Allan Smart
Encyclopedia
Allan Smart is a professional footballer, currently playing for Southport, as a striker and also serving as Head of Youth Development.
club Balbeggie and had spells with St Johnstone
and Brechin City
, but without appearing for either's first team. In 1993 he joined Highland League
club Caledonian
; the following year Smart made his Scottish League
debut following the merger which created Caledonian Thistle, but was soon sold to Preston North End
for a fee of £15000. Here he was sent out on loan to a number of clubs in order to gain experience and match practice. These clubs included Carlisle United
and Northampton Town
. In between these loan deals he also managed to make some first team appearances for Preston. However, after just thirty-one appearances for the club he was signed permanently by Carlisle in 1996 and then moved on to Watford
for £100,000 in 1998.
During his time at Watford he helped them get promoted to the Premier League for the 1999-00
season. He scored the second goal in Watford's 2-0 victory against Bolton in the 1999 Football League First Division play-off Final
. Soon after, Watford found themselves out of their depth in the division as they finished 20th with just 24 points. However Smart still managed to score some goals, including the winner against Chelsea. He stayed with the club until November 2001, after two loan moves to Hibernian
(where he scored once against St Johnstone) and Stoke City respectively. He signed for Oldham Athletic for a fee of £225,000 on 30 November 2001.
His time at Oldham was both frustrating and disappointing for Smart, as he managed just twenty-one appearances during his season-long stay at the club, before being released at the end of the season. Since leaving Oldham in 2002, he had spells at Dundee United
, Crewe Alexandra
, MK Dons
and Bury
(where he scored once against Leyton Orient) before signing for Portadown
in the close season of 2006.
In July 2007, Smart joined Conference North
side Burscough
on a season-long loan. When the loan deal expired, Smart made the move permanent as his Portadown contract had also expired.
After the departure of manager Liam Watson from Burscough, Smart became the assistant manager at the club, whilst also remaining on the playing staff. In September 2009, he took up a full time job, as Head of Youth Development at Southport
, while temporarily remaining as player and assistant manager part time at Burscough.
Career
Smart began his career with juniorScottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
club Balbeggie and had spells with St Johnstone
St Johnstone F.C.
St. Johnstone F.C. is a professional football club based in Perth, Scotland. Although it is officially recorded as being formed in 1884, the club did not play its first game until February 1885. The club's home since 1989 has been McDiarmid Park....
and Brechin City
Brechin City F.C.
Brechin City Football Club is a Scottish football team based in Brechin, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and play in the Second Division in the 2010–11 season...
, but without appearing for either's first team. In 1993 he joined Highland League
Highland Football League
The Press & Journal Highland Football League is a league of football clubs operating not just in the Scottish Highlands, as the name may suggest, but also in the north-east lowlands...
club Caledonian
Caledonian F.C.
Caledonian Football Club was a football club from the city of Inverness, Highland, Scotland.-Formation:Caledonian Football Club was formed in 1885 by lads from the 'Big Green' area of Inverness, though some sources quote 1886. They were founder members of the Highland Football League in 1893 and...
; the following year Smart made his Scottish League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
debut following the merger which created Caledonian Thistle, but was soon sold to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
for a fee of £15000. Here he was sent out on loan to a number of clubs in order to gain experience and match practice. These clubs included Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
and Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
. In between these loan deals he also managed to make some first team appearances for Preston. However, after just thirty-one appearances for the club he was signed permanently by Carlisle in 1996 and then moved on to Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
for £100,000 in 1998.
During his time at Watford he helped them get promoted to the Premier League for the 1999-00
FA Premier League 1999-00
The FA Premier League 1999–2000 season was the eighth season of the FA Premier League, and Manchester United secured their sixth Premiership title. Like the previous season, they lost only three league games all season...
season. He scored the second goal in Watford's 2-0 victory against Bolton in the 1999 Football League First Division play-off Final
1999 Football League First Division play-off Final
The 1999 Football League Championship play-off Final was contested between Bolton Wanderers and Watford, played at Wembley Stadium on 31 May 1999. The match was won by Watford through goals from Nick Wright and Allan Smart. As a result, Watford would play in the Premier League for the first time...
. Soon after, Watford found themselves out of their depth in the division as they finished 20th with just 24 points. However Smart still managed to score some goals, including the winner against Chelsea. He stayed with the club until November 2001, after two loan moves to Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
(where he scored once against St Johnstone) and Stoke City respectively. He signed for Oldham Athletic for a fee of £225,000 on 30 November 2001.
His time at Oldham was both frustrating and disappointing for Smart, as he managed just twenty-one appearances during his season-long stay at the club, before being released at the end of the season. Since leaving Oldham in 2002, he had spells at Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
, Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
, MK Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
and Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
(where he scored once against Leyton Orient) before signing for Portadown
Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club was founded in the late 1880s and joined the Irish League in 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park...
in the close season of 2006.
In July 2007, Smart joined Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
side Burscough
Burscough F.C.
Burscough F.C. is an English football club based in Burscough, Lancashire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and groundshare with Skelmersdale United...
on a season-long loan. When the loan deal expired, Smart made the move permanent as his Portadown contract had also expired.
After the departure of manager Liam Watson from Burscough, Smart became the assistant manager at the club, whilst also remaining on the playing staff. In September 2009, he took up a full time job, as Head of Youth Development at Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
, while temporarily remaining as player and assistant manager part time at Burscough.
Honours
with Carlisle United- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
winner: 19971997 Football League Trophy FinalThe 1997 Football League Trophy Final was the 14th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Second and Third Division of the Football League. The match was played at Wembley on 20 April 1997, and was contested by Carlisle United and Colchester United...
External links
- http://www.southportfc.net/
- Official Burscough profile