Tommy Smith (footballer, born 1990)

Thomas Jefferson "Tommy" Smith (born 31 March 1990) is a New Zealand international footballer who plays for Ipswich Town. A graduate of the Ipswich academy, he is a left-sided defensive player, most adept at centre back or left back. He spent the second half of the 2007–08 season on loan at Stevenage in the Conference National before making his Ipswich debut in August 2008. He is currently Ipswich's longest serving player.

Club career

Ipswich Town

Academy

Born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, Smith is a product of the Ipswich Town academy and signed a three-year professional contract in August 2007.^[2] He was on the shortlist for the Wickes Young Apprentice Trophy, given to the best youth player in the Championship,^[3][4] but Mark Beevers won the award.^[5]

Loan to Stevenage

In February 2008, Smith joined Stevenage Borough in the Conference National on a one-month emergency loan.^[6][7] Later the loan was extended until the end of the season.^[8] He played 15 games for the club before returning to Ipswich.^[9]

Return to Ipswich

Smith's form for Stevenage led to him getting his opportunity in the Ipswich first team on the first day of the 2008–09 season. Ipswich went on to lose the game 2–1 to Preston North End.

That season, Smith broke his ankle in training, and missed the majority of the season. However, by the time he made his return to first team action, manager Jim Magilton had left the club and been replaced by Roy Keane. Smith featured heavily in Keane's early games as Ipswich manager, with the former Manchester United midfielder opting to give some of the club's younger talent – such as Connor Wickham and Smith – a chance to prove themselves.

However, injury stalled Smith's progress once again, when he suffered another training ground injury – this time to his hand. In his absence Gareth McAuley and Damien Delaney formed a solid defensive partnership ahead of deputising goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett. Smith was unable to force his way back into the first team in the short-term.

Loan to Brentford

On 7 January 2010, Smith joined Brentford on a temporary basis. In doing so, Smith replaced Pim Balkestein at Griffin Park, who had been on loan at the club from Ipswich too. Smith played eight games during his brief spell at Brentford, before being recalled by Ipswich on 15 March.^[10]

Return to Ipswich

Smith scored his first professional goal for Ipswich away against Middlesbrough in the first game of the 2010–11 Championship, which Ipswich won 3–1. After playing 11 games and scoring 1 goal during the 2011–12 season Smith signed a two-year contract extension in May 2012.^[11]

Loan to Colchester United

On 17 March 2011, Smith signed for Colchester United on loan for the rest of the 2010–11 season.

International career

Born in England, Smith resided in New Zealand during his youth and as a result holds dual nationality. This gave him the opportunity to declare himself eligible for the New Zealand national football team ("All Whites"), though he has also represented England at U-17 and U-18 level. Smith played in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea during September 2007 despite not playing a part in England's qualification for the tournament.^[12]

In December 2009, after the New Zealand national football team had qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Smith declared that he wanted to play for New Zealand and made himself available for All Whites selection,^[13] having been offered the opportunity by the Kiwi's boss, Ricki Herbert. He made his full international debut on 3 March 2010, starting in a 2–0 friendly defeat to Mexico in Los Angeles, USA on 3 March 2010.^[14][15] Smith was named in New Zealand's final 23-man squad to compete at the 2010 FIFA World Cup^[16] and made his first World Cup Finals appearance in New Zealand's opening game, a 1–1 draw against Slovakia.^[17] He also went on play every minute of New Zealand's World Cup campaign, which achieved a historic three points at the tournament.

Smith became the youngest captain in All Whites history after leading the team in a 2–2 draw versus El Salvador on 23 May 2012.^[18] On 2 June 2012, Smith scored his first goal for his country in 1–0 win versus Fiji in a 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier.^[19] In May 2016, coach Anthony Hudson suggested Smith would not be called up for the national team in the future, citing a perceived lack of commitment.^[20]

International career statistics

Club career statistics

As of matches played 2 January 2016. Includes League play-off appearances.

See also

• List of New Zealand international footballers

References

External links

• Ipswich Town – Tommy Smith player profile
• Tommy Smith career statistics at Soccerbase
  
• NZ Football Profile
• Tommy Smith – FIFA competition record

New Zealand squads
New Zealand squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup 1 Paston 2 Sigmund 3 Lochhead 4 Reid 5 Vicelich 6 Nelsen (c) 7 Elliott 8 Brown 9 Smeltz 10 Killen 11 Bertos 12 Moss 13 Barron 14 Fallon 15 McGlinchey 16 Clapham 17 Mulligan 18 Boyens 19 Smith 20 Wood 21 Christie 22 Brockie 23 Bannatyne Coach: Herbert New Zealand squad – 2012 OFC Nations Cup Third Place 1 O'Keeffe 2 Myers 3 Lochhead 4 Sigmund 5 Smith (c) 6 Hogg 7 Bertos 8 McGlinchey 9 Smeltz 10 Killen 11 Rojas 12 Moss 13 Gleeson 14 Fallon 15 Vicelich 16 Brockie 17 Barbarouses 18 Clapham 19 Boxall 20 Wood 21 Howieson 22 Payne 23 McGeorge Coach: Herbert New Zealand men's football squad – 2012 Summer Olympics 1 Gleeson 2 Payne 3 Hogg 4 Myers 5 Smith 6 Nelsen (c) 7 Barbarouses 8 McGlinchey 9 Smeltz 10 Wood 11 Rojas 12 Thomas 13 Feneridis 14 Musa 15 Howieson 16 Lucas 17 McGeorge 18 O'Keeffe Coach: Emblen