Callum Smith (footballer) explained

Callum Smith
Birth Date:1999 11, df=y
Birth Place:Cowdenbeath,[1] Scotland
Position:Forward
Clubnumber:11
Youthyears1:2013–2014
Youthclubs1:Dunfermline Athletic
Youthyears2:2014–2016
Youthclubs2:Fife Elite Football Academy
Youthyears3:2016–2017
Youthclubs3:Dunfermline Athletic
Years1:2017–2020
Clubs1:Dunfermline Athletic
Caps1:18
Goals1:2
Years2:2018
Clubs2:Alloa Athletic (loan)
Caps2:14
Goals2:1
Years3:2018
Clubs3:Arbroath (loan)
Caps3:9
Goals3:0
Years4:2019–2020
Clubs4:Airdrieonians (loan)
Caps4:27
Goals4:4
Years5:2020–2021
Clubs5:Hamilton Academical
Caps5:24
Goals5:2
Years6:2021–2023
Clubs6:Airdrieonians
Caps6:66
Goals6:22
Years7:2023–
Clubs7:Raith Rovers
Caps7:13
Goals7:3
Club-Update:16:40, 15 November 2023 (UTC)
Nationalteam1:Scotland U19
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalteam-Update:21:52, 14 November 2017 (UTC)

Callum Smith (born 13 November 1999) is a Scottish[2] footballer who plays as a forward for club Raith Rovers. Smith has previously played for Alloa Athletic, Arbroath, Hamilton Academical, Dunfermline Athletic and Airdrieonians.

Career

Smith was educated at Beath High School and began his career with Cowdenbeath's youth squad, before moving to Dunfermline Athletic, nicknamed the Pars, to join the Under 15s side.[2] Smith then continued his development with the Fife Elite Football Academy, after the amalgamation of Fife's football clubs' youth sides into one academy. In 2016, Smith returned to the Pars, signing a one-year contract with the club to play for the side's development squad.[3] His first appearance for the first-team came in the Scottish League Cup, where he came on as a 78th-minute substitute for Michael Moffat in the 5–1 loss to Inverness Caledonian Thistle at East End Park.[4] Smith impressed with his performances for the youth side, becoming the club's top scorer in the SPFL Development League, which resulted in him making his first league appearance against Greenock Morton.[5] Smith replaced Nicky Clark in the 82nd minute, and made an immediate impact, setting up Rhys McCabe, assisting in Dunfermline's third goal.[5]

With the club deciding not to participate in the 2017–18 SPFL Development League, Smith was promoted to the first team for the 2017–18 season. He played in all four Scottish League Cup group stage matches, scoring his first goal for the Pars in a 6–0 win against Elgin City.[6] His full debut came in the final match of the group stage against Hearts at Tynecastle. With main striker Nicky Clark injured, Smith started alongside Declan McManus, who he provided an assist for to put the Pars 2–1 ahead.[7] Smith joined Scottish League One club Alloa Athletic on loan at the end of January 2018,[8] helping the side to a third-place finish and victory in the Championship play-offs over Dumbarton.[9]

In August 2018, Smith joined League One club Arbroath on a season long loan;[10] despite being sidelined for two months with an injury, he made nine appearances before his loan was cut short in January 2019.[11] At the beginning of the 2019–20 season, Smith moved on a season-long loan to Airdrieonians as part of a deal that saw Josh Edwards sign for Dunfermline.[12]

Smith left Dunfermline after the curtailed 2019–20 season, and signed a two-year contract with Hamilton Academical in June 2020.[13] He scored his first goal for Hamilton in a 3–0 win over Motherwell on 2 January 2021.[14]

He joined Airdrieonians on 5 August 2021, and helped them win promotion to the Championship in 2022–23.

Raith Rovers signed Smith on a two-year contract in June 2023.[15]

Personal life

Smith's younger brother Connor is also a footballer[16] – they came up against one another in the Scottish Championship Promotion play-off final in both the 2021–22 (Queen's Park, with Connor on loan and among the scorers, defeated Callum's Airdrie)[17] and 2022–23 seasons (Airdrie overcame Hamilton aided by a goal from Callum in the first leg against his former club;[18] Connor levelled the tie for the opposition in the return, and the outcome was settled on penalties).[19]

Career statistics

Club statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dunfermline Athletic2016–17Scottish Championship2000100030
2017–1813200412[20] 0193
2018–193000001141
2019–200000000000
Total182005131264
Alloa Athletic (loan)2017–18Scottish League One14100004[21] 0181
Arbroath (loan)2018–199000000090
Airdrieonians (loan)2019–20274203131356
Hamilton Academical2020–21Scottish Premiership232003000262
2021–22Scottish Championship1000420052
Total242007200314
Airdrieonians2021–22Scottish League One31122100543817
2022–23Scottish League One 35101140524513
Total662232401068330
Career total158315219420820245

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Callum grabbing chance to impress . Dunfermline Athletic FC . 15 August 2017 . 15 August 2017.
  2. Web site: U20s squad – Callum Smith . Dunfermline Athletic FC . 29 April 2017.
  3. Web site: Two more for U20s . Dunfermline Athletic FC . 20 May 2016 . 29 April 2017.
  4. Web site: Dunfermline 1 – 5 Inverness CT . Scottish Professional Football League . 26 July 2016 . 29 April 2017.
  5. Web site: Dunfermline 3 Morton 1 . Dunfermline Athletic FC . 29 April 2017 . 29 April 2017.
  6. Web site: Dunfermline 6–0 Elgin City . BBC Sport . BBC . 15 July 2017 . 1 August 2017.
  7. Web site: Hearts 2–2 Dunfermline (1–3 pens) . Tom . English . BBC Sport . BBC . 29 July 2017 . 1 August 2017.
  8. News: Dunfermline Athletic's Callum Smith joins Alloa Athletic on loan until the end of the season . Ross . Hart . Dunfermline Press . 1 February 2018 . 9 May 2018.
  9. Web site: Dumbarton 0–2 Alloa Athletic (agg 1–2) . Martin . Dowden . BBC Sport . BBC . 13 May 2018 . 14 May 2018 . 5 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180805125454/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44020139 . dead .
  10. Web site: Loan Signing – Callum Smith . Arbroath FC . 24 August 2018.
  11. Web site: Callum Smith . Arbroath FC . 3 January 2019 . 3 January 2019.
  12. Web site: Josh Edwards: Dunfermline pay undisclosed fee for Airdrieonians left-back . BBC Sport . BBC . 16 July 2019 . 16 July 2019.
  13. News: Hamilton bring striker in as first summer signing . Andy . McGilvray . Daily Record . 16 June 2020 . 25 June 2020.
  14. Web site: Hamilton 3–0 Motherwell . 2 January 2020 . BBC. 2 January 2020.
  15. Web site: Callum Smith signs for The Rovers . Raith Rovers FC . 6 June 2023 . 7 June 2023.
  16. Web site: Dunfermline youngster Callum Smith pinching himself after Scotland call-up. 17 August 2017. 21 May 2018. Iain Collin. Deadline News.
  17. Web site: Airdrieonians 1–2 Queen's Park . 15 May 2022. 20 May 2023. Airdrieonians FC.
  18. Web site: Airdrie goal hero Callum Smith silenced jeering Hamilton Accies fans with 'important' goal. 19 May 2023. 20 May 2023. Andy McGilvray. Daily Record.
  19. Web site: Hamilton Academical 2-1 Airdrieonians (agg 2-2): Visitors promoted after penalty shoot-out. 20 May 2023. 20 May 2023. BBC Sport. Clive Lindsay.
  20. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  21. Appearances in the Scottish Championship play-offs