Tony Smith

DOB: 1st January 0001

Position: Striker

Season of first appearance: 1981/82

Season of last appearance: 1981/82

Full Appearances: 20

Substitute: 0

Goals: 5

Also played for:

Ashford Town, Sittingbourne, Sheppey United, Medway, Folkestone & Shepway, Chatham Town, Herne Bay.

Player Profile:

Burly, bearded striker who started his career with Ashford during the 1974/75 season before joining Sittingbourne for the 1975/76 campaign.

Tony then moved on to Sheppey during the second half of that season. During the 1976/77 campaign, he had a spell back at Sittingbourne and Tony also played for Medway that season.

He began 1977/78 at Folkestone & Shepway but, by Christmas 1977, Tony was back with Ashford. During the 1978/79 season, he had a further spell with Sheppey and another stint at Medway before linking up with Deal for 1979/80.

Tony began the 1980/81 season at Sheppey and then moved to Chatham later in the campaign.

He joined Thanet United from Chatham in November 1981 and manager Terry Morris said: "I regard Smith as an excellent capture." He made his debut in a 4-2 defeat at Hounslow on 14.11.81 and turned in a typically bustling display. After only two appearances, Tony was compared to Brian Gregory and Garry Aldous by Thanet's programme editor of the time and he scored his first goal for United in a 2-1 win over Basingstoke at Hartsdown on 21.11.81. Tony scored again in United's next match, another 2-1 home win - this time over Chelmsford on 24.11.81. It was a shot from the edge of the penalty area and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said it was "a splendid piece of opportunism". Tony also scored with a full-length diving header in 3-2 defeat at home to Ashford on 16.2.82 but it turned out to be his final goal for United, despite him staying with the club until the end of the season. In total, he scored five goals in 20 appearances before moving on in the summer of 1982.

Tony later played for Herne Bay, appearing for them during the 1985/86 season.