Dean Smith (footballer, born 1958)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dean Smith[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 28 November 1958 | ||
| Place of birth | Leicester, England | ||
| Date of death | 17 April 2009 (aged 50) | ||
| Place of death | Leicester, England[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1975–1977 | Leicester City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1977–1978 | Leicester City | 10 | (1) |
| 1978 | → Houston Hurricane (loan) | 17 | (6) |
| 1978–1980 | Brentford | 54 | (16) |
| 1980–1981 | Nuneaton Borough | 4 | (0) |
| – | Shepshed Charterhouse | ||
| – | Enderby Town | ||
| – | Hinckley Town | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Dean Smith (28 November 1958 – 17 April 2009) was an English professional football forward who played in the Football League for Leicester City and Brentford.[2]
Career
Leicester City
A forward, Smith began his career in the youth system at hometown Division One club Leicester City in April 1975.[3] Smith had to wait until September 1977 to make his first team debut, which came when he replaced Eddie Kelly during a 5–1 defeat to Everton.[4] He had to wait until 14 January 1978 for his next appearance, which came with a start in a 0–0 draw with Bristol City.[5] Smith's most notable moment in a Foxes shirt came on 23 March 1978, when he scored his only goal for the club in a 3–2 defeat to Manchester United.[6] Smith made 10 appearances during the 1977–78 season, but departed Filbert Street in October 1978 after failing to make an appearance during the early months of the 1978–79 season.[3]
Houston Hurricane (loan)
During the English off-season in the summer of 1978, Smith moved to the United States to join North American Soccer League side Houston Hurricane on loan.[7] He scored six goals in 17 appearances for the Hurricane in a disappointing 1978 season,[7] which saw the club finish bottom of the American Conference Central Division.
Brentford
Smith signed for Division Three side Brentford for a £20,000 fee in October 1978.[2] He made something of a breakthrough into the first team, making 26 appearances and scoring eight goals during the 1978–79 season.[8] Smith made a further 25 appearances during the 1979–80 season,[8] but the arrival of Fred Callaghan as manager changed the team's style of play, which saw Smith ask for a mutual termination on his contract early in the 1980–81 season.[2] He made 54 appearances and scored 16 goals during his time at Griffin Park.[2]
Non-league football
After his departure from Brentford, Smith dropped into non-league football and played for Nuneaton Borough, Shepshed Charterhouse, Enderby Town and Hinckley Town.[2][9]
Personal life
It was reported in September 2008 that Smith had suffered a stroke and was battling throat cancer.[10] He died on 17 April 2009 at the age of 50.[9]
References
- 1 2 "Dean Smith". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 147. ISBN 0955294916.
- 1 2 "Dean Smith - Leicester City career stats - FoxesHistory". FoxesTalk Forum. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ↑ "Leicester City 1-5 Everton played on 10.09.1977 - FoxesHistory". FoxesTalk Forum. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ↑ "Bristol City 0-0 Leicester City played on 14.01.1978 - FoxesHistory". FoxesTalk Forum. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ↑ "Leicester City 2-3 Manchester United played on 25.03.1978 - FoxesHistory". FoxesTalk Forum. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- 1 2 "NASL Soccer North American Soccer League Players". nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- 1 2 White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 395. ISBN 0951526200.
- 1 2 "Jack Hobbs,Leicester City,Premier League - Leicester Mercury". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ↑ "City news: Walsh supports ex-City striker". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 15 June 2015.