Graham Smith (footballer, born 1947) explained

Graham Smith
Fullname:Graham William Charles Smith
Birth Date:2 November 1947
Birth Place:Liverpool, England
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthyears1:1967–1968
Youthclubs1:Loughborough College
Years1:1968–1969
Clubs1:Notts County
Caps1:10
Goals1:0
Years2:1969–1972
Clubs2:Colchester United
Caps2:95
Goals2:0
Years3:1972–1973
Clubs3:West Bromwich Albion
Caps3:10
Goals3:0
Years4:1973–1976
Clubs4:Cambridge United
Caps4:85
Goals4:0
Clubs5:Wigan Athletic
Totalcaps:200
Totalgoals:0
Manageryears1:2007–2009
Managerclubs1:Ventura County Fusion
Manageryears2:2013–2017
Managerclubs2:Sacramento Republic (Director of Football)
Youthclubs2:Liverpool FC (A Team)
Youthclubs3:England (under 18's)

Graham William Charles Smith (born 2 November 1947) is an English former professional footballer and former technical director of Sacramento Republic FC.

Career

Playing career

Smith, who played as a goalkeeper, began his professional career in 1968 with Notts County.[1] He also played in the Football League for Colchester United,[2] West Bromwich Albion,[3] and Cambridge United,[4] making a total of 200 league appearances for all four clubs. Smith was a member of Colchester United's famous FA Cup giant killing team, beating Leeds United 3–2 on 13 February 1971. Smith was later inducted to the Colchester United Hall of Fame in 2009.

Management career

After playing professional football, Graham went on to be the product director at both Adidas and Le Coq Sportif. He then moved to Chelsea Football Club to take a position on the board of directors before moving into football agency, starting up First Wave Sports UK and then First Wave Sports USA.

Ventura County Fusion PDL (USL League Two) 2006–2009 (Head Coach)Sacramento Republic (USL Championship) 2014–2017[5] [6] (Director of Football)

Personal life

Graham is living both in California and Mexico. He has two sons both living in the USA. Graham's oldest son, Adam Smith, was also a professional footballer, beginning his career as a schoolboy at Premiership Club Everton Adam later went on to spend a year with Walsall F.C. after completing a college degree in business and sports coaching at Manchester Metropolitan University. He then went on to play with teams in Asia, Scotland and the US as a full-time professional and semi-professional player.

Graham is now happily semi-retired and his successful agency business (First Wave Sports) is now being run and managed by the former professional Major League Soccer player Stefani Miglioranzi.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Playing honours

Colchester United[7]

1971

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notts County: 1946/47 – 2007/08. 28 May 2009. Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database.
  2. Web site: Colchester United: 1950/51 – 1989/90 & 1992/93 – 2007/08. 28 May 2009. Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database.
  3. Web site: West Bromwich Albion: 1946/47 – 2007/08. 28 May 2009. Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database.
  4. Web site: Cambridge United: 1970/71 – 2004/05. 28 May 2009. Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database.
  5. Web site: Smith Resigns From Republic FC. USLSoccer.com. 19 November 2017. Sacramento, CA. 18 November 2017.
  6. Web site: Graham Smith Resigns Position at Sacramento Republic FC. 18 Nov 2017. Sacramento Republic FC.
  7. Web site: Watney Cup Honours . Coludaybyday.co.uk . 17 March 2022 . 21 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180921222814/http://www.coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerWatneyCup.html . dead .