Matt Smith (footballer, born 1989)

Mathieu James Patrick Smith (born 7 June 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Championship club Millwall.

Matt Smith

Smith playing for Fulham in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Mathieu James Patrick Smith[1]
Date of birth	(1989-06-07) 7 June 1989[2]
Place of birth	Birmingham, England[2]
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Playing position(s)	Striker
Club information
Current team	Millwall
Number	10
Youth career
2006–2007	Cheltenham Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2009	New Mills	23	(13)
2010–2011	Redditch United	11	(9)
2010	→ Littleton (loan)	3	(9)
2010	Droylsden	2	(2)
2011	Solihull Moors	14	(12)
2011–2013	Oldham Athletic	62	(9)
2012	→ Macclesfield Town (loan)	8	(1)
2013–2014	Leeds United	42	(12)
2014–2017	Fulham	50	(9)
2014–2015	→ Bristol City (loan)	14	(7)
2017–2019	Queens Park Rangers	92	(21)
2019–	Millwall	40	(13)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 July 2020 (UTC)

Career

Early years

Smith spent a year as a trainee at Cheltenham Town, before being released at the age of 18.[3] He then gained non-league football experience with New Mills, whilst studying at the University of Manchester. He made his debut for New Mills in the North West Counties Premier League as a substitute against Silsden in October 2008, scoring in a 2–0 win. He went on to play a crucial role in the club's amazing 21 game winning run, scoring 13 goals over the season including a hat trick against Alsager Town in April 2009. As he was due to spend a year studying in America, he left the Millers that summer.

Upon his return to England, ahead of the 2010–11 season and his final year of University, Smith signed for Redditch United in the Conference North. He initially went on a short-term loan with Littleton,[4] scoring an impressive nine goals in three games.[5] Upon returning to Redditch United, Smith scored five goals in five starts and subsequently moved to Droylsden in September 2010, largely due to the clubs close proximity to Manchester University, where he was returning for his final year of studies.[6] Smith rejoined Redditch in December,[7] before making a final move to Solihull Moors in February 2011,[8] where he scored twelve goals in fourteen appearances. He finished the season having scored 32 goals, 23 of which were in the Conference North, making him one of the league's leading scorers in the 2010–11 season.

Oldham Athletic

On 23 May 2011, upon the completion of his university studies, Smith joined League One side Oldham Athletic on a free transfer from Solihull Moors signing a two-year contract.[9] He made his professional debut on the opening day of the 2011–12 season against Sheffield United and scored his first professional goal 10 days later on 16 August, the winner in a 2–1 win against Scunthrope.[10][11] Smith was limited to only 4 starts in 33 appearances for the Latics in his first season at the club, and so on 15 March 2012, manager Paul Dickov allowed Smith to go on loan to League Two side Macclesfield Town for the remaining 6 weeks of the season, where he made 8 appearances and scored 1 goal.[12]

On 27 January 2013, in Smith's second season at the club, he scored two goals in a spectacular 3–2 win over Liverpool in the 4th round of the FA Cup.[13] In the 5th-round on 16 February 2013, Smith then scored a 95th minute equaliser against Everton to achieve a 2-2 draw.[14] Oldham's FA Cup campaign continued with a 5th round replay at Goodison Park on 26 February, in which they lost 3–1 with Smith again scoring for Oldham,[15] meaning he finished Oldham's FA Cup campaign with 4 goals from 4 appearances and all goals coming against Premier League opposition. For his performance in the 5th round, Smith was voted as the Player of the 5th Round.[16] Smith scored three goals in his last three appearances of the season, against Bury, Yeovil and Crawley, which all culminated in wins and ultimately ensured Oldham's survival in League One.[17] As a result, he won League 1 Player of the Month for April 2013.[18] Smith finished the 2012–13 season with 11 goals in all competitions. On 23 May 2013, with reported interest from a host of Championship clubs, Smith rejected an improved contract offer from Oldham Athletic.[19]

Leeds United

On 10 June 2013, Smith signed a two-year contract with Championship club Leeds United after turning down a new contract with Oldham Athletic.[20] He made his Leeds United debut as a substitute in the opening game of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion on 3 August, assisting Luke Murphy's 94th-minute winner in Leeds' 2–1 win.[21] Smith scored his first goal for Leeds soon after on 27 August 2013 against Doncaster Rovers in their 3–1 League Cup 2nd round win.[22][23] He followed this up with goals in the league against Burnley, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town, Watford, Doncaster and Blackburn Rovers.[24][25][26][27]

On 15 January, Smith announced he was unfazed by transfer speculation linking him with a move to Premier League side Crystal Palace.[28] He continued his fine form into the new year and finished the 2013–14 season with 13 goals and 8 assists in all competitions. His partnership with striker Ross McCormack yielded 42 goals, the highest in the English football that season.

On 11 July, whilst on pre-season camp in Italy, he famously scored six goals in a friendly against Italian side FC Gherdeina.[29] On 18 August, at the start of the 2014-15 season and following a successful debut year at the club, Smith signed a new three-year contract.[30] One week later, he scored his first goal of the season against Bradford City in the League Cup, opening the scoring in a 2–1 defeat.[31] The following week, on the final day of the transfer window, Smith was controversially sold to Fulham.[32]

Fulham

On 1 September 2014, the final day of the summer transfer window, Fulham signed Smith for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract.[33] Smith was given a straight red card 18 minutes into his Fulham debut in a 3–0 loss against Reading.[34] Following the sacking of Felix Magath a week later, and the subsequent appointment of Kit Symons as manager soon after, Smith was limited to a further two substitute appearances in almost three months at Craven Cottage.

Bristol City (loan)

In turn, Smith went on loan to League One side Bristol City on 25 November for two months.[35] This was then later extended by a further month until 1 March.[36] After joining Bristol City on loan, Smith registered his first goal for the club in his 5th appearance, scoring the opener in a 2–1 home victory against West Country rivals Yeovil Town on Boxing Day.[37] He then went on to score an unprecedented nine goals in five games – including four in one match, away at Gillingham in the Football League Trophy semi-final.[38] After completing his hat-trick with an audacious back-heel, Smith's fourth was a sublime volley from distance, for which he was later awarded "Goal of the Tournament".[39] He was the first player to score four goals in a game for Bristol City since Paul Agostino against St Albans in 1996.[40] Another goal from Smith in the second leg of the tie helped secure Bristol City a place in the Football League Trophy final at Wembley against Walsall on March 22, however due his loan agreement ending on March 1, he would be ineligible to play in this fixture. Despite this, manager Steve Cotterill insisted Smith join the squad on their trip to Wembley as a guest, to which Smith said he felt "honoured" and added it being "a touch of class from the manager." [41] Soon after, Smith took his tally to 13 goals in 17 appearances for the Robins, when he opened the scoring against Sheffield United.[42] On the conclusion of his loan spell, Cotterill hailed Smith's impact and contribution at the club over the course of the three months as "huge".[43]

Return to Fulham

Smith playing for Fulham in 2016

Smith returned to Fulham on 1 March and scored his first goal for the club five days later in his Craven Cottage debut against Bournemouth.[44] In the following game, Smith scored the equalizer against Sheffield Wednesday away at Hillsborough in a 1–1 draw.[45] He then went on to score goals against Wigan, Blackpool and Norwich, which ultimately secured Fulham's Championship status. Smith finished the 2014–15 season with 19 goals in all competitions.

Queens Park Rangers

On 31 January 2017, the final day of the January transfer window, QPR signed Smith for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half year contract.[46] He contributed 20 league goals in his first full season at the club, with 11 goals and 9 assists in the Championship, which also made him the club's top goal scorer in the 2017–18 season.[47]

Millwall

On 1 July 2019, Smith signed for Millwall on a two year contract for an undisclosed fee.[48] In his first season with the club, Smith scored 14 goals in all competitions, making him the club's top goalscorer in the 2019–20 season. This included a 13 minute hat-trick in a win over Nottingham Forest on 6 March 2020, away at the City Ground.[49]

Style of play

Smith has been referred to as a "classic centre forward" or "traditional number 9" owing to his size, strength, powerful shot and excellent heading ability. Former Oldham manager Lee Johnson as well as former Oldham caretaker manager and Bolton player Tony Philliskirk have likened Smith to both Duncan Ferguson and Andy Carroll.[50][51] Following Oldham's 3–2 win at home to Liverpool in January 2013, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers compared Smith to Didier Drogba.[52]

Personal life

Smith's father Ian is a former professional footballer having played for both Queen's Park and Hearts in the Scottish Football League and more famously for Birmingham City in the English first division. His grandfather, James, is also a former professional who played league football for St Mirren and Clyde.[53] His half-brother, Jean-Francois is a former professional basketball player, who played for Hyères-Toulon Var Basket in the French Pro A League.[54]

He completed his A-Levels in Cheltenham's Pate's Grammar School whilst a trainee at Cheltenham Town. In September 2007 he went to Manchester to study for a degree at Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, with a year spent in the United States at Arizona State University. He graduated in the summer of 2011 with a First class degree in International Management with American Business Studies.[55] Whilst at Manchester he was also captain of the University's men's football team, was called up to the Great Britain squad for the World University Games in China in 2011 and was named the University's Sportsman of the Year.[56]

Despite being English-born, Smith is also eligible for both the Scotland and France national teams as his father Ian was born in Edinburgh and his mother Françoise was born in Paris.[57]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 July 2020

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Oldham Athletic	2011–12[58]	League One	28	3	2	0	1	0	4[lower-alpha 1]	0	35	3
	2012–13[59]	League One	34	6	4	4	1	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	1	40	11
	Total		62	9	6	4	2	0	5	1	75	14
Macclesfield Town (loan)	2011–12[58]	League Two	8	1	—		—		—		8	1
Leeds United	2013–14[60]	Championship	39	12	1	0	3	1	—		43	13
	2014–15[61]	Championship	3	0	—		2	1	—		5	1
	Total		42	12	2	0	11	2	—		48	14
Fulham	2014–15[61]	Championship	15	5	0	0	—		—		15	5
	2015–16[62]	Championship	19	2	0	0	1	0	—		20	2
	2016–17[63]	Championship	16	2	0	0	1	0	—		17	2
	Total		50	9	0	0	2	0	—		52	9
Bristol City (loan)	2014–15[61]	League One	14	7	3	1	—		3[lower-alpha 1]	5	20	13
Queens Park Rangers	2016–17[61]	Championship	16	4	—		—		—		16	4
	2017–18[64]	Championship	41	11	1	0	2	0	—		44	11
	2018–19[65]	Championship	37	6	2	1	3	1	—		42	8
	Total		94	21	3	1	5	1	—		102	23
Millwall	2019–20[66]	Championship	40	13	2	1	0	0	0	0	42	14
	Total		40	13	2	1	0	0	0	0	42	14
Career total			311	72	15	7	14	3	8	6	348	88

1. Appearances in Football League Trophy

Honours

Club

Bristol City

• Football League One: Winner 2014–15
• Football League Trophy: Winner 2014–15

Individual

• Leeds United Community Player of the Year: 2013–14[67]
• Leeds United Fastest Goal Of The Season: 2013–14 versus Huddersfield Town[67]
• Football League One Player of the Month: April 2013[18]
• FA Cup Player of the 5th Round: 2012–13 versus Everton[16]
• QPR Player of the Month (2): February 2018, February 2019
• QPR Top Goalscorer: 2017–18
• Millwall Top Goalscorer: 2019–20

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Millwall" (PDF). English Football League. p. 43. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
2. "Matt Smith". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
3. "Hard work leads to Latics chance for ex-Robin Smith". This Is Gloucestershire. 30 May 2011. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
4. "Smith strives for League One bow". Evesham Journal. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
5. "Town striker gets deal at league side". Evesham Journal. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
6. "Redditch United lose striker Matt Smith to Droylsden". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
7. "Smith boost for Reds". Redditch Advertiser. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
8. "Moors Win the Race for Smith". Football Conference. 6 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
9. "Oldham Athletic capture non league striker Matt Smith". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
10. "Oldham – Sheffield Utd". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
11. "Scunthorpe 1–2 Oldham". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
12. SMITH'S LOAN MOVE GOALS "Oldham Athletic" 15 March 2012
13. Oldham 3–2 Liverpool "BBC Sport" 27 January 2013
14. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/feb/16/oldham-everton-fa-cup-mbm-live
15. "Everton 3–1 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
16. Smith is fan's favourite "The FA | The FA Cup" 4 March 2013
17. Lethal Matt's a real big-hitter "Oldham Chronicle" 25 April 2013
18. "Smith player of the month". oldhamathletic.co.uk.
19. "Smith rejects Latics' offer". Oldham Athletic Official Website. 23 May 2013.
20. "Leeds United sign Oldham striker Matt Smith". BBC Sport. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
21. "Leeds 2 Brighton 1". Leeds United Official Site. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
22. "BBC Sport - Doncaster 1-3 Leeds". BBC Sport.
23. Dews, Paul (28 August 2013). "THREE AND EASY CUP SUCCESS". LeedsUnited.com. Leeds United Football Club. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
24. "Leeds 1 – 2 Burnley". BBC Sport. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
25. "Leeds 3 – 0 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 20 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
26. Hay, Phil (28 October 2013). "Wasteful Whites are punished by Stead". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
27. "Leeds 3 – 3 Watford". BBC Sport. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
28. Reilly, Ignatius (16 January 2014). "Leeds Strikes Ignores Palace Talk". Sports Direct. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
29. "Leeds United hammer Italian minnows FC Gherdeina 16–0". Yorkshire Evening Post. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
30. "Smith Signs New Deal". 18 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
31. "UNITED EDGED OUT AT BRADFORD". Sky Sports. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
32. ""It was really bizarre"". Leeds Live. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
33. "Transfer deadline day: Matt Smith joins Fulham from Leeds". BBC Sport. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
34. "Fulham manager Felix Magath defends Matt Smith after red". Sky Sports. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
35. "Matt Smith: Fulham striker joins Bristol City on loan". BBC Sport. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
36. "BBC Sport - Matt Smith: Bristol City extend Fulham striker's loan deal". BBC Sport.
37. "BBC Sport - Bristol City 2-1 Yeovil Town". BBC Sport.
38. "Gillingham 2–4 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
39. "Matt Smith claims Johnstone's Paint Ultimate Finish Award". Football League.
40. "Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill confident he can keep goal-star Matt Smith as Todd Kane returns to Chelsea". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
41. "BBC Sport - Matt Smith: Bristol City loanee set to be Wembley guest". BBC Sport.
42. "BBC Sport - Bristol City 1-3 Sheffield United". BBC Sport.
43. Adam Baker. "Matt's contribution has been huge - Cotterill". bcfc.co.uk.
44. "BBC Sport - Fulham 1-5 Bournemouth". BBC Sport.
45. "BBC Sport - Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Fulham". BBC Sport.
46. "QPR and Fulham agree deal worth up to £1m for striker Matt Smith". Evening Standard. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
47. "QPR's Matt Smith proud of best return". QPR website. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
48. "Matt Smith: Millwall sign striker from QPR". BBC Sport.
49. "Matt Smith scored a hat-trick as Millwall boosted their Championship play-off hopes and delivered a blow to Nottingham Forest's promotion challenge with a convincing win at the City Ground". BBC. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
50. "Oldham Athletic v Everton: League One striker Matt Smith could be the next Duncan Ferguson or Andy Carroll". Daily Telegraph. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
51. "EXCLUSIVE: Oldham boss Lee Johnson gives his verdict on Bristol City's next signing". Bristol Post. 27 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
52. "Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is in the Drog house now". Daily Express. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
53. "Matt Keeps It In The Family". Oldham Athletic AFC. 23 May 2011. Archived from the original on 30 May 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
54. "Non-League spotlight: Solihull Moors striker Matt Smith on his England dreams". Birmingham Mail. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
55. "Matt hoping to learn quickly". Oldham Advertiser. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
56. "University footballer gets England call-up". University of Manchester. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
57. "HIS dad is a proud Scot and his brother plays professional basketball in France but there's no questioning Matt Smith's international loyalties". Birmingham Mail. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
58. "Games played by Matt Smith in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
59. "Games played by Matt Smith in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
60. "Games played by Matt Smith in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
61. "Games played by Matt Smith in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
62. "Games played by Matt Smith in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
63. "Games played by Matt Smith in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
64. "Games played by Matt Smith in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
65. "Games played by Matt Smith in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
66. "Latest Millwall Results, Fixtures & Betting Odds | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com.
67. "AWARDS HAT-TRICK FOR ROSS". 3 May 2014.

External links

• Matt Smith at Soccerbase