Liam Smith (footballer, born 1996)

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Liam Smith
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-04-10) 10 April 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Dalgety Bay, Scotland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.79 m)[1]
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Grimsby Town
(on loan from Cheltenham Town)
Number 2
Youth career
2006–2010 Rangers
2010–2015 Heart of Midlothian
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2018 Heart of Midlothian 30 (0)
2014–2015 → East Fife (loan) 21 (1)
2016 → Raith Rovers (loan) 2 (0)
2017–2018 → St Mirren (loan) 32 (2)
2018–2019 Ayr United 33 (1)
2019–2023 Dundee United 106 (4)
2023– Cheltenham Town 13 (0)
2024– → Grimsby Town (loan) 10 (1)
International career‡
2015 Scotland U19 1 (0)
2016–2018 Scotland U21[2] 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:15, 24 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 March 2019

Liam Smith (born 10 April 1996) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a right-back for Grimsby Town on loan from Cheltenham Town. He has previously played for Heart of Midlothian, East Fife, Raith Rovers, St Mirren, Ayr United and Dundee United.

Career[edit]

Hearts[edit]

Smith began his career as a youth player at Hillfield Swifts Boys Club, before joining Rangers aged 10.[3] Having been released by Rangers aged 14, Smith joined Heart of Midlothian (Hearts).[3] Smith signed a 2-year professional contract in July 2014, extending his stay with the club until at least 2016.[4] Aged 18 he made his first team debut[5] on 20 August 2014, in the second round of the Scottish Challenge Cup away to Livingston, playing from the start in a 4–1 loss.[6] Smith made one more appearance that season[7] before being loaned to Scottish League Two side East Fife until the end of January 2015.[8] He made his league debut on 30 August 2014, against East Stirlingshire in a 3–1 win,[9] with his first goal coming against Queen's Park on 20 September salvaging a 2–2 draw.[10] Smith's loan deal was later extended until the end of the season.[11] In all he made 23 appearances for East Fife, scoring once.[7]

On his return to Hearts Smith made his Scottish Premiership debut on 18 October, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute against Dundee United at Tannadice Park, replacing Juwon Oshaniwa in a 1–0 win.[12]

Raith Rovers loan[edit]

On 24 September 2016, it was announced that Smith had signed on loan at Raith Rovers for a month.[13] He was recalled by Hearts on 29 October 2016.[14]

St Mirren loan[edit]

On 14 August 2017, Smith signed a season-long loan deal with Scottish Championship club St Mirren.[15] It proved to be a successful loan spell as Saints won the Scottish Championship, with Smith playing 34 games and scoring twice. Smith was also part of the PFA Scotland Championship Team of the Year.[16]

Ayr United[edit]

Smith signed a one-year contract with Ayr United in August 2018.[17]

Dundee United[edit]

On 16 April 2019, Dundee United confirmed that Smith had signed a pre-contract to join the club in the summer, agreeing a two-year deal.[18] Following relegation to the Scottish Championship in the 2022–23 season, Smith was released by United at the end of the season.[19]

Cheltenham Town[edit]

On 20 July 2023, Smith signed for Cheltenham Town, following a successful trial with the club.[20]

On 1 February 2024, Smith joined League Two club Grimsby Town on loan until the end of the season.[21]

Career statistics[edit]

As of match played 20 April 2024[22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
Division App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Heart of Midlothian 2014–15[23] Scottish Championship 0 0 0 0 1 0 1[c] 0 2 0
2015–16[24] Scottish Premiership 10 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 11 0
2016–17[25] Scottish Premiership 20 0 1 0 1 0 3[d] 0 25 0
2017–18[26] Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 30 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 38 0
East Fife (loan) 2014–15[23] Scottish League Two 21 1 0 0 0 0 2[e] 0 23 1
Raith Rovers (loan) 2016–17[25] Scottish Championship 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
St Mirren (loan) 2017–18[26] Scottish Championship 32 2 1 0 0 0 1[c] 0 34 2
Ayr United 2018–19[27] Scottish Championship 33 1 2 0 1 0 3[f] 0 39 0
Dundee United 2019–20[28] Scottish Championship 28 0 2 0 3 0 1[c] 0 34 0
2020–21[29] Scottish Premiership 30 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 35 1
2021–22[30] Scottish Premiership 20 2 2 0 3 0 0 0 25 2
2022–23[31] Scottish Premiership 28 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 32 1
Total 106 4 9 0 10 0 1 0 126 4
Cheltenham Town 2023–24[32] EFL League One 13 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 15 0
Grimsby Town (loan) 2023-24[33] EFL League Two 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1
Career total 247 9 13 0 15 0 12 0 287 9
  1. ^ Includes Scottish Cup and FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes Scottish League Cup and EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
  4. ^ Appearances in Europa League
  5. ^ Appearances in Scottish League Two play-offs
  6. ^ One appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup; Two appearances in Scottish Premiership play-offs

Honours[edit]

St Mirren

Dundee United

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Liam Smith: Key Info". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. Dundee United F.C. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  2. ^ Liam Smith at the Scottish Football Association
  3. ^ a b "Hearts full-back Liam Smith loves his test of Methil". edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Edinburgh Evening News. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Hearts kids sign on until 2016 . . ". heraldscotland.com. The Herald. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Hearts boss hopes fans understand decision to field kids in Livi defeat". sport.stv.tv. STV. 21 August 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Livingston 4-1 Hearts". BBC Sport. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Games played by Liam Smith in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Hearts kid Liam Smith in East Fife manager's plans". thecourier.co.uk/. The Courier. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  9. ^ "East Fife bounced back from defeat by Albion Rovers with a comfortable win over East Stirlingshire". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  10. ^ "A late goal by defender Liam Smith snatched East Fife a point against Queen's Park at New Bayview". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Duo Extend Loan Deals". heartsfc.co.uk. Heart of Midlothian F.C. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Mixu Paatelainen's reign as Dundee United manager began with a hot-tempered defeat by Hearts, courtesy of Juanma's early penalty at Tannadice". bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 18 October 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Liam Smith Arrives on Emergency Loan". raithrovers.net. Raith Rovers F.C. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  14. ^ "RRFC Official ✔ @RaithRovers_FC". Raith Rovers F.C. on Twitter. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  15. ^ "Liam Smith joins on loan". St Mirren FC. 14 August 2017. Archived from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  16. ^ "Good night for the Buddies at PFA Scotland Player of the Year awards". St Mirren F.C. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Smith is latest signing". Ayr United FC. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  18. ^ Crawford, Kenny (16 April 2019). "Ayr Utd full-back Liam Smith to join Dundee Utd on two-year deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  19. ^ "SQUAD UPDATE | DEPARTING PLAYERS". Dundee United Football Club. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Liam Smith becomes fifth summer signing". www.ctfc.com. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  21. ^ "SMITH SIGNS FOR TOWN". gtfc.co.uk. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  22. ^ Liam Smith at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  23. ^ a b "Games played by Liam Smith in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  24. ^ "Games played by Liam Smith in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Games played by Liam Smith in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  26. ^ a b "Games played by Liam Smith in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  27. ^ "Games played by Liam Smith in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  28. ^ "Games played by Liam Smith in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  29. ^ "Games played by Liam Smith in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  30. ^ "Games played by Liam Smith in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Games played by Liam Smith in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  32. ^ "Games played by Liam Smith in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  33. ^ "Games played by Liam Smith in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
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