007–2009 Ventura County Fusion
2013–2017 Sacramento Republic (Director of Football)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Playing career

Smith, who played as a goalkeeper, began his professional career in 1968 with Notts County.[1] He also played in the Football League for Colchester United,[2] West Bromwich Albion,[3] and Cambridge United,[4] making a total of 200 league appearances for all four clubs. Smith was a member of Colchester United's famous FA Cup giant killing team, beating Leeds United 3–2 on 13 February 1971. Smith was later inducted to the Colchester United Hall of Fame in 2009.

Management career

After playing professional football, Graham went on to be the product director at both Adidas and Le Coq Sportif. He then moved to Chelsea Football Club to take a position on the board of directors before moving into football agency, starting up First Wave Sports UK and then First Wave Sports USA.

Ventura County Fusion PDL (USL League Two) 2006–2009 (Head Coach) Sacramento Republic (USL Championship) 2014–2017[5][6] (Director of Football)

Personal life

Graham is living both in California and Mexico. He has two sons both living in the USA. Graham's oldest son, Adam Smith, was also a professional footballer, beginning his career as a schoolboy at Premiership Club Everton Adam later went on to spend a year with Walsall F.C. after completing a college degree in business and sports coaching at Manchester Metropolitan University. He then went on to play with teams in Asia, Scotland and the US as a full-time professional and semi-professional player.

Graham is now happily semi-retired and his successful agency business (First Wave Sports) is now being run and managed by the former professional Major League Soccer player Stefani Miglioranzi.

Managerial statistics
  • Ventura County Fusion. PDL National Championship winner 2009 (Head Coach)
  • Sacramento Republic FC. USL National Championship winner 2014 (Technical Director)
  • Sacramento Republic FC. USL Western Conference 1st-place finish (Director of Football)

Honours

Playing honours
Colchester United[7]

References
  1. "Notts County: 1946/47 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  2. "Colchester United: 1950/51 – 1989/90 & 1992/93 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  3. "West Bromwich Albion: 1946/47 – 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  4. "Cambridge United: 1970/71 – 2004/05". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  5. "Smith Resigns From Republic FC". Sacramento, CA: USLSoccer.com. 18 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  6. "Graham Smith Resigns Position at Sacramento Republic FC". Sacramento Republic FC. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  7. "Watney Cup Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
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