Nathan Smith (footballer, born 1996)

Nathan James Smith (born 3 April 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two side Port Vale.

Not to be confused with Nathan Smith (footballer, born 1987).

Nathan Smith
Personal information
Full name Nathan James Smith[1]
Date of birth (1996-04-03) 3 April 1996
Place of birth Madeley, Staffordshire, England[2]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Port Vale
Number 15
Youth career
2012–2014 Port Vale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014– Port Vale 170 (10)
2014–2015 → Stafford Rangers (loan) 28 (1)
2015–2016 → Torquay United (loan) 39 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 7 March 2020 (UTC)

He turned professional at Port Vale in June 2014, and spent the 2014–15 season on loan at Stafford Rangers and the 2015–16 season on loan at Torquay United, winning the Player of the season award at Torquay. He made his Football League debut for Port Vale in August 2016, and went on to win the club's Player of the Year award for the 2016–17 relegation season.

Playing career

Smith attended Madeley High School and played for Madeley White Star; he helped his school to win the Sentinel Schools' Shield at Vale Park in 2012.[4] He signed a one-year professional contract with Port Vale in June 2014.[5] He was loaned out to Northern Premier League Division One South club Stafford Rangers in October 2014.[6] The loan was later extended until the end of the 2014–15 season.[7]

He joined National League side Torquay United on an initial three-month loan deal in July 2015.[8] He impressed for the "Gulls" and the loan was later extended to cover the whole of the 2015–16 season.[9] He made a total of 44 appearances at Plainmoor and was voted the club's Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season.[10] Manager Kevin Nicholson described him as a "freak of nature".[11]

He made his League One debut for Port Vale on the opening day of the 2016–17 season, in a 0–0 draw with Bradford City on 6 August.[12] His performance saw him named in the Football League Paper's League One Team of the Day.[13] New manager Bruno Ribeiro had described him as the club's standout player during pre-season.[14] He scored his first goal in the Football League on 16 August, with his header proving to be the only goal of the game against Rochdale.[15] His performances saw him nominated for the League One Player of the Month award for August.[16] This led chairman Norman Smurthwaite to open negotiations for a new contract as he admitted Smith was "on a boy's wage compared to the rest of the squad" and Smurthwaite anticipated offers for the player from Championship clubs in the January transfer window.[17] Smith quickly agreed to a new contract to keep him at the club until June 2020.[18] The Football League further recognized his performances by naming him as Young Player of the Month for August.[19] Speaking in February 2017, caretaker manager Michael Brown said that Smith set a good example to his teammates by playing through a hamstring injury.[20] He played every game of the campaign and picked up all five of the club's end of season awards, including the Player of the Year award.[21]

Brown was sacked early in the 2017–18 season after Vale slipped in the League Two relegation zone, and his successor, Neil Aspin stated that Smith "can improve with some of his decision making", but that he remained a "key player" who "has a lot of good attributes, but he can get better".[22] He started all 54 of the Vale's matches that season, making it two consecutive seasons of appearing in every game, though admitted he could have played better and that the team's finish of 20th in League Two was not good enough.[23]

After suffering a dip in form at the start of the 2018–19 season, Smith was dropped for the home game with Crawley Town on 18 August, putting to an end his run of 110 consecutive appearances that he had made since his debut two years previously.[24] Smith said he would take being dropped as a learning experience.[25] He returned to the starting line-up and formed a solid partnership with Leon Legge, whilst Connell Rawlinson was moved to right-back.[26] The three centre-backs then went on to form a back three in a 3–5–2 formation, which was instigated after a 6–2 home defeat to Lincoln City on 13 October, and kept four clean sheets by the end of the month.[27] By March he reached 150 appearances for the club before the age of 23, the youngest player to reach this landmark since Billy Paynter in 2005.[28] Having played 51 of the club's 54 matches over the course of the campaign, he was named as Vale's Young Player of the Year for the second time in three years.[29]

He started the 2019–20 season in a central defensive partnership with Legge, though was criticised by Northampton Town manager Keith Curle for allegedly manhandling 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) striker Harry Smith.[30] On 25 August, he scored his first goal in 20 months in a 5–2 defeat at Grimsby Town.[31] Speaking in January, club captain Legge said that Smith was more confident and much improved from the previous campaign.[32] His form led to rumours on social media of him making a move to Birmingham City.[33] He lost his first-team place to Shaun Brisley in January due to injury, but impressed coach Danny Pugh with his performance at right-back in a 3–0 win over Colchester United on 15 February.[34] He was offered a new contract after he ended the campaign with five goals in 41 appearances.[35] Tom Pope nominated Smith as his Player of the Year for the 2019–20 season in his column in The Sentinel.[36] Smith signed a new two-year contract in July 2020, despite interest from League One clubs.[37] He said that he stayed due to his faith in the new ownership of Kevin and Carol Shanahan, his family being settled in the area, and the offer of stability during the Coronavirus recession.[38]

Style of play

Speaking in August 2016, Port Vale teammate Tom Pope described Smith as "brave as a lion" and a player who trained hard.[39] Six months later, Port Vale coach Gary Brabin said Smith needed to work on his ball-playing abilities and to be more vocal, whilst praising his dependability, pace, strength and passion.[40]

Statistics
As of match played 7 March 2020
Club Season Division League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale2014–15[41]League One0000000000
2015–16[42]League One0000000000
2016–17[43]League One46430103[lower-alpha 1]1[lower-alpha 1]535
2017–18[44]League Two46130104[lower-alpha 1]0541
2018–19[45]League Two44010105[lower-alpha 1]0510
2019–20[46]League Two34530103[lower-alpha 1]0415
2020–21[47]League Two0000000000
Total 170101004015119911
Stafford Rangers (loan)2014–15[48]Northern Premier League Division One South28100007[lower-alpha 2]0351
Torquay United (loan)2015–16[49]National League39210004[lower-alpha 3]1[lower-alpha 3]443
Career total 237131104026227815
  1. Appearance/s and goal/s in the EFL Trophy.
  2. Statistics include one appearance in the FA Trophy, two appearances in the Northern Premier League Challenge Cup, two appearances in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, and two appearances in the Walsall Senior Cup.
  3. Appearance/s and goal/s in the FA Trophy.

Honours

Individual

References
  1. "Retained List 2016-17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  2. Baggaley, Michael (12 November 2017). "Neil Aspin pleased to have local lads in his in-form Port Vale side". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  3. "Nathan Smith - Defender - First Team - Port Vale". www.port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  4. Baggaley, Mike (13 October 2016). "VIDEO: Nathan Smith from Madeley High school team to Port Vale". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  5. "Defender Nathan Smith signs one-year deal with the club". The Sentinel. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  6. Baggaley, Mike (24 October 2014). "Defender Nathan Smith joins Stafford Rangers". The Sentinel. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  7. Baggaley, Mike (26 January 2015). "Defender extends loan at Stafford Rangers". The Sentinel. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  8. "Nathan Smith: Torquay United sign Port Vale defender on loan". BBC Sport. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  9. "Nathan Smith to stay at Torquay for the season". The Sentinel. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  10. Thomas, David (25 April 2016). "Player of the Season Nathan Smith – on loan from Port Vale – feels like a Gull". Herald Express. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  11. Baggaley, Mike (12 November 2015). "Torquay say Vale's Nathan Smith is so good he's a freak of nature". The Sentinel. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  12. Baggaley, Mike (6 August 2016). "Bradford 0, Port Vale 0: Battling Valiants claim deserved point". The Sentinel. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  13. Baggaley, Mike (15 August 2016). "Port Vale: Remie Streete named in team of the day for League One". The Sentinel. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  14. Baggaley, Mike (4 August 2016). "Port Vale: Nathan Smith set to start after impressing boss". The Sentinel. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  15. Baggaley, Mike (16 August 2016). "Port Vale 1-0 Rochdale REPORT: Nathan Smith heads Valiants to win". The Sentinel. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  16. Baggaley, Mike (7 September 2016). "Port Vale: Nathan Smith shortlisted for player of the month". The Staffordshire Sentinel. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  17. "Nathan Smith: Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite expects interest in defender". BBC Sport. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  18. Baggaley, Mike (15 September 2016). "Port Vale: Nathan Smith signs new contract with Valiants". The Sentinel. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  19. Baggaley, Mike (22 September 2016). "Port Vale's Nathan Smith named EFL young player of the month". The Sentinel. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  20. Baggaley, Mike (8 February 2017). "Port Vale: Michael Brown says gutsy Nathan Smith sets example". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  21. Baggaley, Mike (2 May 2017). "Port Vale's player of year Smith philosophical about future". Stoke Sentinel. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  22. Baggaley, Michael (11 October 2017). "Port Vale's Neil Aspin says 'key player' Nathan Smith can still improve". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  23. Baggaley, Michael (8 May 2018). "Embarrassed Nathan Smith apologises to fans for Port Vale's performances". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  24. Baggaley, Michael (20 August 2018). "James Gibbons makes case for defence as Port Vale prepare for Carlisle United". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  25. Baggaley, Michael (11 September 2018). "Nathan Smith says being left out at Port Vale hurt, but he will learn from it". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  26. Baggaley, Michael (24 September 2018). "Port Vale extra time: Is Crewe performance a turning point for Nathan Smith?". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  27. Smith, Peter (30 October 2018). "'Lincoln was embarrassing' - Nathan Smith on what's changed in last fortnight". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  28. Baggaley, Michael (15 March 2019). "This Port Vale man should be brimming with pride at Swindon". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  29. "Player Awards Night 2018/19". www.port-vale.co.uk. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  30. Baggaley, Michael (19 August 2019). "'I am happy to have a battle with anyone' - Port Vale's in form Nathan Smith". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  31. "Grimsby Town 5-2 Port Vale". 24 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  32. Baggaley, Michael (13 January 2020). "Leon Legge on Port Vale's transformation, career landmark and more". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  33. Baggaley, Michael (17 January 2020). "John Askey on speculation linking Port Vale's Nathan Smith with Championship". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  34. Baggaley, Michael (20 February 2020). "'He's a massive player for this club' - View of Port Vale's Nathan Smith". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  35. Baggaley, Michael (20 May 2020). "Port Vale talks with out-of-contract players as owners back club through crisis". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  36. Baggaley, Michael (31 May 2020). "Tom Pope - My Port Vale player of year has shown why critics were so wrong". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  37. Baggaley, Michael (10 July 2020). "Port Vale fight off League One clubs to keep Nathan Smith". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  38. Baggaley, Michael (11 July 2020). "Nathan Smith opens up on why he is staying at Port Vale". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  39. Baggaley, Mike (12 August 2016). "Tom Pope: Port Vale's Nathan Smith is the real deal". The Sentinel. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  40. Baggaley, Michael (23 February 2018). "Port Vale coaches working on next step for Nathan Smith". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  41. "Games played by Nathan Smith in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  42. "Games played by Nathan Smith in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  43. "Games played by Nathan Smith in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  44. "Games played by Nathan Smith in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  45. "Games played by Nathan Smith in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  46. "Games played by Nathan Smith in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  47. "Games played by Nathan Smith in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  48. "2014–15 Match Reports". staffordrangersfc.co.uk. Stafford Rangers F.C. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  49. Nathan Smith at Soccerway
  50. "Nathan Smith: Port Vale boss rates young defender as future Premier League player". BBC Sport. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
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