Michael Smith (footballer, born 1988)
 Smith playing for Bristol Rovers in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Smith[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 4 September 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Monkstown, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2] | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Heart of Midlothian | ||
| Number | 2 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Greenisland Boys Club | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2009 | Ballyclare Comrades | ||
| 2009–2011 | Ballymena United | ||
| 2011–2014 | Bristol Rovers | 101 | (1) |
| 2014–2017 | Peterborough United | 120 | (3) |
| 2017– | Heart of Midlothian | 38 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2010 | Northern Ireland Under-23s | ||
| 2016– | Northern Ireland | 2 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 October 2018 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:04, 11 September 2018 (UTC) | |||
Michael Smith (born 4 September 1988) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Heart of Midlothian. Smith has received several honours, including the Ballymena United Player of the Year in 2009–10, and Bristol Rovers Player of the Year in 2012–13[3].
Career
Smith began playing football under the management of his father at Greenisland Boys Club and was picked up by his first senior club, Ballyclare Comrades in 2005. He signed for Ballymena United in January 2009, and made over 100 appearances for them before moving to England to join Bristol Rovers in 2011.[4]
Bristol Rovers
He made his debut on 6 August 2011, in a 3–2 victory away against AFC Wimbledon. He made his home debut on 13 August in a 1–2 defeat to local rivals Torquay United.
Smith scored his first goal for Rovers in the League Cup against Ipswich Town, which Bristol Rovers lost 3–1.
Peterborough United
On 25 July 2014, Smith moved to Peterborough United, signing a three-year deal.[5]
Heart of Midlothian
On 30 June 2017, Michael Smith signed for Hearts in the Scottish Premiership. He signed a two-year deal and will wear the number 2 shirt, previously worn by Callum Paterson. [6]
International
Smith received his first call-up to the senior Northern Ireland squad on 16 March 2016 for friendlies against Wales and Slovenia.[7]
Career statistics
- As of match played 14 October 2017
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bristol Rovers | 2011–12[8] | League Two | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| 2012–13[9] | League Two | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 41 | 2 | |
| 2013–14[10] | League Two | 43 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 50 | 0 | |
| Bristol Rovers total | 101 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 114 | 2 | ||
| Peterborough United | 2014–15[11] | League One | 43 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 46 | 1 |
| 2015–16[12] | League One | 38 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
| 2016–17[13] | League One | 39 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 1 | |
| Peterborough total | 120 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 133 | 3 | ||
| Heart of Midlothian | 2017–18[14] | Scottish Premiership | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | Scottish Premiership | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | 12 | 2 | ||
| Hearts total | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 259 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 297 | 7 | ||
Honours
Individual
- PFA Team of the Year: 2013–14 League Two[15]
- Ballyclare Comrades Young Player of the Year: 2006–07, 2007–08
- Ballymena United Player of the Year: 2009–10[3]
- Ballymena United Players' Player of the Year: 2009–10[3]
- Ballymena United Goal of the Season: 2009–10[3]
- Bristol Rovers Player of the Year: 2012–13[16]
References
- ↑ "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 54. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
- ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 441. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
- 1 2 3 4 "'Blame me' - Walker tells United fans". Ballymena Times. 25 April 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
- ↑ "Michael Smith joins Bristol Rovers". Ballymena United Football Club. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
- ↑ "Peterborough United sign Michael Smith from Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ↑ "Hearts confirm signings of Michael Smith and Ashley Smith-Brown". The Scotsman. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
- ↑ "Michael Smith and Conor Washington called into NI squad". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "Games played by Michael Smith in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ↑ "Games played by Michael Smith in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ↑ "Games played by Michael Smith in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ↑ "Games played by Michael Smith in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ↑ "Games played by Michael Smith in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ↑ "Games played by Michael Smith in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ↑ "Games played by Michael Smith in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ↑ "Luis Suarez: Liverpool striker wins PFA Player of the Year award". BBC Sport. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ↑ "BRSC Player of the Year Awards". Bristol Rovers Supporters Club. May 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michael Smith (footballer, born 1988). |
- Michael Smith profile at the Peterborough United F.C. website
- Michael Smith at Soccerbase
