Tim Smithers
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Timothy Smithers | ||
| Date of birth | 22 January 1956 | ||
| Place of birth | Ramsgate, England | ||
| Position | Left back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1977–1980 | Nuneaton Borough | ? | (?) |
| 1980–1983 | Oxford United | 99 | (6) |
| 1983–1987 | Nuneaton Borough | 126 | (30) |
| 1987–1990 | Atherstone United | ? | (?) |
| 1991–1993 | Bedworth United | ? | (?) |
| 1994–1995 | VS Rugby | 17 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1986 | England C | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Timothy Smithers (born 22 January 1956 in Ramsgate) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League, as a left back.[1]
Early career
Before transitioning to professional football, Smithers worked with British Aerospace in Lutterworth for eight years as an aircraft fitter.[2]
Oxford United
In February 1980, Smithers was linked with a possible move to Oxford United.[3] He officially signed with Oxford in May 1980, along with Malcolm Shotton, for a reported transfer fee of £15,000.[4][5][6] In his debut season in the Football League Third Division, he scored the lone goal against Millwall on August 30, 1981, which prevented the club from relegation.[7]
Injuries and irregular playing time marked his first season with Oxford, and he would become a starter the following season.[8] In the following season, as he became a starter, the club would also become promotion contenders.[8][9] In his final season with Oxford, he was linked with a potential move back to Nuneaton Borough.[10] Nuneaton Borough received Oxford's permission to negotiate with Smithers but failed to finalize a deal.[11]
Nuneaton Town
In his final season with Oxford, he was relegated to the reserve side, which enabled Nuneaton Borough to pursue him.[12] A month later, his contract with Oxford was mutually terminated, and he returned to his former club.[13][14] Smithers helped the club finish as runners-up in the Alliance Premier League.[15] The following season, he helped Nuneaton avoid relegation.[16]
Atherstone United
In 1987, Smithers was loaned to Atherstone Town for a month to play in the Southern Football League .[17][18] Following his months' trial with Atherstone, he signed permanently with the club on January 2, 1988.[19] He re-signed with Atherstone for the 1988-1989 season.[20] In his third season with the club, he was named the team's supporters player of the year and finished as the team's top goalscorer.[21][22]
Bedworth United
After three years with Atherstone, he signed for Bedworth United in 1990.[23][24] He was re-signed by the club the following season and was assigned as the player-coach.[25][26]