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.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Nigel Paul Smith[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1958-01-03) 3 January 1958 (age 64) | ||
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 |
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]
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]
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]
Smith saw out his career with spells at Isthmian League clubs Woking and Metropolitan Police.[1]
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]
After retiring from professional football, Smith joined the Metropolitan Police.[3]
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 |
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