Sam Smith (footballer, born 1998)

English footballer

Sam SmithPersonal 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)
2016|  → Bishop's Stortford (loan)|  7|  (2)
2018–2019|  → Oxford United (loan)|  14|  (0)
2019|  → Shrewsbury Town (loan)|  3|  (0)
2019–2020|  → Cambridge United (loan)|  28|  (7)
2020|  → Tranmere Rovers (loan)|  5|  (0)
2021|  → Cheltenham Town (loan)|  21|  (4)
2021–2023|  Cambridge United|  91|  (28)
2023–|  Reading|  46|  (20)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:46, 26 October 2024 (UTC)

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

## Career

[edit]

### Reading (2016–2021)

[edit]

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)

[edit]

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)

[edit]

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–)

[edit]

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

## Career statistics

[edit]

### Club

[edit]

As of match played 26 October 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  | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0[a] | 0 | 12 | 5
Total  | 46 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 49 | 21
Career total  | 221 | 62 | 13 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 259 | 75

1. ^ a b c d e f Appearances in EFL Trophy

## Honours

[edit]

Cheltenham Town

* League Two: 2020–21[25]

## References

[edit]

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".

## External links

[edit]

* Sam Smith at Soccerway

* v
* t
* e

Reading F.C. - current squad

* 1 Button
* 2 Abrefa
* 3 Dorsett
* 4 Elliott
* 5 Craig
* 6 Dean
* 7 Knibbs
* 8 Savage
* 9 Ehibhatiomhan
* 10 Smith
* 14 Rushesha
* 17 Yiadom
* 19 Wareham
* 20 Campbell
* 22 Pereira
* 24 Bindon
* 27 Mbengue
* 28 Camará
* 29 Wing
* 30 Garcia
* 31 Boyce-Clarke
* 32 Kanu
* 37 Akande
* Manager: Sellés

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Kanu]: Abraham Kanu