Jay Alexander Smith (born 24 September 1981) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Playing career Smith started his professional football career with Aston Villa. After a season, he was transferred to Southend United.
Signed in 2002 after a successful loan spell and turning down the advances of Hull City, Smith made his debut in August the same year and quickly became a regular in the Blues side.
A horrendous spell of injuries, including a broken ankle, interrupted his career. Towards the end of the 2005–06 season, Smith was loaned out to Oxford United – and despite impressing manager Jim Smith during the run-in, it was not enough to save Oxford from dropping out of the football league.
Steve Tilson has always maintained that there was a place for a fit Jay Smith in the Southend squad and even after speaking to Oxford about a permanent deal for 2006–07, Smith and Southend committed to each other again and he signed on for another year at Roots Hall.
Smith once again found himself on loan, this time with League Two side Notts County.
On 26 January 2007, Smith was released from Southend and made a permanent switch to Notts County after a successful two-month loan spell.
He was released from his contract in January 2009 five months early along with striker Spencer Weir-Daley.
In December 2009, Smith joined Conference North side Eastwood Town on a one-month deal. The following month the deal was extended for another month, but at the end of January, Smith signed for Conference National side Tamworth. It was announced that Smith would be taking over as club captain for the 2010–11 season from former player Chris Smith. On 18 November 2011, Smith was loaned to AFC Telford United until 5 January 2012. Smith said of the move: "In my eyes I've moved to a bigger club. I'm not going back to Tamworth. My time there has finished now."
In January 2012 his contract was cancelled by Tamworth and he joined Telford on a permanent basis. On 2 May 2013 he was let go by the club.
Honours Club Southend United League Two Play-off Winners: 2004–05
Career statistics +Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeague FA Cup League Cup Other Total Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps GoalsSouthend United2002–03Third Division3054010003552003–04Third Division1815300002342004–05League Two00000000002005–06League One141100000151Total62710310007310Oxford United (loan)2005–06League Two6000000060Notts County (loan)2006–07League Two111000000111Notts County2006–07League Two1430000001432007–08League Two1600010001702008–09League Two132110000143Total435111000456Eastwood Town2009–10Conference North4000000040Tamworth2009–10Conference National1600000001602010–11Conference National292300000322Total452300000482AFC Telford (loan)2011–12Conference National6100000061AFC Telford 2011–12Conference National1100000001102012–13Conference National4000000040Total150000000150Career total21016144200022820
References
External links
Jay Smith at NottsCountyFC.co.uk Jay Smith at telfordunited.com