Graham Smith (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Graham Smith is an English
former professional footballer.
. He also played in the Football League
for Colchester United
, West Bromwich Albion
, and Cambridge United
, making a total of 200 league appearances for all four clubs. Smith also played non-league football with Matlock Town
, Hednesford Town
, Tamworth
and Atherstone United.
where he spent 6 years. February 1986 saw Smith join Tamworth
. During his 5 year spell as manager of the Lambs, Smith is considered one of their most popular managers after taking the non-league club to Wembley for the final of the FA Vase
, in which the club went on to win the replay against Sudbury Town
at Peterborough United
's London Road.
Smith retired from football management in 1991 and retired to Cyprus in 2007, the manager of Ventura Fusion is not the Graham Smith who successfully managed Tamworth to the FA vase. His son Richard (an England youth player, and ex-professional of Notts Forest) is now assistant manager at Dudley Town.
side Portland Timbers in 2010 for their final season in the second division and continued on as goalkeeper coach for the Portland Timbers
of Major League Soccer
the following year.
On October 17, 2011 Adam Smith was selected to lead the Portland Timbers in a jog and stretch on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The jog began at the Korean War memorial, and went to the base of the Washington Monument before returning to the team bus near the Lincoln Memorial. This leadership role was repeated three days later when he again led the Timbers in a jog through the National Mall.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer.
Playing career
Smith, who played as a goalkeeper, began his professional career in 1968 with Notts CountyNotts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. He also played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, and Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
, making a total of 200 league appearances for all four clubs. Smith also played non-league football with Matlock Town
Matlock Town F.C.
Matlock Town F.C. is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in the late 1870s and have competed in the Central Alliance and the Midland Counties League before reaching the Northern Premier League.In the 1974–75 season the club won...
, Hednesford Town
Hednesford Town F.C.
Hednesford Town Football Club are an association football team based in Hednesford, Staffordshire, England. They play at Keys Park.-History:...
, Tamworth
Tamworth 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....
and Atherstone United.
Management career
Smith started his management career with Nuneaton Borough before moving on to Dudley TownDudley Town F.C.
Dudley Town F.C. are a football club based in Dudley, West Midlands, England. The club is one of the oldest non-league teams in the Midlands region, having been established in 1888...
where he spent 6 years. February 1986 saw Smith join Tamworth
Tamworth 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....
. During his 5 year spell as manager of the Lambs, Smith is considered one of their most popular managers after taking the non-league club to Wembley for the final of the FA Vase
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...
, in which the club went on to win the replay against Sudbury Town
Sudbury Town F.C.
Sudbury Town F.C. was an English football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Established in 1885, the club merged with Sudbury Wanderers in 1999 to form A.F.C. Sudbury.-History:...
at Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
's London Road.
Smith retired from football management in 1991 and retired to Cyprus in 2007, the manager of Ventura Fusion is not the Graham Smith who successfully managed Tamworth to the FA vase. His son Richard (an England youth player, and ex-professional of Notts Forest) is now assistant manager at Dudley Town.
Personal life
Graham's son, Adam Smith, was hired as Goalkeeper coach for American D-2 Pro LeagueUSSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
side Portland Timbers in 2010 for their final season in the second division and continued on as goalkeeper coach for the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers may refer to any of four distinct professional soccer teams:*Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer expansion team that began playing in 2011....
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
the following year.
On October 17, 2011 Adam Smith was selected to lead the Portland Timbers in a jog and stretch on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The jog began at the Korean War memorial, and went to the base of the Washington Monument before returning to the team bus near the Lincoln Memorial. This leadership role was repeated three days later when he again led the Timbers in a jog through the National Mall.