Nigel Smith (footballer, born 1958)

Nigel Paul Smith (born 3 January 1958) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender in the Football League for Brentford and Cambridge United.

Nigel Smith
Personal information
Full name Nigel Paul Smith[1]
Date of birth (1958-01-03) 3 January 1958
Place of birth Banstead, England
Position(s) Central defender
Youth career
Banstead Athletic
Queens Park Rangers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1978 Brentford 85 (0)
1978–1979 Cambridge United 1 (0)
Woking
Metropolitan Police
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Early years

Smith began his career with hometown club Banstead Athletic, before moving to the reserve team at Second Division club Queens Park Rangers, for which he made 20 appearances.[2]

Brentford

In March 1975, Smith transferred to Fourth Division club Brentford and was as a regular in the team during the 1975–76 and 1976–77 seasons.[1][2] After the appointment of Bill Dodgin, Smith fell out of favour and made just a handful of appearances during the 1977–78 promotion-winning season.[2] Smith had his contract cancelled and departed the Bees in October 1978,[3] after making 96 appearances for the club.[2]

Cambridge United

Smith moved up to the Second Division to sign for Cambridge United in November 1978, but made just one substitute appearance for the club.[1]

Non-league football

Smith saw out his career with spells at Isthmian League clubs Woking and Metropolitan Police.[1]

International career

During the 1975–76 season, Smith was called up to train with the England U18 squad, but failed to appear in a match.[2] He later represented the England Police team.[3]

Personal life

After retiring from professional football, Smith joined the Metropolitan Police.[3]

Career statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 1974–75[4] Fourth Division 2 0 — — 2 0
1975–76[4] 37 0 4 0 3 0 44 0
1976–77[4] 34 0 0 0 2 0 36 0
1977–78[4] 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
1978–79[4] Third Division 3 0 — 0 0 3 0
Career total 85 0 4 0 5 0 94 0

References
  1. "Nigel Smith". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  2. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. p. 149. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  3. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 275. ISBN 978-1906796709.
  4. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 393–395. ISBN 0951526200.
  • Nigel Smith at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database


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