Adie Smith

Adrian Jonathan Smith (born 11 August 1973 in Birmingham, England) is a professional footballer, currently playing for Southern Football League Division One Midlands side Chasetown, where he plays as a defender.

Playing career

Birmingham City

Smith started his football career in 1994 with his local side Birmingham City as a trainee.

Willenhall Town

However Smith failed to make the first team with Birmingham City, and after been released he moved on to join Midland Football Alliance side Willenhall Town in 1995, whilst working on a part-time basis as a roofer.

Smith spent one season with Willenhall Town, in which he turned in some very impressive performances, which alerted interest from other clubs.

Bromsgrove Rovers

Smith began to rise up the leagues and when he joined Conference side Bromsgrove Rovers on 1 August 1996, with Rovers manager Bobby Hope paying a fee of £1,500 for his services.

Smith spent exactly one whole season with Bromsgrove Rovers, but the season ended in disappointment when the club where relegated.

Kidderminster Harriers

His performances with Bromsgrove Rovers hadn't gone unnoticed and had captured the interest of local rivals Kidderminster Harriers whom he joined on 1 August 1997 for £19,000, giving Smith another crack at Conference football.

Smith became a fans favourite with the Kidderminster faithful and after just two seasons in the Conference, Smith and Harriers won the Conference title in the 1999-00 season, and where promoted to the Third Division.

He stayed with Kidderminster for another three seasons in the Third Division, but on 6 February 2004 Smith asked for his contract with Kidderminster to be terminated for personal reasons, in which a disappointed Kidderminster manager Jan Molby respected his wishes and agreed to.

Smith had become a great servant to Kidderminster Harriers, playing 243 games and scored 13 goals. He explained his sudden decision to quit Kidderminster had been based on the defender wanting to turn semi-professional as he believed he could no longer play at a professional level.

Tamworth

On 6 February 2004, Tamworth manager Darron Gee announced the signing of Smith on an 18-month contract. Smith completed the remainder of the season with Tamworth, with the club finishing in 17th position and avoiding relegation.

Smith's second season with Tamworth was without doubt the best for a league perspective, the club were yet again seen as potential relegation battlers, but defied the odds to finish 15th and make history with The Lambs gaining their highest league position in their history, although by the end of this season, Smith's contract had run out.

On 14 April 2005, Smith showed his loyalty to the club by signing a new contract. By this point, he had become the clubs captain and led The Lambs to another historic feat, when they made the FA Cup Third Round. The club drew Stoke City and managed to take them to a replay at the Lamb, before going out on penalties.

Although Smith and Tamworth had a very successful FA Cup run, the club failed to emulate the same form in the league and were relegated after 21st. The club were reinstated when Canvey Island withdrew from the league due to financial problems.

Smith and Tamworth started the 2006-07 season and finished it pretty much the same as they did the previous season. He and goalkeeping coach Dale Belford took charge of the first-team following the departure of manager Mark Cooper and assistant-manager Richard Dryden in January 2007. The club repeated the success they had enjoyed the following season by reaching FA Cup Third Round, but another disappointing league campaign saw Tamworth finish 22nd and was relegated from the Conference National.

Despite their relegation from the Conference, Tamworth fans got the news they all wanted, when Smith signed a new one-year contract with the Staffordshire club on 4 May 2007. Smith explained that his decision was an easy one, due to his love for the club, fans and people at the club.