Jamie Smith (footballer, born 1974)

James Jade Anthony Smith (born 17 September 1974) is a former English footballer who played as a full back, he is currently the assistant manager at Championship side Huddersfield Town.

For other people named Jamie Smith, see Jamie Smith (disambiguation).

Jamie Smith
Personal information
Full name James Jade Anthony Smith[1]
Date of birth (1974-09-17) 17 September 1974
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Position(s) Full back
Team information
Current team
 Huddersfield Town (assistant manager)
Youth career
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1997 Wolverhampton Wanderers 87 (1)
1997–2004 Crystal Palace 149 (4)
1999 → Fulham (loan) 9 (1)
2004–2006 Bristol City 45 (2)
2006 → Brentford (loan) 7 (0)
2006–2007 Milton Keynes Dons 17 (0)
2009–2010 Halesowen Town
2010–2012 Airbus UK 6 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Born in Birmingham, Smith joined First Division Wolves as a youth trainee and progressed through the ranks to make his first team debut on 13 August 1994 in a 1–0 win over Reading. He immediately established himself as a regular and made 25 appearances in his debut professional season as Wolves lost in the play-offs.

He was more of a peripheral figure in the 1995–96 season but re-established himself in the following campaign as Wolves again lost out in the play-offs. In total, he made 104 appearances for the club before leaving in October 1997 as part of the deal that saw Dougie Freedman and Kevin Muscat move to Molineux from Premier League Crystal Palace. Palace were the only club Smith scored against for Wolves, with his goal coming in the Play-off semi final 1st leg at the end of the previous season, a tie from which Palace eventually emerged victorious.[2]

Smith made his Palace debut as they won away to Sheffield Wednesday[3] but got sent off in his second match against Aston Villa.[4] He remained at Crystal Palace for seven seasons (one Premier League), racking up 175 appearances in total for the Eagles. During his time here, he was also loaned out to Fulham where he scored once against Walsall.[5] His spell at Fulham gave Smith the distinction of having played under three England managers: Graham Taylor (Wolves), Kevin Keegan (Fulham) and Terry Venables (Crystal Palace).

The defender left Selhurst Park in August 2004, joining League One club Bristol City on a free transfer. He was a regular in his first season at the club, but ended the following season on loan at Brentford where he lost in the play-offs yet again.

He was given a free transfer upon returning to Bristol City at the end of the 2005–06 season, as he was signed by his former Brentford manager Martin Allen at the Milton Keynes Dons.[6] He began to be often sidelined by a persistent knee injury during his spell here, and he was released by the club at the end of the season. This led to him announcing his playing retirement in July 2007.[7]

Smith came out of retirement to sign for Halesowen Town in 2009[8] and at the same time was working with Airbus UK towards his coaching badges. He then moved to the Welsh Premier League side in January 2010[9] and registered with them as a player.[10]

Coaching career

He was also on the coaching staff at West Bromwich Albion Academy.[11]

Darren Moore would announce him as his assistant manager at Doncaster Rovers on 24 July 2019.[12] He would follow Darren Moore to Sheffield Wednesday on 1 March 2021 taking on the same role as assistant manager.[13] Following Darren Moore getting COVID-19, Smith would talk charge of match days for the games against Watford, Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers.[14][15] He would again lead the dugout after Moore suffered a setback in his recovery.[16] He left Sheffield Wednesday on 19 June 2023, with manager Darren Moore and the rest of his backroom staff.[17]

On 21 September 2023, he re-united with Moore once again as part of the new coaching staff at Championship side Huddersfield Town.[18]

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2007). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2007–08. Mainstream Publishing. p. 377. ISBN 978-1-84596-246-3.
  2. "Freedman in knock-out form". The Independent. 12 May 1997. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  3. "Sheff Wed 1 Crystal Palace 3". Sporting Life. 25 October 1997. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  4. "Coppell put out as Palace feel the Winter chill". The Independent. 10 November 1997. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  5. "Hayward return is happy for Fulham". The Independent. 5 May 1999. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  6. "MK Dons complete swoop for Smith". BBC Sport. 18 July 2006.
  7. "Ex-Dons defender forced to retires". BBC Sport. 18 July 2007.
  8. "Halesowen Town hope to keep Jamie Smith". Birmingham Mail. 8 January 2010.
  9. "Impressive recruits for Airbus". NonLeagueDaily. 19 August 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012.
  10. "Smith wings in to The Airfield". Welsh Premier League. 2 February 2010. Archived from the original on 18 February 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  11. "Wolves snap-up striker Cassidy". Airbus UK FC. 17 August 2010. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016.
  12. "Jamie Smith joins Rovers as assistant manager". Doncaster Rovers F.C. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  13. "Duo join Owls backroom staff". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  14. "Sheffield Wednesday 5-0 Cardiff City". BBC. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  15. "Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore misses Watford clash after positive Covid-19 test". ExaminerLive. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  16. "Club statement: Darren Moore". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  17. "Club statement". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  18. "Huddersfield appoint former Sheff Wed boss Moore". BBC Sport. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
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