| Lee Smith - Right Wing Back / Striker |
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| Lee probably doesn't realise it but he could well be the luckiest player to have ever played for Gloucester City. Promising youth teamers have come and gone before him and have had little more than a handful of substitute appearances to impress. Lee on the other hand got almost a hundred games! |
| After impressing in the under-18's the fresh faced younger brother of Jamie Smith was called upon by Tommy Callinan to fills holes in his ever depleting squad. Lee made his debut away at Mangotsfield in the League Cup and then went on an impressive run that saw him miss just four games out of the remaining twenty-two. |
| His maiden goal in a City shirt was in the five goal drubbing of Cirencester Town in April 2001. |
| Lee used Chris Burns' first season in charge to gain much needed experience at what was a much higher level than what he was used to playing at, and sometimes he still looked painfully out of his depth. One of City's better games at promotion candidates Chippenham Town saw Lee presented with a virtual tap in from six yards that he somehow fluffed and provoked many people to think that he'd never make the grade. |
| However he started the 2002/03 season with a bang by grabbing a double strike away at Taunton Town that will forever stick in the minds of those City fans present. As the season progressed he moved into a right wing back position where he became a revelation, ironically scoring more goals than he had as a striker and setting up many including Jimmy Cox's equaliser away at Southport. |
| The game that stood out for him that year was the 4-2 victory away at table topping Bromsgrove Rovers. The home side had raced into a two goal lead before Lee pulled one back with a low drive from outside the box (click for a video clip) and then a sublime diving header from Adie Harris' deep cross. He could've grabbed a hat trick but his penalty was parried by the goalkeeper only for Chris Thompson to slot home the rebound. |
| During the closed season Lee toned up and his extra fitness made him a real threat down the right hand side. His pace destroyed the now Premier Division side Chippenham as City came back from 1-3 down to win 4-3 and record a famous FA Cup victory. He impressed them so much that they tried to sign him, prompting City to give the one time no hoper a two year contract. |
| The downside to his season was his first ever red card in a City shirt when he inadvertantly spat as a Yate Town player ran past him. Sadly for Lee it was right under the gaze of the linesman and due to winter postponements his three match ban lasted for almost a month! |
| With the re-organisation of the Pyramid, City's promotion gave Lee the perfect opportuntity to test himself at a higher level and although he stood out in a number of games the 2004/05 campaign was an overall disappointment for him. What made things worse was that he'd priced himself out of a new deal at City so chose to join up with family friend Brian Hughes at Cirencester Town. |
| Who knows what the future holds for Lee Smith? |
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Previous Clubs:
none |
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Appearances & Goals: (upto & including 30/04/05)
| Season |
Apps |
Subs |
Goals |
| 2000/01 |
19 |
13 |
1 |
| 2001/02 |
40 |
21 |
3 |
| 2002/03 |
40 |
17 |
10 |
| 2003/04 |
47 |
2 |
8 |
| 2004/05 |
44 |
2 |
8 |
| Total |
190 |
55 |
30 |
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Appearances & Goals: (upto & including 30/04/05)
| Season |
Apps |
Subs |
Goals |
| 2000/01 |
6 |
12 |
1 |
| 2001/02 |
- |
- |
- |
| 2002/03 |
- |
- |
- |
| 2003/04 |
- |
- |
- |
| 2004/05 |
- |
- |
- |
| Total |
- |
- |
- |
|
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| Image Gallery: (click to view full size pics) |
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