Nigel Smith (footballer, born 1958)

Nigel Paul Smith (born 3 January 1958) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender in the Football League for Brentford and Cambridge United.

Nigel Smith
Personal information
Full name Nigel Paul Smith[1]
Date of birth (1958-01-03) 3 January 1958 (age 66)
Place of birth Banstead, England
Position(s) Central defender
Youth career
Banstead Athletic
Queens Park Rangers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1978 Brentford 85 (0)
1978–1979 Cambridge United 1 (0)
Woking
Metropolitan Police
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Early years

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Smith began his career with hometown club Banstead Athletic, before moving to the reserve team at Second Division club Queens Park Rangers, for which he made 20 appearances.[2]

Brentford

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In March 1975, Smith transferred to Fourth Division club Brentford and was as a regular in the team during the 1975–76 and 1976–77 seasons.[1][2] After the appointment of Bill Dodgin, Smith fell out of favour and made just a handful of appearances during the 1977–78 promotion-winning season.[2] Smith had his contract cancelled and departed the Bees in October 1978,[3] after making 96 appearances for the club.[2]

Cambridge United

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Smith moved up to the Second Division to sign for Cambridge United in November 1978, but made just one substitute appearance for the club.[1]

Non-league football

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Smith saw out his career with spells at Isthmian League clubs Woking and Metropolitan Police.[1]

International career

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During the 1975–76 season, Smith was called up to train with the England U18 squad, but failed to appear in a match.[2] He later represented the England Police team.[3]

Personal life

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After retiring from professional football, Smith joined the Metropolitan Police.[3]

Career statistics

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Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 1974–75[4] Fourth Division 2 0 2 0
1975–76[4] 37 0 4 0 3 0 44 0
1976–77[4] 34 0 0 0 2 0 36 0
1977–78[4] 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
1978–79[4] Third Division 3 0 0 0 3 0
Career total 85 0 4 0 5 0 94 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Nigel Smith". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. p. 149. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  3. ^ a b c Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 275. ISBN 978-1906796709.
  4. ^ a b c d e White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 393–395. ISBN 0951526200.
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  • Nigel Smith at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database