Michael Smith (footballer, born 1988)

Michael Smith (born 4 September 1988) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League South club Yeovil Town and the Northern Ireland national team. Smith has previously played for Heart of Midlothian in Scotland, Ballyclare Comrades and Ballymena United in Northern Ireland, and Bristol Rovers and Peterborough United in England.

For other people with the same name, see Michael Smith.

Michael Smith
Smith playing for Bristol Rovers in 2014
Personal information
Full name Michael Smith[1]
Date of birth (1988-09-04) 4 September 1988
Place of birth Monkstown, Northern Ireland
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Yeovil Town
Number 23
Youth career
Greenisland Boys Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2009 Ballyclare Comrades
2009–2011 Ballymena United 86 (5)
2011–2014 Bristol Rovers 101 (1)
2014–2017 Peterborough United 120 (3)
2017–2023 Heart of Midlothian 154 (6)
2023- Yeovil Town 4 (0)
International career‡
2016– Northern Ireland 19 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:22, 24 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 September 2021 (UTC)

At Hearts, Smith was mostly utilised as a right-back – either as a fullback or as a wing-back – however he also deputised as a centre-back (often as the right-most of a back three) when needed.

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]

Club career

Early 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. He scored his first goal for the club in August 2012, opening the scoring in a 3–1 EFL Cup defeat to Ipswich Town.[5]

At the end of the 2012–13 season, he was named the club's Player of the Year[6] before signing a new two-year contract.[7] The 2013–14 season saw Rovers relegated from the Football League for the first time in the club's history, a 1–0 defeat to Mansfield Town sealing their fate on the final day of the season.[8] Despite this, both Smith and teammate John-Joe O'Toole were named in the PFA League Two Team of the Season.[9] Following relegation, he handed in a transfer request.[10]

Peterborough United

On 25 July 2014, Smith moved to Peterborough United, signing a three-year deal.[11]

Heart of Midlothian

On 30 June 2017, Michael Smith signed for Hearts in the Scottish Premiership. He signed a two-year deal, wearing the number 2 shirt previously worn by Callum Paterson.[12]

On 7 January 2021, Smith signed an 18-month contract extension.[13] In January 2022 he signed another one-year contract extension to his existing deal.[14] On 25 May 2023, he was announced to be leaving the club at the end of the 2022–23 season.[15]

Yeovil Town

On 12 September 2023, Smith signed for National League South side Yeovil Town on a one-year deal with an option of an additional year.[16]

International career

Smith received his first call-up to the senior Northern Ireland squad on 16 March 2016 for friendlies against Wales and Slovenia.[17] He scored his first international goal on 19 November 2019, in a 6–1 defeat against Germany.[18]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 24 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ballymena United 2008–09[19] IFA Premiership 120000000120
2009–10[20][21] IFA Premiership 37261223[lower-alpha 3]0485
2010–11[22][23] IFA Premiership 37320311[lower-alpha 3]0434
Total 8658153401039
Bristol Rovers 2011–12[24] League Two 20000201[lower-alpha 4]0230
2012–13[25] League Two 38110111[lower-alpha 4]0412
2013–14[26] League Two 43050101[lower-alpha 4]0500
Total 10116041301142
Peterborough United 2014–15[27] League One 43110101[lower-alpha 4]0461
2015–16[28] League One 38140001[lower-alpha 4]0431
2016–17[29] League One 391401000441
Total 12039020201333
Heart of Midlothian 2017–18[30] Scottish Premiership 3103040—380
2018–19[31] Scottish Premiership 2804062—382
2019–20[32] Scottish Premiership 2205071—341
2020–21[33] Scottish Championship 2520010—262
2021–22[34] Scottish Premiership 2022050—272
2022–23[35] Scottish Premiership 28230107[lower-alpha 5]0392
Total 1546170243702029
Heart of Midlothian B 2022–23[36] ————1[lower-alpha 6]010
Yeovil Town 2023–24[36] National League South 4030—0070
Career total 4671543135717056023
  1. Includes Irish Cup, FA Cup, Scottish Cup
  2. Includes Irish League Cup, EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
  3. Appearance(s) in County Antrim Shield
  4. Appearance(s) in the Football League Trophy
  5. Two appearances in UEFA Europa League, five appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  6. Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup

International goals
Scores and results Northern Ireland's goal tally first.[37]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.19 November 2019Waldstadion, Frankfurt, Germany Germany1–01–6UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

Heart of Midlothian

Individual

References
  1. "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.
  2. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 441. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. "'Blame me' - Walker tells United fans". Ballymena Times. 25 April 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  4. "Michael Smith joins Bristol Rovers". Ballymena United Football Club. 27 June 2011. Archived from the original on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  5. "Ipswich 3–1 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  6. "SMITH WINS PLAYER OF THE YEAR". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  7. "NEW CONTRACT FOR DEFENDER". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  8. "Bristol Rovers 0–1 Mansfield Town". BBC Sport. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  9. "SMITH AND O'TOOLE NAMED IN PFA SIDE". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  10. "Transfer talk". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  11. "Peterborough United sign Michael Smith from Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  12. "Hearts confirm signings of Michael Smith and Ashley Smith-Brown". The Scotsman. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  13. "Smith signs contract extension | Heart Of Midlothian Football Club". www.heartsfc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  14. "Michael Smith extends contract | Heart Of Midlothian Football Club". www.heartsfc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  15. "Trio to leave". www.heartsfc.co.uk. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  16. "Signing | Michael Smith signs for the Glovers". Yeovil Town F.C. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  17. "Michael Smith and Conor Washington called into NI squad". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  18. Wales, Peter (20 November 2019). "'If it's bobbling on the edge of the box I'm hitting it' - Hearts defender Michael Smith reflects on stunning first goal for Northern Ireland against Germany". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  19. "Season-by-Season 2008/2009 – Player Appearances". Ballymena United F.C. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  20. "Season-by-Season 2009/2010 – Player Appearances". Ballymena United F.C. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  21. "Season-by-Season 2009/2010 – Goalscoring Chart". Ballymena United F.C. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  22. "Season-by-Season 2010/2011 – Player Appearances". Ballymena United F.C. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  23. "Season-by-Season 2010/2011 – Goalscoring Chart". Ballymena United F.C. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  24. "Games played by Michael Smith in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  25. "Games played by Michael Smith in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  26. "Games played by Michael Smith in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  27. "Games played by Michael Smith in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  28. "Games played by Michael Smith in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  29. "Games played by Michael Smith in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  30. "Games played by Michael Smith in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  31. "Games played by Michael Smith in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  32. "Games played by Michael Smith in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  33. "Games played by Michael Smith in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  34. "Games played by Michael Smith in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  35. "Games played by Michael Smith in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  36. "M. Smith: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  37. "Michael Smith". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  38. "BRSC Player of the Year Awards". Bristol Rovers Supporters Club. May 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  39. "Luis Suarez: Liverpool striker wins PFA Player of the Year award". BBC Sport. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
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