Gary Smyth (born 20 December 1969 in

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom ...

), nicknamed Smickers is a

Northern Irish Northern Irish people is a demonym for all people born in Northern Ireland or people who are entitled to reside in Northern Ireland without any restriction on their period of residence. Most Northern Irish people either identify as Northern ...

former footballer and manager. He played as a centre back for Glentoran, Glenavon, Ballymena and Crusaders. He previously managed

Glentoran Glentoran Football Club is a professional football club that plays in the NIFL Premiership. The club was founded in 1882. History Early history In 1914, Glentoran won the Vienna Cup, becoming the first United Kingdom team to win a European t ...

in 2019 and had two spells managing H&W Welders, first from 2013–2018 and the second spell from 2019–2022.

Playing career

Smyth signed for Glentoran from

Holywood Holy Wood or Holywood may refer to: Places * Holywood, County Down, a town and townland in Northern Ireland ** Holywood, County Down (civil parish), a civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland ** Holywood railway station (Northern Ireland) * ...

in 1988, winning numerous trophies and remaining there until 1995, when he signed for Glenavon, where he enjoyed more success, before returning to

The Oval The Oval, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Kia Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, located in the borough of Lambeth, in south London. The Oval has been the home ground of Surrey County Cricket Club since ...

in 2000. He was named as the

Ulster Footballer of the Year The Ulster Footballer of the Year is the older of two association football player of the year awards in Northern Ireland. (The other is the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association award.) It is awarded by Castlereagh Glentoran Supporters ...

for the 2002/03 season. In 2007, he joined

Crusaders The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and sometimes directed by the Latin Church in the medieval period. The best known of these Crusades are those to the Holy Land in the period between 1095 and 1291 that were in ...

, initially on loan, and later on a permanent transfer. He won four

Irish Cup The Irish Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly referred to as the Irish Cup (currently known as the Samuel Gelston's Whiskey Irish Cup for sponsorship purposes) is the primary football knock-out cup competition in Northern Ireland. Ina ...

winners' medals, with Glentoran in 2004, Glenavon in 1997, and Crusaders in 2009. He retired on 9 May 2009 following the

final.

Management career

H&W Welders (2013–2018)

Smyth was manager of H&W Welders between 2013 and 2018, proving a successful manager. He left on 23 May 2018.

Glentoran (2018–2019)

Smyth left his role at H&W Welders to join his former team

, which was officially announced on 24 May 2018. He initially joined as an assistant manager to the incoming Ronnie McFall, where the future plan was to promote him when he had all necessary qualifications. Paul Leeman also joined Smyth as a part of the deal. However McFall resigned earlier than expected following poor results which allowed Smyth to become manager. He held the management spot from 3 January 2019 until 31 March 2019, when he was replaced with Mick McDermott. Smyth was returned to the role of assistant manager, however he didn't return to the dug-out and left the club in controversial circumstances on 21 May 2019, with Leeman leaving two days later. Smyth voiced his disgust at how he had been treated by the club.

H&W Welders (2019–2022)

On 13 December 2019, it was announced Smyth had returned to manage H&W Welders. After around 2 and a half years at his second spell at the club, Smyth was dismissed in August 2022 following a poor start to the season.

Honours

Glentoran * Irish League (2): 1991/92, 2002–03 *

(2): 2000/01, 2003/04 *

Irish League Cup The Northern Ireland Football League Cup (BetMcLean League Cup for sponsorship purposes), also known colloquially as the Irish League Cup, is a national football knock-out cup competition in Northern Ireland open to all member clubs of the Nort ...

(4): 1990/91, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07 * Gold Cup (2): 1991/92, 2000/01 *

County Antrim Shield The County Antrim & District Football Association Senior Shield (more commonly known as the County Antrim Shield) is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Fo ...

(2): 2000/01, 2001/02 Glenavon *

(1): 1996/97 * Gold Cup (1): 1997/98 *

(1): 1995/96 *

Mid-Ulster Cup The Mid-Ulster Cup is a senior football competition in Northern Ireland run by the Mid-Ulster Football Association (founded 2 April 1887). The competition has historically featured teams based in County Armagh, east County Tyrone, and west Cou ...

(1): 1998/99 * Floodlit Cup (1): 1996/97 Crusaders *

(1): 2008-09

Managerial statistics

''(Statistics apply to league matches only)''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smyth, Gary 1969 births Living people NIFL Premiership players Ulster Footballers of the Year Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association Players of the Year Glenavon F.C. players Glentoran F.C. players Crusaders F.C. players Men's association football defenders Ballymena United F.C. players Glentoran F.C. managers Association football managers from Northern Ireland Association footballers from Belfast Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland