Gary Smith

Gary Stephen Smith (born 30 January 1984) is an English retired professional footballer who played in the Football League for Milton Keynes Dons, Brentford and Darlington as a midfielder.

Career

Middlesbrough A midfielder, Smith began his career in the academy at hometown Premier League club Middlesbrough and signed his first professional contract in July 2002. Smith failed to win a call into the first team squad before being released at the end of the 2003–04 season.

Milton Keynes Dons On 23 March 2004, Smith joined Milton Keynes-based First Division strugglers Wimbledon on loan until the end of the 2003–04 season. The following day, he made the first senior appearance of his career as a 37th-minute substitute for Albert Jarrett in a 1–0 defeat to Millwall.

Over the course of the 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons and despite being a popular player, He played no part in the Dons' 2007 Football League play-off campaign, Smith was released in May 2007, having made 91 appearances and scored 12 goals in just over three seasons for Wimbledon and Milton Keynes Dons.

Brentford On 1 August 2007, Smith signed a one-year contract with newly relegated League Two club Brentford on a free transfer. He found it difficult to settle in a turbulent time under new manager Terry Butcher, but after Butcher's sacking in December 2007, his assistant Andy Scott took over and Smith finished the season ever-present in the team.

An ankle injury reduced Smith to just four appearances during the 2008–09 season, which was not enough for him to claim a medal as Brentford sealed a return to League One after winning the League Two championship. He was released in May 2009, having made just 36 appearances and scored one goal in two seasons at Griffin Park. He made 38 appearances and scored one goal in a disastrous season for the Quakers, but he signed a new contract to remain with the club. Despite suffering from niggling thigh, knee and ankle injuries, Smith had a good 2010–11 season, scoring five goals in 45 appearances and helping the club to a 7th-place finish and the FA Trophy Final. The club was unable to offer a new contract and he was released at the end of the 2010–11 season, First Division 11 3

11 3

2004–05 League One 23 1 3 0 1 0 1 0 28 1 2005–06 League One 25 3 2 1 0 0 2 League Two 23 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 1

82 8 5 1 1 0 3 3 91 12

2007–08 League Two 29 1 1 0 1 0 1 League Two 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0

33 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 36 1

2009–10 League Two 34 1 1 0 1 0 2 Conference Premier 37 1 2 2

7 2 46 5

71 2 3 2 1 0 9 2 84 6

186 11 9 3 3 0 13 5 211 19

Honours Darlington

FA Trophy: 2010–11