Sam Smith (footballer, born 1998)

Samuel Toby Smith (born 8 March 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Reading.

Sam Smith
Personal information
Full name Samuel Toby Smith[1]
Date of birth (1998-03-08) 8 March 1998 (age 26)[2]
Place of birth Manchester, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Reading
Number 10
Youth career
2004–2014 Manchester United
2014–2016 Reading
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2021 Reading 8 (1)
2016Bishop's Stortford (loan) 7 (2)
2018–2019Oxford United (loan) 14 (0)
2019Shrewsbury Town (loan) 3 (0)
2019–2020Cambridge United (loan) 28 (7)
2020Tranmere Rovers (loan) 5 (0)
2021Cheltenham Town (loan) 21 (4)
2021–2023 Cambridge United 91 (28)
2023– Reading 48 (22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:03, 26 November 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Reading (2016–2021)

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Smith signed his first professional contract with Reading in 2016.[4] He made his debut appearance during a 2–0 EFL Cup win over Gillingham on 8 August 2017, and scored his first goal for Reading in the cup's second-round tie against Millwall on 22 August.[5]

In February 2018, Smith signed a new contract with Reading until the end of the 2020–21 season.[6]

Loan periods (2016–2021)

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On 26 August 2016, Smith joined Bishop's Stortford on a four-month loan.[7] In July 2018 he joined Oxford United of League One on a season-long loan.[8] He made his debut as a substitute in the first match of the league season, a 4–0 away defeat to Barnsley.[9] His first start and home debut came in the following match, a 2–0 defeat to Fleetwood Town.[10] He scored his first goal for Oxford in a 3–0 EFL Trophy win over Fulham Under 21s on 4 September 2018.[11] His loan was ended early at the end of 2018, with Smith's record standing at 3 goals (all in the EFL Trophy) in 23 appearances in all competitions.[12]

In January 2019, Smith signed for Shrewsbury Town on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season.[13] He played the 2019–20 season with Cambridge United in League Two,[14] and the first half of the 2020–21 season with Tranmere Rovers.[15] After making five appearances, Smith returned to Reading[16] before signing a loan deal with Cheltenham Town on 29 January 2021.[17]

Cambridge United (2021–23)

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On 11 May 2021, Reading announced that Smith would leave the club when his contract expired on 30 June 2021.[18] On 7 July 2021, Smith signed a permanent deal with Cambridge United, signing a 2-year contract.[19]

He was released at the end of the 2022–23 season.[20]

Reading (2023–)

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On 17 July 2023, Smith returned to Reading, signing a three-year contract with the club.[21]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 26 November 2024[22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Reading 2017–18[23] Championship 8 1 1 0 2 1 11 2
Total 8 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 11 2
Bishop's Stortford (loan) 2016–17 National League North 7 2 0 0 0 0 7 2
Oxford United (loan) 2018–19 League One 14 0 2 0 3 0 4[a] 3 23 3
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2018–19 League One 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Cambridge United (loan) 2019–20 League Two 28 7 2 1 0 0 0 0 30 8
Tranmere Rovers (loan) 2020–21 League Two 5 0 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 7 0
Cheltenham Town (loan) 2020–21 League Two 21 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 4
Cambridge United 2021–22 League One 46 15 4 2 2 0 5[a] 4 57 21
2022–23 45 13 3 1 2 0 2[a] 0 52 14
Total 91 28 7 3 4 0 7 4 109 35
Reading 2023–24[24] League One 34 15 1 0 0 0 2[a] 1 37 16
2024–25 League One 14 7 0 0 0 0 0[a] 0 14 7
Total 48 22 1 0 0 0 2 1 51 23
Career total 221 62 13 4 10 1 15 8 259 75
  1. ^ a b c d e f Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

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Cheltenham Town

References

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  1. ^ "EFL Released and Retained List 2016–17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Sam Smith". 11v11. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Sam Smith – Forward – First Team – Cambridge United". Cambridge United F.C. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  4. ^ "43. Sam Smith". Reading FC. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Reading 3–1 Millwall". BBC. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  6. ^ "Sam Smith signs new Royals contract". Reading F.C. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Sam's the man for Blues". Bishop's Stortford F.C. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Sam Smith seals loan switch to Oxford United". Reading F.C. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  9. ^ Williams, Chris (4 August 2018). "REPORT Barnsley 4 Oxford United 0". Oxford United F.C. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  10. ^ Williams, Chris (11 August 2018). "REPORT Oxford United 0 Fleetwood Town 2". Oxford United F.C. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  11. ^ Pritchard, David (4 September 2018). "Oxford United 3–0 Fulham Under 21s". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  12. ^ Pritchard, David (29 December 2018). "Sam Smith leaves Oxford United with Tony McMahon on verge of exit". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  13. ^ "Sam Smith: Shrewsbury Town sign Reading striker on loan". BBC. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  14. ^ "U'S ADD READING STRIKER SAM SMITH ON SEASON LOAN". BBC. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Tranmere sign Reading striker Smith". BBC Sport. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  16. ^ "Young and Smith return to parent clubs after loan spell at Prenton Park". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Robins welcome Smith arrival". Cheltenham Town FC. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Contracts offered, clauses triggered, loans end and best wishes issued for those set for pastures new…". readingfc.co.uk/. Reading F.C. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Sam Smith signs for U's". www.cambridge-united.co.uk/. Cambridge United F.C. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  20. ^ "2023 Retained List published". www.cambridgeunited.com. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  21. ^ "WELCOME HOME, SAM! SMITH SIGNS THREE-YEAR DEAL WITH THE ROYALS". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  22. ^ "S.Smith". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  23. ^ "Games played by Sam Smith in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  24. ^ "Games played by Sam Smith in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Cheltenham 4–1 Harrogate: Michael Duff's Robins clinch League Two title in style".
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