Ben Smith (goalkeeper)
Encyclopedia
Benjamin James "Ben" Smith (born 5 September 1986 in Whitley Bay
, Tyne & Wear) is an English
football goalkeeper, currently playing for Shrewsbury Town
.
. He attended Whitley Bay High School
.
He has previously been on the books of Newcastle United
's youth team, spending a period on loan with Middlesbrough
and on trial at Leeds United
, before joining Stockport County
on non-contract terms on 23 March 2006. He made his debut for Doncaster in a League Cup game against Wycombe Wanderers
on 24 October 2006, which lead to a run in the side as Rovers first choice goalkeeper, but the signing of ever-present goalkeeper Neil Sullivan
has seen Smith's chances very limited in the first team. He went on loan to Lincoln City
in November 2007.
On 16 October 2009 Smith joined Morecambe
on a one month loan, to cover for injured Barry Roche
.
In May 2010, Doncaster announced that he was one of 6 players who would not be offered new contracts.
On 29 July 2010, Smith joined League Two
club Shrewsbury Town
on a two-year contract after a successful trial period.
Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay is a town in North Tyneside, in Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the North Sea coast and has a fine stretch of golden sandy beach forming a bay stretching from St. Mary's Island in the north to Cullercoats in the south...
, Tyne & Wear) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football goalkeeper, currently playing for Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
.
Biography
Smith is son of the renowned goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach Simon SmithSimon Smith (footballer)
Simon Smith is a former footballer and currently working as U19's coach for the England national football team.-Playing career:Smith began his professional career with Newcastle United in 1978, spending four years there before moving on to Whitley Bay and then Gateshead, where he played 501 games...
. He attended Whitley Bay High School
Whitley Bay High School
Whitley Bay High School is a foundation state school in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, England.-Admissions:It is a mixed school with around 1600 pupils, 500 of these being in the school's Sixth Form. In 2006 the school was awarded Specialist College Status in Science & Humanities. The school has...
.
He has previously been on the books of Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
's youth team, spending a period on loan with Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
and on trial at Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, before joining Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
on non-contract terms on 23 March 2006. He made his debut for Doncaster in a League Cup game against Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
on 24 October 2006, which lead to a run in the side as Rovers first choice goalkeeper, but the signing of ever-present goalkeeper Neil Sullivan
Neil Sullivan
Neil Sullivan is an English-born Scottish ex-international professional Association footballer. A goalkeeper, Sullivan currently plays for Doncaster Rovers after signing on a permanent basis from Leeds United at the end of the 2006–07 season, following two loan moves to Doncaster...
has seen Smith's chances very limited in the first team. He went on loan to Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
in November 2007.
On 16 October 2009 Smith joined Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
on a one month loan, to cover for injured Barry Roche
Barry Roche
Barry Christopher Roche is a footballer who plays for Morecambe as a goalkeeper. He is a former Irish Under-21 international.-Career:...
.
In May 2010, Doncaster announced that he was one of 6 players who would not be offered new contracts.
On 29 July 2010, Smith joined League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
on a two-year contract after a successful trial period.
Achievements
- Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Play-Off Winner- 2007/20082007-08 in English footballThe 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
- 2007/2008
External links
- Ben Smith player profile at doncasterroversfc.co.uk