Dean Smith (footballer, born 1958)

Dean Smith (28 November 1958 – 17 April 2009) was an English professional football forward who played in the Football League for Leicester City and Brentford.

Dean Smith
Personal information
Full name Dean Smith[1]
Date of birth (1958-11-28)28 November 1958
Place of birth Leicester, England
Date of death 17 April 2009(2009-04-17) (aged 50)[1]
Place of death Leicester, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position(s) Forward
Youth career
1975–1977 Leicester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1978 Leicester City 10 (1)
1978 → Houston Hurricane (loan) 17 (6)
1978–1980 Brentford 54 (15)
1980–1981 Nuneaton Borough 4 (0)
Shepshed Charterhouse
Enderby Town
Hinckley Town
Corby Town
St Andrews
Oadby Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Leicester City

A forward, Smith began his career in the youth system at hometown First Division club Leicester City in April 1975 and progressed to sign his first professional contract in December 1976.[2][3] Smith had to wait until September 1977 to make his first team debut, which came when he replaced Eddie Kelly during a 5–1 defeat to Everton.[4] Smith's most notable moment in a Foxes shirt came on 23 March 1978, when he scored his only goal for the club in a 3–2 defeat to Manchester United.[5] Smith made 10 appearances during the 1977–78 season, but departed Filbert Street in October 1978 after failing to make an appearance during the early months of the 1978–79 season.[2]

Houston Hurricane (loan)

During the English off-season in the summer of 1978, Smith moved to the United States to join North American Soccer League club Houston Hurricane on loan.[6] He scored six goals in 17 appearances for the Hurricane in a disappointing 1978 season,[6] which saw the club finish bottom of the American Conference Central Division.

Brentford

Smith signed for Third Division club Brentford for a £20,000 fee in October 1978.[7] He made something of a breakthrough into the first team, making 26 appearances and scoring eight goals during the 1978–79 season.[8] Smith made a further 25 appearances during the 1979–80 season,[8] but the arrival of Fred Callaghan as manager changed the team's style of play and he drifted out of the first team picture.[7] Smith departed Brentford in February 1981, after being suspended by the club for a breach of discipline.[3] He made 61 appearances and scored 17 goals during his time at Griffin Park.[8]

Non-league football

After his departure from Brentford, Smith dropped into non-league football and played for Nuneaton Borough, Shepshed Charterhouse, Enderby Town, Hinckley Town, Corby Town, St Andrews and Oadby Town.[3]

Personal life

It was reported in September 2008 that Smith had suffered a stroke and was battling throat cancer.[9] He died on 17 April 2009 at the age of 50.[10]

Career statistics
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Leicester City 1977–78[2] First Division 10 1 0 0 0 0 10 1
Houston Hurricane (loan) 1978[6] North American Soccer League 17 6 — — 17 6
Brentford 1978–79[8] Third Division 25 8 1 0 0 0 26 8
1979–80[8] 22 5 1 1 2 0 25 6
1980–81[8] 7 2 1 0 2 1 10 3
Total 54 15 3 1 4 1 61 17
Career total 81 22 3 1 4 1 88 24
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References
  1. "Dean Smith". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  2. "Dean Smith – Leicester City career stats – FoxesHistory". FoxesTalk Forum. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  3. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 291. ISBN 978-1906796709.
  4. "Leicester City 1–5 Everton played on 10.09.1977 – FoxesHistory". FoxesTalk Forum. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  5. "Leicester City 2–3 Manchester United played on 25.03.1978 – FoxesHistory". FoxesTalk Forum. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  6. "NASL Soccer North American Soccer League Players". nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  7. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 147. ISBN 0955294916.
  8. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 395–396. ISBN 0951526200.
  9. "City news: Walsh supports ex-City striker". Leicester Mercury. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  10. "Jack Hobbs, Leicester City, Premier League – Leicester Mercury". Leicester Mercury. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
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