Chris Smith (footballer, born 1986) explained

Chris Smith
Fullname:Wallace Christopher Smith
Birth Date:5 March 1986
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Position:Goalkeeper
Years1:2004–2010
Clubs1:St Mirren
Caps1:78
Goals1:0
Years2:2009
Clubs2:Dunfermline Athletic (loan)
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Years3:2010
Clubs3:Dunfermline Athletic (loan)
Caps3:6
Goals3:0
Years4:2010–2012
Clubs4:Dunfermline Athletic
Caps4:51
Goals4:0
Years5:2012–2013
Clubs5:St Mirren
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:2013
Clubs6:Stenhousemuir (loan)
Caps6:7
Goals6:0
Years7:2013–2015
Clubs7:Stenhousemuir
Caps7:36
Goals7:0
Years8:2015–2017
Clubs8:Stirling Albion
Caps8:65
Goals8:0
Years9:2017–2018
Clubs9:Stenhousemuir
Caps9:30
Goals9:0
Years10:2018–2019
Clubs10:East Kilbride
Caps10:0
Goals10:0
Years11:2018–2019
Clubs11:Dumbarton (loan)
Caps11:9
Goals11:0
Years12:2019–2020
Clubs12:Annan Athletic
Caps12:10
Goals12:0
Years13:2020–2021
Clubs13:Dumbarton
Caps13:2
Goals13:0
Nationalyears1:2007–2008
Nationalteam1:Scotland U21[1]
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:17:28, 27 March 2021 (UTC)

Wallace Christopher Smith (born 5 March 1986) is a Retired Scottish professional footballer who last played as a goalkeeper for Scottish League One side Dumbarton before switching his footballing career to be a police officer.

Smith has previously played for St Mirren, Dunfermline Athletic, Stenhousemuir, Stirling Albion, East Kilbride, Dumbarton (on loan) and Annan Athletic.

Career

Smith, a goalkeeper born in Glasgow, progressed through the youth ranks at St Mirren. He helped the club win two trophies in 2005–06, when St Mirren won the 2005 Scottish Challenge Cup Final[2] and the 2005–06 Scottish First Division championship.

He then signed a contract to keep him at St Mirren until the summer of 2011. Following the departure of Tony Bullock and Craig Hinchliffe, he became the first-choice goalkeeper for the Buddies, although he suffered a cruciate ligament injury in March 2009.[3] He was a regular in the Scotland under-21 squad. For the 2009–10 season, Smith's number 1 shirt was given to new signing Paul Gallacher and he was given 30 instead.

On 1 December 2009, Smith was loaned to Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Football League First Division for a month.[4] Smith played three times for the Pars before breaking his foot and returning to St Mirren.[5] He re-joined Dunfermline for a second loan spell later in the season. He then joined Dunfermline outright, on a one-year deal for the 2010–11 season.[6] Smith played regularly for Dunfermline in the latter part of the 2011–12 Scottish Premier League season, due to injuries suffered by Paul Gallacher and Iain Turner.[7] Dunfermline released him at the end of the season.[8]

Smith signed for St Mirren in August 2012, providing cover after Grant Adam suffered a tibia injury.[8]

On 22 March 2013, Smith was loaned out to Second Division Stenhousemuir until the end of season 2012–13.[9] At the end of the 2014–15 season, Smith agreed terms with Stirling Albion.[10] Smith spent two seasons with the Binos before being released in May 2017.[11] Smith subsequently re-signed for Stenhousemuir in June 2017.[12] He joined East Kilbride in the summer of 2018, before joining Scottish League One side Dumbarton on loan in October 2018 after Grant Adam was ruled out through injury.[13] After five appearances he left the club in November 2018, before returning three weeks later again on an emergency loan deal.[14] He joined Scottish League Two side Annan Athletic in November 2019 after impressing as a trialist.[15] He joined Dumbarton for a second time, this time on a permanent deal, in October 2020.[16] He left the club due to work commitments on 6 April 2021.[17]

Personal life

Outside of football, Smith works as a police officer in Glasgow.[18] [19]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueScottish CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
St Mirren2004–05First Division2000000020
2005–0623010103[20] 0280
2006–07Premier League2100010220
2007–082804010330
2008–0940200060
St Mirren total780703030910
Dunfermline Athletic (loan)2009–10First Division8000000080
Dunfermline Athletic2010–11First Division360202000400
2011–12Premier League1502000170
Dunfermline total510402000570
Stenhousemuir (loan)2012–13Second Division7000000070
Stenhousemuir2013–14League One360401010420
2014–150000000000
Stenhousemuir total360401010420
Stirling Albion2015–16League Two340501010410
2016–17310303000370
Stirling total650804010780
Stenhousemuir2017–18League Two300203050400
Dumbarton (loan)2018–19League One90100000100
Annan Athletic2019–20League Two100100000110
Dumbarton2020–21League One2010000030
Career total29802801301003470

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scotland U21 Player Chris Smith Details.
  2. News: St Mirren 2-1 Hamilton Accies . BBC . 6 November 2005 . 11 August 2020.
  3. News: Injury blow for St Mirren keeper. 27 March 2009. BBC Sport. 27 March 2009.
  4. News: Pars sign Buddies keeper on loan. BBC Sport. 1 December 2009. 1 December 2009.
  5. News: Goalkeeper Smith suffers break. BBC Sport. 17 December 2009. 18 December 2009.
  6. Web site: Pars sign goalkeeper. Dunfermline Athletic official website. 7 July 2010. 8 July 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100710054031/http://www.dafc.co.uk/articles/20100707/pars-sign-goalkeeper_2207955_2086819. 10 July 2010.
  7. News: Dunfermline can stay in SPL, says goalkeeper Chris Smith. 10 April 2012. 10 April 2012. BBC Sport. BBC.
  8. News: St Mirren return for goalkeeper Chris Smith after Grant Adam blow. BBC Sport. BBC. 10 August 2012. 10 August 2012.
  9. News: Smith goes on loan to Stenhousemuir. 22 March 2013. Paisley Daily Express. 22 March 2013.
  10. News: Smith is first signing . stirlingalbionfc.co.uk . 6 May 2015 . 22 May 2015 .
  11. Web site: Squad news . Stirling Albion FC . 10 May 2017 . 2 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170613180330/http://www.stirlingalbionfc.co.uk/2017/05/10/squad-news-2/ . 13 June 2017 . dead .
  12. Web site: Player news . Stenhousemuir FC . 15 June 2017 . 3 July 2017 .
  13. Web site: KEEPER JOINS. Galloway. Andy. 25 October 2018. Dumbarton Football Club.
  14. Web site: PREVIEW : DUMBARTON v STRANRAER. Findlay. Alan. 21 December 2018. Dumbarton Football Club. 21 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181221230348/https://www.dumbartonfootballclub.com/news/?mode=view&id=3888. 21 December 2018. dead.
  15. Web site: 2019-10-19. Trialist signs on. 2020-10-04. Annan Athletic FC.
  16. Web site: Dumbarton Football Club - GOALKEEPER SMITH RETURNS TO DUMBARTON. 2020-10-05. dumbartonfootballclub.com.
  17. Web site: Dumbarton Football Club - CHRIS SMITH LEAVES DUMBARTON. 2021-04-06. www.dumbartonfootballclub.com.
  18. Web site: Stenhousemuir's Smith on sideline for Brora trip. 25 July 2014. Falkirk Herald. 5 December 2018.
  19. Web site: Stirling Albion goalkeeper Chris Smith on the mend following sickening fall. Johnstone. Darren. 1 August 2016. Deadline News Agency.
  20. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup