Matt Smith

Mathieu James Patrick Smith (born 7 June 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Salford City.

Beginning his career in the non-league of English football, he had short spells with New Mills, Redditch United, Littleton, Droylsden, and Solihull Moors.

He made his Leeds United debut as a substitute in the opening game of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion on 3 August, assisting Luke Murphy's 94th-minute winner in Leeds' 2–1 win.

Smith scored his first goal for Leeds soon after on 27 August against Doncaster Rovers in their 3–1 League Cup second round win.

He followed this up with goals in the league against Burnley, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town, Watford, Doncaster and Blackburn Rovers.

After joining Evesham United in 2005, Smith spent a year as a trainee at Cheltenham Town, before being released at the age of 18.

He then moved into non-league football with New Mills, whilst studying at the University of Manchester.

He made his debut for New Mills in the North West Counties Premier League as a substitute against Silsden in October 2008, scoring in a 2–0 win.

He went on to play a crucial role in the club's 21 game winning run, scoring 13 goals over the season including a hat trick against Alsager Town in April 2009.

As he was due to spend a year studying in America, he left the Millers that summer.

His 21 goals in the 2010–11 Conference North season caught the attention of League One team Oldham Athletic, where he spent two years, including a short loan spell at Macclesfield Town, before signing for Championship club Leeds United in 2013.

After one year at Leeds, he signed for Fulham, where he found first team opportunities limited, and was soon loaned out to Bristol City.

Upon his return to England, ahead of the 2010–11 season, Smith signed for Redditch United in the Conference North.

He initially went on a short-term loan with Midland Combination Division One side Littleton, scoring nine goals in three games.

Upon returning to Redditch United, Smith scored five goals in six games, including a hat-trick against Hyde United in The Reds first win of the season, and subsequently moved to Droylsden in September 2010, largely due to the club's close proximity to Manchester University where he was completing his studies.

Smith rejoined Redditch in December, before making a final move to Solihull Moors in February 2011.

After scoring the equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Stalybridge Celtic on his debut, he scored 12 goals in 15 appearances.

He finished the season having scored 21 goals in the Conference North.

On 23 May 2011, Smith joined League One side Oldham Athletic, signing a two-year contract.

He made his professional debut on the opening day of the 2011–12 season against Sheffield United and scored his first professional goal 10 days later on 16 August, the winner in a 2–1 win against Scunthorpe.

Smith was limited to only 4 starts in 35 appearances for the Latics in his first season at the club, and so on 15 March 2012, manager Paul Dickov allowed Smith to go on loan to League Two side Macclesfield Town for the remaining six weeks of the season, where he made eight appearances and scored one goal.

Smith finished the 2012–13 season with 11 goals in all competitions.

On 23 May, with reported interest from a host of Championship clubs, Smith rejected an improved contract offer from Oldham Athletic.

On 27 January 2013, in Smith's second season at the club, he scored two goals in a 3–2 win over Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

As a result, he won League One Player of the Month for April 2013.

On 10 June 2013, Smith signed a two-year contract with Championship club Leeds United after turning down a new contract with Oldham Athletic.

He finished the 2013–14 season with 13 goals in all competitions.

On 11 July, whilst on pre-season camp in Italy, he scored six goals in a friendly against Italian side FC Gherdeina.

However, on 11 January 2014 Smith was sent off for violent conduct just two minutes after coming on as substitute in a 6–0 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday, for which he received a three-game ban.

On 18 August, at the start of the 2014–15 season and following a successful debut year at the club, Smith signed a new three-year contract.

One week later, he scored his first goal of the season against Bradford City in the League Cup, opening the scoring in a 2–1 defeat.

The following week, on the final day of the transfer window, Smith was sold to Fulham.

On 1 September 2014, Fulham signed Smith for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract.

In the fifth round on 16 February, Smith then scored a 95th-minute equaliser against Everton to achieve a 2–2 draw.

Oldham's FA Cup campaign continued with a fifth-round replay at Goodison Park on 26 February, in which they lost 3–1 with Smith again scoring for Oldham, meaning he finished Oldham's FA Cup campaign with four goals from four appearances and all goals coming against Premier League opposition.

For his performance in the fifth round, Smith was voted as the Player of the Round.

Smith scored three goals in his last three appearances of the season, against Bury, Yeovil and Crawley, which all culminated in wins and ultimately ensured Oldham's survival in League One.

After three seasons with Fulham, he moved to Queens Park Rangers, where he was the club's top goalscorer in the 2017–18 season.

He signed for Millwall in 2019, and was the top goalscorer in his first season.

He dropped down two divisions to sign for Salford in January 2022, and in his first full season he was the club's top goalscorer as Salford reached the League Two playoffs for the first time.