Adam Clifford Smith (born 23 November 1992) is an English professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

who plays as a

goalkeeper In many team sports that involve scoring goal (sport), goals, the goalkeeper (sometimes termed goaltender, netminder, GK, goalie, or keeper) is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by blocking or i ...

for club

Hartlepool United Hartlepool United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Hartlepool, County Durham, England. The team competes in the National League, the fifth level of the English football league system. They were founded in 190 ...

. He is also the goalkeeping coach at Hartlepool.

Career

Early career

Born in Sunderland, Smith joined Leicester City F.C., Leicester City from Middlesbrough F.C., Middlesbrough in 2010.

Early loan moves

On 16 September 2011 he was loaned to Chesterfield F.C., Chesterfield, but was only a backup to Greg Fleming (footballer), Greg Fleming during his spell. In early January 2012 Smith joined Conference Premier club Lincoln City F.C., Lincoln City on loan, again as cover, until the end of the season. On 25 October 2012, Smith signed for another Conference side in Nuneaton Town F.C., Nuneaton Town, on an initial one-month loan. Smith made his senior debut on 27 October in a 1–1 draw with Barrow A.F.C., Barrow, and went on to appear in seven games for the club. On 11 January 2014 Smith was loaned to Football League One club Stevenage F.C., Stevenage, in a one-month deal to provide cover following injuries to senior goalkeepers.

Cambridge United (loan)

On 25 April 2014, Smith moved to Conference Premier side Cambridge United F.C., Cambridge United on an emergency loan, following injuries to all of the club's senior goalkeepers. Smith made his debut the next day, in a 2–0 defeat to Gateshead F.C., Gateshead on the final day of the League season. With Cambridge having already qualified for the 2013–14 Football Conference, 2013–14 Conference play-offs, Smith starred as Cambridge defeated F.C. Halifax Town, FC Halifax Town 2–1 over two legs, Cambridge being 1–0 down after the first leg, to send the U's to Wembley Stadium, Wembley and a chance at promotion to the Football League. On 18 May 2014, Smith played the full match as Cambridge defeated Gateshead 2–1 in the 2014 Conference Premier play-off final, 2014 Conference play-off final, to earn promotion to Football League Two, League Two.

Return to Leicester

On 27 June 2014 he signed a new two-year deal with Leicester. Following an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, Smith was on the substitutes bench for nine Premier League games during the first half of the 2014–15 Premier League, 2014–15 season as cover for Ben Hamer, as well as featuring for the Leicester City F.C. Reserves and Academy, Leicester City U21s, keeping a clean sheet against FC Schalke 04, Schalke in the 2014–15 Premier League International Cup, Premier League International Cup.

Mansfield Town (loan)

On 9 January 2015, Smith moved on a one-month loan to EFL League Two, League Two club Mansfield Town F.C., Mansfield Town after Leicester's signing of Mark Schwarzer moved Smith back down to third choice. The following day, Smith made his Football League debut, starting in a 2–1 away loss against Burton Albion F.C., Burton Albion in which he came up against fellow Leicester City loanee Jacob Blyth.

Northampton Town

On 26 June 2015, Smith signed a two-year deal with League Two club Northampton Town F.C., Northampton Town. In his first season with The Cobblers, Smith made EFL Awards, The Football League Team of the Season and PFA Team of the Year – as well as winning promotion to EFL League One, League One. He made 94 appearances in all competitions for Northampton.

Bristol Rovers

On 6 July 2017, Smith signed for League One club Bristol Rovers F.C., Bristol Rovers after leaving Northampton Town F.C., Northampton Town at the end of the season. He made his debut in a 1–0 away defeat to Charlton Athletic F.C., Charlton Athletic on 5 August 2017. He looked to have made an amazing save from a Patrick Bauer (footballer), Patrick Bauer header tipping it onto the post, however the linesman and the referee judged that the ball had crossed the line. He was released by Bristol Rovers at the end of the 2018–19 season.

Forest Green Rovers

Following his release from Bristol Rovers, Smith signed a two-year deal with Forest Green Rovers F.C., Forest Green Rovers on 25 June 2019, active from 1 July 2019. On 23 September 2019, Smith joined National League (division), National League side Yeovil Town F.C., Yeovil Town on a one-month loan deal. On 6 March 2020, Smith rejoined Yeovil on loan until the end of the 2019–20 season. On 15 August 2020, Smith signed returned to Yeovil Town for a third loan spell on loan until the end of the 2020–21 season.

Stevenage

Smith signed for League Two club Stevenage on a short-term contract on 23 October 2021. He made his debut on the same day as his signing was announced, keeping a clean sheet in Stevenage's 0–0 draw with Leyton Orient F.C., Leyton Orient. On 22 January 2022, Stevenage confirmed that Smith had left the club.

Morecambe

On 4 February 2022, Smith joined EFL League One, League One side Morecambe F.C., Morecambe on a short-term contract until the end of the 2021–22 season. Although having initially departed the club following relegation at the end of the 2022–23 Morecambe F.C. season, 2022–23 season, he signed a new one-year deal on 20 June 2023.

Hartlepool United

On 3 August 2024, he signed for National League (division), National League side

on a short-term contract, rejoining his former manager at Yeovil Darren Sarll. After starting the season as the second choice goalkeeper behind Joel Dixon, he made his debut on 31 August in a match against Braintree Town F.C., Braintree Town after Dixon had suffered a first half injury, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw. On 7 October 2024, Smith was announced as Hartlepool's new goalkeeping coach. He lost his position as first choice goalkeeper to Brad Young before displacing Young in December. On 10 January 2025, Smith signed a new contract, keeping him with the club until the end of the 2025–26 season. He made 32 appearances in all competitions during the 2024–25 season.

Personal life

In May 2015, Smith and teammates James Pearson (footballer, born 1993), James Pearson and Tom Hopper (footballer), Tom Hopper made a sex tape with local women on Leicester's tour of Thailand, which was obtained by the ''Sunday Mirror''. The three players apologised for making the video, which included a racial epithet towards the women. However, the trio were sacked by the club on 17 June 2015.

Career statistics

Honours

Cambridge United *Conference Premier play-offs: 2013–14 Football Conference#Play-offs, 2014 Northampton Town *Football League Two: 2015–16 Football League Two, 2015–16 Individual *EFL Awards, The Football League Team of the Season: 2015–16 *PFA Team of the Year: PFA Team of the Year (2010s)#League Two 7, 2015–16 League Two

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Adam 1992 births Living people Footballers from Sunderland English men's footballers Men's association football goalkeepers Leicester City F.C. players Chesterfield F.C. players Lincoln City F.C. players Nuneaton Town F.C. players Stevenage F.C. players Cambridge United F.C. players Mansfield Town F.C. players Northampton Town F.C. players Bristol Rovers F.C. players Forest Green Rovers F.C. players Yeovil Town F.C. players Morecambe F.C. players Hartlepool United F.C. players National League (English football) players English Football League players Hartlepool United F.C. non-playing staff 21st-century English sportsmen