Neil Smith (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Neil Smith is an English
former professional football player and currently assistant manager at Lewes
.
as an apprentice but after a year had failed to break through to the team. He went on loan to Gillingham
and then signed for them permanently in 1991, going on to make over 200 appearances. During his time at the Gills in 1995, Smith was on the verge of a move to then Division Two club Brentford
. However, when the fee was set at £50,000 by a tribunal, then Brentford manager David Webb
felt he could find better value elsewhere, hence the deal fell through and Smith remained at Gillingham for two more seasons.
He moved to Fulham
in 1997 for two seasons, making 75 appearances and memorably scoring against former club Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup, before joining Reading
, where he made some 65 appearances in a three year spell. He was part of promotion-winning sides at Gillingham, Fulham and Reading.
Smith briefly joined Stevenage Borough
in 2002 before Glenn Cockerill
bought him to Woking
where he played a vital part in the escape from relegation that season. He made 180 appearances for Woking and had a short spell as caretaker manager before being released in 2007. He signed for Bromley
in 2008 before calling time on his playing career. On July 19, 2008, Kingfield hosted a benefit game for Smith to celebrate the six years he spent at Woking.
Smith joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Maidstone United
as a player on 18 October 2008 following his release from the coaching staff at financially troubled Grays Athletic
. He made his debut in the FA Trophy
1st qualifying round tie against AFC Hornchurch.
in March 2007 with Graham Baker
following the departure of Glenn Cockerill
, helping the club to stay in the Conference National
.
On May 4, 2007, after failing to get the job full-time, Smith was released by Woking following the appointment of Frank Gray
as manager. Two weeks later Smith was appointed as the new manager of Conference South
team Welling United
following the departure of Adrian Pennock
to Stoke City
. He held the job until January 7, 2008, when he was sacked. Shortly after this he signed for Bromley
as a player.
Smith joined Grays Athletic
as part of their coaching staff on 21 February 2008. He then joined Tim O'Shea
, with whom he worked with at Grays, at Croydon Athletic
as a coach and again followed O'Shea to Lewes
as his assistant.
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 football player and currently assistant manager at Lewes
Lewes F.C.
Lewes Football Club is an English football team based in Lewes, East Sussex. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Dripping Pan.-History:...
.
Playing career
Smith started his career at Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
as an apprentice but after a year had failed to break through to the team. He went on loan to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
and then signed for them permanently in 1991, going on to make over 200 appearances. During his time at the Gills in 1995, Smith was on the verge of a move to then Division Two club Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
. However, when the fee was set at £50,000 by a tribunal, then Brentford manager David Webb
David Webb
David Webb may refer to:*David Webb , English football player and manager*David Michael Webb , Hong Kong corporate and economic governance activist...
felt he could find better value elsewhere, hence the deal fell through and Smith remained at Gillingham for two more seasons.
He moved to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
in 1997 for two seasons, making 75 appearances and memorably scoring against former club Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup, before joining Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, where he made some 65 appearances in a three year spell. He was part of promotion-winning sides at Gillingham, Fulham and Reading.
Smith briefly joined Stevenage Borough
Stevenage Borough F.C.
Stevenage Football Club is an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club currently participate in League One, the third tier of English football, having won promotion from League Two in the 2010–11 season...
in 2002 before Glenn Cockerill
Glenn Cockerill
Glenn Cockerill is a retired English footballer who played more than 700 games in The Football League in a 22-year career. He is perhaps best remembered from his eight-year spell at Southampton...
bought him to Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
where he played a vital part in the escape from relegation that season. He made 180 appearances for Woking and had a short spell as caretaker manager before being released in 2007. He signed for Bromley
Bromley F.C.
Bromley Football Club are an English football club based in Bromley, in Greater London, England. They currently play in the Conference South, and play their home matches at Hayes Lane.-Early years:...
in 2008 before calling time on his playing career. On July 19, 2008, Kingfield hosted a benefit game for Smith to celebrate the six years he spent at Woking.
Smith joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Maidstone United
Maidstone United F.C.
Maidstone United Football Club is an English football team from Maidstone, Kent.The current club is a continuation of the old Maidstone United, which was a member of the Football League between 1989 and 1992. The club was forced out of the league by financial ruin but the youth squad formed the...
as a player on 18 October 2008 following his release from the coaching staff at financially troubled Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
. He made his debut in the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
1st qualifying round tie against AFC Hornchurch.
Managerial career
Smith was appointed joint caretaker manager of WokingWoking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
in March 2007 with Graham Baker
Graham Baker
Graham Baker is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder for Southampton, Manchester City and Fulham.-Southampton:...
following the departure of Glenn Cockerill
Glenn Cockerill
Glenn Cockerill is a retired English footballer who played more than 700 games in The Football League in a 22-year career. He is perhaps best remembered from his eight-year spell at Southampton...
, helping the club to stay in 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...
.
On May 4, 2007, after failing to get the job full-time, Smith was released by Woking following the appointment of Frank Gray
Frank Gray
Francis Tierney 'Frank' Gray is a Scottish football manager and former footballer.Gray has previously managed Darlington, Farnborough Town, Grays Athletic and Woking....
as manager. Two weeks later Smith was appointed as the new manager of Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
team Welling United
Welling United F.C.
Welling United Football Club are an English football club, based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley. They currently play in the Conference South. The 2010–11 season was not a good one for them as the club had financial problems, nearly going bankrupt but lots of supporters chipped in and...
following the departure of Adrian Pennock
Adrian Pennock
Adrian Barry Pennock is a retired English footballer player turned manager. His playing career was spent mainly at AFC Bournemouth and Gillingham.-Playing career:...
to 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...
. He held the job until January 7, 2008, when he was sacked. Shortly after this he signed for Bromley
Bromley F.C.
Bromley Football Club are an English football club based in Bromley, in Greater London, England. They currently play in the Conference South, and play their home matches at Hayes Lane.-Early years:...
as a player.
Smith joined Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
as part of their coaching staff on 21 February 2008. He then joined Tim O'Shea
Tim O'Shea (footballer)
Timothy James "Tim" O'Shea is an English-born Irish former professional football player and manager.He represented the Republic of Ireland national football team at the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship ....
, with whom he worked with at Grays, at Croydon Athletic
Croydon Athletic F.C.
Croydon Athletic F.C. are an English football club based in Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon, London, England. They currently play in the Isthmian League Division One South.-History:...
as a coach and again followed O'Shea to Lewes
Lewes F.C.
Lewes Football Club is an English football team based in Lewes, East Sussex. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Dripping Pan.-History:...
as his assistant.