Tyger Smalls (born 18 September 2002) is an English footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 18 September 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | London, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Charlotte FC | ||
| Number | 25 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Norwich City | |||
| Tottenham Hotspur | |||
| Red Lodge FC | |||
| Mundford FC | |||
| Whitton United | |||
| Felixstowe & Walton United | |||
| Billericay Town | |||
| Stowmarket Town | |||
| Needham Market | |||
| Histon | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | Tyler Apaches | 36 | (26) |
| 2023 | Loyola Marymount Lions | 20 | (7) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019 | Haverhill Rovers | 19 | (12) |
| 2019–2020 | Saffron Walden Town | 8 | (1) |
| 2020–2021 | Felixstowe & Walton United | 2 | (0) |
| 2024– | Charlotte FC | 1 | (0) |
| 2024– | → Crown Legacy FC (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 28, 2024 | |||
Early life edit
Smalls played youth football with Norwich City academy, later moving to the Tottenham Hotspur academy.[1] Afterwards, he played with Red Lodge FC, Mundford FC, Whitton United, Felixstowe & Walton United, Billericay Town, Stowmarket Town Needham Market, and Histon.[2] In 2020, he had a trial with the Arsenal U23 team.[3][4]
College career edit
In 2021, Smalls began attending Tyler Junior College in the United States, where he played for the men's soccer team, where he spent two seasons.[5][6] On 17 November 2021, he scored a double overtime winning goal to help them reach the knockout rounds of the NCJAA national tournament.[7] In 2022, he was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Junior College Team and the NJCAA All-America Third Team.[8][9]
In 2023, he transferred to Loyola Marymount University to play for the men's soccer team in the NCAA.[10] On 2 September 2023, he scored a brace in a 2-2 draw with the California Baptist Lancers.[11] On 17 November, he scored another brace in a victory over the UC Irvine Anteaters in the first round of the NCAA tournament.[12] He scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over the UCLA Bruins on 19 November to help Loyola reach the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history.[13]
Club career edit
In August 2019, Smalls signed with the Haverhill Rovers in the Eastern Counties Premier.[14] He made his debut for the club on 6 August 2019 in a league match against Godmanchester Rovers, followed by becoming the club's youngest ever player to play in an FA Cup match on 10 August against Colney Heath.[15] He scored 15 goals in 24 matches for the club.[16]
In December 2019, he joined Saffron Walden Town in the Essex Senior League.[17]
In September 2020, he signed with Felixstowe & Walton United.[18][19] He scored in a pre-season match off of a free kick against Lowestoft Town.[20]
At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Smalls was selected in the first round (14th overall) by Charlotte FC.[21][22] In February 2024, he signed a contract with the Major League Soccer club for the 2024 season, with club options from 2025 through 2027.[23][24] On 27 April, he made his Major League Soccer debut, in a substitute appearance, against New York City FC.[25]
Career statistics edit
- As of 28 April 2024
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Haverhill Rovers | 2019–20[26] | Eastern Counties FL - Premier | 19 | 12 | 1 | 0 | – | 4 | 3 | 24 | 15 | |
| Saffron Walden Town | 2019–20[27] | Essex Senior FL | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
| Felixstowe & Walton United | 2020–21[28] | Isthmian League - North Division | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Charlotte FC | 2024[29] | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Crown Legacy FC (loan) | 2024[29] | MLS Next Pro | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Career total | 34 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 42 | 16 | ||
References edit
- ^ Collings, Simon (11 March 2020). "Former Tottenham youngster Tyger Smalls trains with Arsenal with hope of securing contract with the Gunners". Evening Standard.
- ^ Apicella, Liam (30 January 2020). "Tyger Smalls striving to make his mark". Suffolk News.
- ^ Critchlow, Dan (2 March 2020). "Tyger Smalls to spend time with Arsenal academy". Daily Cannon.
- ^ Benge, James (11 March 2020). "Wonderkid trains with Arsenal ahead of potential move from English lower leagues". Football.London.
- ^ "Tyger Smalls Tyler 2021 profile". Tyler Junior College.
- ^ "Tyger Smalls 2022 Tyler profile". Tyler Junior College.
- ^ Sanders, Garrett (17 November 2021). "Tyger Smalls scores overtime goal to give TJC a 2-1 win over Iowa Lakes in NJCAA men's soccer tournament pool play". KETK-TV.
- ^ "Thomas Lamaille & Tyger Smalls earn United Soccer Coaches All-America Honors". Tyler Junior College. 7 December 2022.
- ^ "Luis Flores, Tyger Smalls, Midas Smalls, & Antonio Biggs earn NJCAA All-America Honors". Tyler Junior College. 1 December 2022.
- ^ "Tyger Smalls Loyola Marymount profile". Loyola Marymount Lions.
- ^ "Smalls, Lions Mount Comeback in Draw with Lancers". Loyola Marymount Lions. 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Smalls Brace Leads Lions Past Anteaters". Loyola Marymount Lions. 17 November 2023.
- ^ "Smalls Leads Lions to First Sweet Sixteen in School History". Loyola Marymount Lions. 19 November 2023.
- ^ Jones, Barbara (9 August 2019). "Sixteen year old scheduled to make his FA Cup debut tomorrow - Sat. 10 Aug 19". Pitch Hero.
- ^ Street, Tim (14 August 2019). "Tyger's a history maker for Haverhill Rovers". Cambridge News.
- ^ Labellarte, Giuseppe (12 March 2020). "'You got this', 'biggest moment of your life': Some Arsenal fans respond to young striker's message". TBR Football.
- ^ Street, Tim (24 December 2019). "Saffron Walden boss on landing Haverhill Rovers prospect Tyger Smalls". Cambridge News.
- ^ Marston, Carl (8 September 2020). "Former Arsenal triallist Tyger signs for Seasiders". East Anglian Daily Times.
- ^ Apicella, Liam (5 September 2020). "Former Arsenal trialist and Tottenham Hotspur youngster Tyger Smalls signs for Felixstowe & Walton United". Suffolk News.
- ^ Davis, Derek (6 September 2020). "Former Spurs attacker Smalls comes up big for Seasiders". Felixstowe Nub News.
- ^ Goldberg, Steve (20 December 2023). "The Tyger that's headed for Charlotte FC's tank". The Charlotte Post.
- ^ Puente, Nathaniel (19 December 2023). "Charlotte FC draft forward Tyger Smalls after trading into first round". WCNC-TV.
- ^ "Charlotte FC Signs MLS SuperDraft Picks Tyger Smalls and Jahlane Forbes". Charlotte FC. 14 February 2024.
- ^ "Charlotte FC sign SuperDraft selections Tyger Smalls, Jahlane Forbes". Major League Soccer. 14 February 2024.
- ^ "The Full Time Clip: Charlotte FC Fall Late at New York City FC". Charlotte FC. 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Tyger Smalls Haverhill Stats". The FA.
- ^ "Tyger Smalls 2019-20 Stats". The FA.
- ^ "Tyger Smalls 2020-21 Stats". Football Web Pages.
- ^ a b Tyger Smalls at Soccerway
External links edit
- Tyger Smalls at Soccerway