Christian Smith (footballer)

Christian Daniel Smith (born 10 December 1987) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League South club Maidenhead United.
A former Port Vale youth team player, he was a first team squad member in the 2006–07 season, also spending time on loan at Cambridge United and Northwich Victoria. In 2007 he signed with Clyde, moving on to Wrexham a year later. In 2009 he signed with York City, only to return to Wrexham later in the year. After loan spells at Newport County, Barrow and Tamworth, he left the club for a second time in 2011, after which he joined Chester. He helped the club to the Northern Premier League title in 2011–12. He signed with Nantwich Town in August 2012, before joining AFC Telford United in March 2013. He signed with Chelmsford City in June 2013. He was loaned out to Hayes & Yeading United in February 2015, and joined Bishop's Stortford permanently three months later. In November 2015 he joined Maidenhead United.

Smith playing for York City in 2009

Born in Crewe, Cheshire, Smith started his career with the Port Vale youth system in 2004. He was to train with the first team in the 2006–07 season and was first involved after being named on the bench in a 1–1 against Hartlepool United on 6 May 2006. He made his debut, and only appearance, on 1 January 2007 against Scunthorpe United in a 0–0 draw after coming on as a 70th minute substitute. He was loaned out to Conference National side Cambridge United on 25 January for a one-month period. He made his debut in a 3–0 victory over Woking on 27 January and scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Stafford Rangers. The loan was extended until 21 April in March, but was recalled on 20 March. He finished the spell with six appearances. He then joined Conference National team Northwich Victoria on loan on 22 March. He made his debut in a 4–0 defeat to former club Cambridge on 25 March and finished the spell with three appearances. Smith finished the 2006–07 season with one appearance for Vale and the club announced on 9 May that he would be released when his contract expired on 30 June.

Smith trialled with League Two team Bury before moving to Scotland to sign with Scottish First Division side Clyde in August. He made his debut in the opening game of the 2007–08 season, a 3–2 defeat away to Greenock Morton on 4 August. Smith started in Clyde's first 11 matches of the season, before being handed a red card against Livingston on 29 September in the 88th minute, which led to him dropping out of the team due to suspension. He made his return as an 81st-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Morton on 20 October. He was released by Clyde in June 2008 after making 32 appearances.

Smith playing for Tamworth in 2011

He had a trial with newly-relegated Conference Premier side Wrexham in August 2008, and was offered an initial one-month contract. He scored Wrexham's fourth goal in a 5–0 victory over Stevenage Borough on 9 August, his debut for the team. He was offered two new contracts at Wrexham in December, but rejected these and left on 5 January 2009 following the expiry of his short-term contract. He trialled with League Two side Macclesfield Town and was expected to sign a contract with the club, but this was delayed. He eventually signed for Conference Premier rivals York City on a short-term contract until the end of the 2008–09 season on 15 January. He scored on his debut with a shot from 30 yards, with York beating Lewes 3–0 on 17 January. This was followed by Smith scoring York's goal with a header in a 2–1 defeat at Eastbourne Borough. He was released by York following the end of the 2008–09 season, after making 15 appearances and scoring two goals for the team.

He had a trial with former club Wrexham in July and played in the second half of a 0–0 draw with Prestatyn Town in a pre-season friendly. He was offered a contract to return to Wrexham in August.

On 26 November 2010, Smith joined Conference Premier rivals Newport County on loan until January 2011, and made his debut a day later as a 70th-minute substitute in a 2–1 victory over Hayes & Yeading United. This would prove his only Newport appearance. Upon his return to Wrexham in January he was suspended by manager Dean Saunders for insulting the club over Twitter. He was sent out on loan to Barrow later in the month. After five appearances he returned to Wales, then in March went on to join Tamworth on an emergency loan. He made seven appearances for Tamworth and in his final appearance, a 2–1 victory over Forest Green Rovers on 30 April, he scored the opening goal of a result that ensured the team's survival from relegation.

Released by Wrexham, he joined Chester of the Northern Premier League Premier Division in August, after impressing on trial. The "Blues" stormed to the league title in 2011–12 with a tally of 100 points, and thereby won promotion into the Conference North. He left the club at the end of the season. Following his release he spent most of the pre-season on trial with AFC Telford United.

He signed for Jimmy Quinn's Northern Premier League side Nantwich Town in August 2012. He moved on to AFC Telford United via Stafford Rangers in March 2013, who were struggling to avoid relegation out of the Conference Premier. He returned to Stafford Rangers in mid-April, helping the club to win the Walsall Senior Cup with a 2–1 victory over Walsall. He moved onto Dean Holdsworth's Conference South side Chelmsford City in June 2013. He helped the "Clarets" to a 17th-place finish in 2013–14.

He was loaned out to Conference South rivals Hayes & Yeading United in February 2015. Hayes finished one place above the relegation zone at the end of the 2014–15 season. He signed with Bishop's Stortford just before the start of the 2015–16 season. He switched to Maidenhead United in November 2015. He went on to make 22 league appearances in the 2015–16 campaign as Maidenhead posted a seventh-place finish.

As of 22 May 2016.

Chester

• Northern Premier League Premier Division: 2011–12

Stafford Rangers

• Walsall Senior Cup: 2012–13