Paul Smith (footballer, born 1964)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Paul Michael Smith[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 9 November 1964||
Place of birth | Rotherham, England[1] | ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Right winger | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1982–1986 | Sheffield United | 36 | (1) |
1985–1986 | → Stockport County (loan) | 7 | (5) |
1986–1987 | Port Vale | 44 | (7) |
1987–1995 | Lincoln City | 232 | (27) |
Halifax Town | |||
Total | 319+ | (40+) | |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Paul Michael Smith (born 9 November 1964) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Sheffield United, Stockport County, Port Vale, and Lincoln City. He was promoted out of the Third Division with Sheffield United in 1983–84, and won the Conference title with Lincoln City in 1987–88.
Playing career[]
Smith began his career at Sheffield United. Ian Porterfield's "Blades" finished 11th in the Third Division in 1982–83, before winning automatic promotion in 1983–84. United then finished 18th in the Second Division in 1984–85 and then rose up to seventh place in 1985–86. During the latter campaign, Smith scored five goals in seven Fourth Division games on loan at Les Chapman's Stockport County. He failed to revive his career at Bramall Lane under new manager Billy McEwan after returning from Edgeley Park. Smith joined John Rudge's Third Division Port Vale for a £10,000 fee in July 1986.[1] He scored nine goals in 51 appearances in the 1986–87 season.[1] However, after just three games into the 1987–88 season, he was sold on to Lincoln City for £40,000 (and a percentage of any future fee) in September 1987.[1] Colin Murphy's "Imps" went on to finish the 1987–88 season as champions of the Conference, and were re-elected into the Football League. They then finished tenth in the Fourth Division in 1988–89 and 1989–90, before new boss Steve Thompson led the club to 14th in 1990–91, and then tenth once again in 1991–92. Lincoln missed out on the play-offs in 1992–93 after Bury pipped them to seventh place on goal difference. They then plummeted to 18th spot in 1993–94 under Keith Alexander's stewardship, before new boss Sam Ellis took them back up to 12th place in 1994–95. Smith scored 40 goals in 305 league and cup competitions during his six years at Sincil Bank. He later played in the Conference for Halifax Town and had a trial with Mansfield Town.
Statistics[]
Source:[3]
Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
Sheffield United | Third Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
Third Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
Second Division | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||
Second Division | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
Total | 36 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 1 | ||
Stockport County (loan) | Fourth Division | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | |
Port Vale | 1986–87 | Third Division | 42 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 51 | 9 |
1987–88 | Third Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
Total | 44 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 54 | 9 | ||
Lincoln City | Fourth Division | 28 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 10 | |
Fourth Division | 33 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 5 | ||
Fourth Division | 46 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 51 | 6 | ||
Fourth Division | 39 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 43 | 3 | ||
Third Division | 33 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 39 | 3 | ||
Third Division | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 46 | 0 | ||
Third Division | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
Total | 232 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 263 | 27 | ||
Career total | 319 | 40 | 10 | 0 | 35 | 3 | 364 | 43 |
Honours[]
- Sheffield United
- Football League Third Division third-place promotion: 1983–84
- Lincoln City
- Football Conference champion: 1987–88
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 273. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
- ^ Dunk, Peter (1987). Rothmans football yearbook 1987-88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 294. ISBN 978-0356143545. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ Paul Smith at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- 1964 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Rotherham
- English footballers
- Association football wingers
- Sheffield United F.C. players
- Stockport County F.C. players
- Port Vale F.C. players
- Lincoln City F.C. players
- Halifax Town A.F.C. players
- English Football League players
- National League (English football) players