This article is about the English football player who played for Leicester City and Brentford. For the English football manager and former player, see Dean Smith (footballer, born 1971).
A forward, Smith began his career in the youth system at hometown First Division club Leicester City in April 1975 and progressed to sign his first professional contract in December 1976.[3][4] 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.[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]
Brentford
Smith signed for Third Division club Brentford for a £20,000 fee in October 1978.[7] 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 and he drifted out of the first team picture.[7] Smith departed Brentford in February 1981, after being suspended by the club for a breach of discipline.[4] He made 61 appearances and scored 17 goals during his time at Griffin Park.[8]
^ abcCroxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 291. ISBN978-1906796709.
