Adie Smith
Encyclopedia
Adrian Jonathan Smith is an English footballer, currently playing for Northern Premier League Division One South
side Rushall Olympic
, where he plays as a defender
.
as a trainee.
side Willenhall Town
in 1995, whilst working on a part-time basis as a roofer
.
Smith spent one season with Willenhall Town, in which he turned in some very impressive performances, which alerted interest from other clubs.
on 1 August 1996, with Rovers manager Bobby Hope
paying a fee of £1,500 for his services.
Smith spent one season with Bromsgrove Rovers, but the season ended in disappointment when the club was relegated.
, whom he joined on 1 August 1997 for £19,000. The move gave Smith another crack at Conference football.
Smith became a fans' favourite at Kidderminster and, after just two seasons in the Conference
, Smith and Harriers won the Conference title in the 1999-00 season, and they were promoted to the Third Division
.
He stayed with Kidderminster for another three seasons in the Third Division
, but on 6 February 2004 Smith asked for his contract with Kidderminster to be terminated for personal reasons, to which a disappointed Kidderminster manager Jan Molby respected Smith's wishes and agreed to.
Smith had become a great servant to Kidderminster Harriers, playing 243 games and scored 13 goals. He explained that his sudden decision to quit Kidderminster had been based on his wanting to turn semi-professional as he believed he could no longer play at a professional level.
manager Darron Gee
announced the signing of Smith on an 18-month contract. Smith completed the remainder of the season with Tamworth, with the club finishing in 17th position and avoiding relegation.
Smith's second season with Tamworth was without doubt the best for a league perspective, the club were yet again seen as potential relegation battlers, but defied the odds to finish 15th and make history with The Lambs gaining their highest league position in their history, although by the end of this season, Smith's contract had run out.
On 14 April 2005, Smith showed his loyalty to the club by signing a new contract. By this point, he had become the club's captain and led The Lambs to another historic feat, when they made the FA Cup
Third Round. The club drew Stoke City
and managed to take them to a replay at the Lamb, before going out on penalties.
Although Smith and Tamworth had a very successful FA Cup
run, the club failed to emulate the same form in the league and were relegated after finishing 21st. The club were reinstated when Canvey Island
withdrew from the league due to financial problems.
Smith and Tamworth started the 2006-07
season and finished it pretty much the same as they did the previous season. He and goalkeeping coach Dale Belford
took charge of the first-team following the departure of manager Mark Cooper and assistant manager Richard Dryden in January 2007. The club repeated the success they had enjoyed in the previous season by reaching the third round of the FA Cup
, but another disappointing league campaign saw Tamworth finish 22nd and be relegated from the Conference National
.
Despite their relegation from the Conference, Smith signed a new one-year contract with the Staffordshire
club on 4 May 2007. Smith explained that his decision was an easy one, due to his love for the club, fans and people at the club.
for the 2008/09 season.
.
Northern Premier League Division One South
Division One South is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 4 of the National League System, placing it seven divisions below the Premier League...
side Rushall Olympic
Rushall Olympic F.C.
Rushall Olympic are an English football club based in Rushall, a former mining village now forming part of the northern suburbs of Walsall. They play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. They are notable for having sold Zat Knight to Fulham in exchange for 30 Adidas tracksuits...
, where he plays as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Birmingham City
Smith started his football career in 1994 with his local side Birmingham CityBirmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
as a trainee.
Willenhall Town
Smith failed, however, to make the first team with Birmingham City, and after being released he moved on to join Midland Football AllianceMidland Football Alliance
The Midland Football Alliance is an English association football league for semi-professional teams. It covers Leicestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire and also southern parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire...
side Willenhall Town
Willenhall Town F.C.
Willenhall Town F.C. are a football club based in Willenhall, Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, West Midlands, England, currently playing in the Midland Alliance.-History:...
in 1995, whilst working on a part-time basis as a roofer
Roofer
A roofer specializes in roof construction, concentrating on the application of materials that water proof and / or weather proof buildings,designed material—as a substrate for the roofing materials to be installed on. The rafters, beams, and trusses are the frame or skeleton for the roof to be...
.
Smith spent one season with Willenhall Town, in which he turned in some very impressive performances, which alerted interest from other clubs.
Bromsgrove Rovers
Smith began to rise up the leagues and he joined Conference side Bromsgrove RoversBromsgrove Rovers F.C.
Bromsgrove Rovers F.C. were a non-League football club from the town of Bromsgrove in Worcestershire. The peak of the club's success was in 1993 when Rovers finished runner-up in the Football Conference...
on 1 August 1996, with Rovers manager Bobby Hope
Bobby Hope
Robert "Bobby" Hope is a Scottish former footballer who made more than 400 appearances as a midfielder in the Football League. He played more than 300 league games for West Bromwich Albion where he spent most of his club career. He won two caps for Scotland.Hope played for West Brom between 1959...
paying a fee of £1,500 for his services.
Smith spent one season with Bromsgrove Rovers, but the season ended in disappointment when the club was relegated.
Kidderminster Harriers
Smith's performances with Bromsgrove Rovers did not go unnoticed and captured the interest of local rivals Kidderminster HarriersKidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
, whom he joined on 1 August 1997 for £19,000. The move gave Smith another crack at Conference football.
Smith became a fans' favourite at Kidderminster and, after just two seasons in the Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
, Smith and Harriers won the Conference title in the 1999-00 season, and they were promoted to the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
.
He stayed with Kidderminster for another three seasons in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
, but on 6 February 2004 Smith asked for his contract with Kidderminster to be terminated for personal reasons, to which a disappointed Kidderminster manager Jan Molby respected Smith's wishes and agreed to.
Smith had become a great servant to Kidderminster Harriers, playing 243 games and scored 13 goals. He explained that his sudden decision to quit Kidderminster had been based on his wanting to turn semi-professional as he believed he could no longer play at a professional level.
Tamworth
On 6 February 2004, TamworthTamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
manager Darron Gee
Darron Gee
Darron G. Gee born is an English former footballer who is the assistant manager of York City.-Playing career:Gee had 12 years as a player at Hucknall Town before a serious knee injury ended his playing career....
announced the signing of Smith on an 18-month contract. Smith completed the remainder of the season with Tamworth, with the club finishing in 17th position and avoiding relegation.
Smith's second season with Tamworth was without doubt the best for a league perspective, the club were yet again seen as potential relegation battlers, but defied the odds to finish 15th and make history with The Lambs gaining their highest league position in their history, although by the end of this season, Smith's contract had run out.
On 14 April 2005, Smith showed his loyalty to the club by signing a new contract. By this point, he had become the club's captain and led The Lambs to another historic feat, when they made the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Third Round. The club drew Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and managed to take them to a replay at the Lamb, before going out on penalties.
Although Smith and Tamworth had a very successful FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
run, the club failed to emulate the same form in the league and were relegated after finishing 21st. The club were reinstated when Canvey Island
Canvey Island F.C.
Canvey Island F.C, known as the Gulls or Yellow Army, are an English football club founded in 1926 that play in the Isthmian League Premier Division....
withdrew from the league due to financial problems.
Smith and Tamworth started the 2006-07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season and finished it pretty much the same as they did the previous season. He and goalkeeping coach Dale Belford
Dale Belford
Dale Belford is a professional footballer, currently player coach at Tamworth.-Aston Villa and Sutton Coldfield Town:...
took charge of the first-team following the departure of manager Mark Cooper and assistant manager Richard Dryden in January 2007. The club repeated the success they had enjoyed in the previous season by reaching the third round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, but another disappointing league campaign saw Tamworth finish 22nd and be relegated from the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
.
Despite their relegation from the Conference, Smith signed a new one-year contract with the Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
club on 4 May 2007. Smith explained that his decision was an easy one, due to his love for the club, fans and people at the club.
Chasetown
After four years with The Lambs, Smith finally moved on to Southern League Division One Midlands side ChasetownChasetown F.C.
Chasetown Football Club is an English football club based in the Chasetown area of Burntwood, Staffordshire. The club currently plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and is nicknamed The Scholars, having been formed by affiliates of nearby Chase Terrace High School in the Chase...
for the 2008/09 season.
Rushall Olympic
On 14 November 2009, it was announced that Smith had joined Rushall OlympicRushall Olympic F.C.
Rushall Olympic are an English football club based in Rushall, a former mining village now forming part of the northern suburbs of Walsall. They play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. They are notable for having sold Zat Knight to Fulham in exchange for 30 Adidas tracksuits...
.
External links
- Adie Smith profile at thelambs.co.uk