Paul Smith (footballer, born 1964)

Paul Michael Smith (born 9 November 1964) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Sheffield United, Stockport County, Port Vale, and Lincoln City. He was promoted out of the Third Division with Sheffield United in 1983–84, and won the Conference title with Lincoln City in 1987–88.

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

Paul Smith
Personal information
Full name Paul Michael Smith[1]
Date of birth (1964-11-09) 9 November 1964[1]
Place of birth Rotherham, England[1]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Right winger
Youth career
Sheffield United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1982–1986 Sheffield United 36 (1)
1985–1986 → Stockport County (loan) 7 (5)
1986–1987 Port Vale 44 (7)
1987–1995 Lincoln City 232 (27)
Halifax Town
Total 319+ (40+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Smith began his career at Sheffield United. Ian Porterfield's "Blades" finished 11th in the Third Division in 1982–83, before winning automatic promotion in 1983–84. United then finished 18th in the Second Division in 1984–85 and then rose up to seventh place in 1985–86. During the latter campaign, Smith scored five goals in seven Fourth Division games on loan at Les Chapman's Stockport County. He failed to revive his career at Bramall Lane under new manager Billy McEwan after returning from Edgeley Park. Smith joined John Rudge's Third Division Port Vale for a £10,000 fee in July 1986.[1] He scored nine goals in 51 appearances in the 1986–87 season.[1] However, after just three games into the 1987–88 season, he was sold on to Lincoln City for £40,000 (and a percentage of any future fee) in September 1987.[1] Colin Murphy's "Imps" went on to finish the 1987–88 season as champions of the Conference, and were re-elected into the Football League. They then finished tenth in the Fourth Division in 1988–89 and 1989–90, before new boss Steve Thompson led the club to 14th in 1990–91, and then tenth once again in 1991–92. Lincoln missed out on the play-offs in 1992–93 after Bury pipped them to seventh place on goal difference. They then plummeted to 18th spot in 1993–94 under Keith Alexander's stewardship, before new boss Sam Ellis took them back up to 12th place in 1994–95. Smith scored 40 goals in 305 league and cup competitions during his six years at Sincil Bank. He later played in the Conference for Halifax Town and had a trial with Mansfield Town.

Career statistics

Source:[3]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sheffield United 1982–83 Third Division 70000070
1983–84 Third Division 30000030
1984–85 Second Division 81000081
1985–86 Second Division 1802000200
Total 3612000381
Stockport County (loan) 1985–86 Fourth Division 75002196
Port Vale 1986–87 Third Division 4272072519
1987–88 Third Division 20001030
Total 4472082549
Lincoln City 1988–89 Fourth Division 281000203010
1989–90 Fourth Division 3351020365
1990–91 Fourth Division 4661040516
1991–92 Fourth Division 3930040433
1992–93 Third Division 3332040393
1993–94 Third Division 3602080460
1994–9 Third Division 1700010180
Total 232276025026327
Career total 3194010035336443

Honours

Sheffield United

Lincoln City

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 273. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Dunk, Peter (1987). Rothmans football yearbook 1987-88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 294. ISBN 978-0356143545. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. Paul Smith at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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