Liam Smith (footballer, born 1996)
Scottish footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Liam Smith (born 10 April 1996) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Scottish Championship club St Johnstone. He has previously played for Heart of Midlothian, East Fife, Raith Rovers, St Mirren, Ayr United, Dundee United, Cheltenham Town, Grimsby Town and Bohemians.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 10 April 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Dalgety Bay, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.79 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Right-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | St Johnstone | ||
| Number | 33 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2010 | Rangers | ||
| 2010–2015 | Heart of Midlothian | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2018 | Heart of Midlothian | 30 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | → East Fife (loan) | 21 | (1) |
| 2016 | → Raith Rovers (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → St Mirren (loan) | 32 | (2) |
| 2018–2019 | Ayr United | 33 | (1) |
| 2019–2023 | Dundee United | 106 | (4) |
| 2023–2024 | Cheltenham Town | 13 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Grimsby Town (loan) | 11 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Bohemians | 23 | (0) |
| 2025– | St Johnstone | 25 | (3) |
| International career | |||
| 2015 | Scotland U19 | 1 | (0) |
| 2016–2018 | Scotland U21[2] | 12 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4 May 2026 | |||
Career
Hearts
Smith began his career as a youth player at Hillfield Swifts Boys Club, before joining Rangers aged 10.[3] Having been released by Rangers aged 14, Smith joined Heart of Midlothian (Hearts).[3] Smith signed a 2-year professional contract in July 2014, extending his stay with the club until at least 2016.[4] Aged 18 he made his first team debut[5] on 20 August 2014, in the second round of the Scottish Challenge Cup away to Livingston, playing from the start in a 4–1 loss.[6] Smith made one more appearance that season[7] before being loaned to Scottish League Two side East Fife until the end of January 2015.[8] He made his league debut on 30 August 2014, against East Stirlingshire in a 3–1 win,[9] with his first goal coming against Queen's Park on 20 September salvaging a 2–2 draw.[10] Smith's loan deal was later extended until the end of the season.[11] In all he made 23 appearances for East Fife, scoring once.[7]
On his return to Hearts Smith made his Scottish Premiership debut on 18 October, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute against Dundee United at Tannadice Park, replacing Juwon Oshaniwa in a 1–0 win.[12]
Raith Rovers loan
On 24 September 2016, it was announced that Smith had signed on loan at Raith Rovers for a month.[13] He was recalled by Hearts on 29 October 2016.[14]
St Mirren loan
On 14 August 2017, Smith signed a season-long loan deal with Scottish Championship club St Mirren.[15] It proved to be a successful loan spell as Saints won the Scottish Championship, with Smith playing 34 games and scoring twice. Smith was also part of the PFA Scotland Championship Team of the Year.[16]
Ayr United
Smith signed a one-year contract with Ayr United in August 2018.[17]
Dundee United
On 16 April 2019, Dundee United confirmed that Smith had signed a pre-contract to join the club in the summer, agreeing a two-year deal.[18] Following relegation to the Scottish Championship in the 2022–23 season, Smith was released by United at the end of the season.[19]
Cheltenham Town
On 20 July 2023, Smith signed for Cheltenham Town, following a successful trial with the club.[20]
Grimsby Town loan
On 1 February 2024, Smith joined League Two club Grimsby Town on loan until the end of the season.[21]
Bohemians
On 12 July 2024, he signed for League of Ireland Premier Division side Bohemians.[22]
St Johnstone
On 27 August 2025, Smith signed for Scottish Championship side St Johnstone on a one-year contract.[23]
Career statistics
- As of match played 18 October 2025[24]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Heart of Midlothian | 2014–15[25] | Scottish Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2015–16[26] | Scottish Premiership | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2016–17[27] | Scottish Premiership | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| 2017–18[28] | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| East Fife (loan) | 2014–15[25] | Scottish League Two | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[e] | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| Raith Rovers (loan) | 2016–17[27] | Scottish Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| St Mirren (loan) | 2017–18[28] | Scottish Championship | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 34 | 2 |
| Ayr United | 2018–19[29] | Scottish Championship | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[f] | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| Dundee United | 2019–20[30] | Scottish Championship | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| 2020–21[31] | Scottish Premiership | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 35 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22[32] | Scottish Premiership | 20 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 25 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23[33] | Scottish Premiership | 28 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[g] | 0 | 34 | 1 | |
| Total | 106 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 128 | 4 | ||
| Cheltenham Town | 2023–24[34] | EFL League One | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[h] | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Grimsby Town (loan) | 2023–24[35] | EFL League Two | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | |||
| Bohemians | 2024[36] | LOI Premier Division | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||
| 2025[37] | LOI Premier Division | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[i] | 1 | 17 | 1 | ||
| Total | 23 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | 29 | 1 | |||
| St Johnstone | 2025–26[38] | Scottish Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Career total | 274 | 9 | 18 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 322 | 10 | ||
- Includes Scottish Cup, FAI Cup
- Includes Scottish League Cup, EFL Cup
- Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in Scottish League Two play-offs
- One appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup, two appearances in Scottish Premiership play-offs
- Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
- Appearances in EFL Trophy
- Appearances in Leinster Senior Cup