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.

Paul Smith

Personal information
Full name	Paul Michael Smith[1]
Date of birth	9 November 1964[1]
Place of birth	Rotherham, England[1]
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s)	Right winger
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+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing 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.

Statistics

Source:[3]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sheffield United	1982–83	Third Division	7	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
	1983–84	Third Division	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	1984–85	Second Division	8	1	0	0	0	0	8	1
	1985–86	Second Division	18	0	2	0	0	0	20	0
	Total		36	1	2	0	0	0	38	1
Stockport County (loan)	1985–86	Fourth Division	7	5	0	0	2	1	9	6
Port Vale	1986–87	Third Division	42	7	2	0	7	2	51	9
	1987–88	Third Division	2	0	0	0	1	0	3	0
	Total		44	7	2	0	8	2	54	9
Lincoln City	1988–89	Fourth Division	28	10	0	0	2	0	30	10
	1989–90	Fourth Division	33	5	1	0	2	0	36	5
	1990–91	Fourth Division	46	6	1	0	4	0	51	6
	1991–92	Fourth Division	39	3	0	0	4	0	43	3
	1992–93	Third Division	33	3	2	0	4	0	39	3
	1993–94	Third Division	36	0	2	0	8	0	46	0
	1994–9	Third Division	17	0	0	0	1	0	18	0
	Total		232	27	6	0	25	0	263	27
Career total			319	40	10	0	35	3	364	43

Honours

Sheffield United

• Football League Third Division third-place promotion: 1983–84

Lincoln City

• Football Conference champion: 1987–88

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)