# George Smith (footballer, born 1996)

George Thomas Smith (born 14 August 1996) is an English footballer who plays as a left back for Northern Premier League Division One East club Cleethorpes Town. He has previously played in the English Football League for Barnsley, Crawley Town, Northampton Town and Chesterfield, and in the National League for Bradford Park Avenue, Gateshead, Dover Athletic, Boston United, Harrogate Town and Darlington.

## Career
### Barnsley

Smith began his career with Barnsley, progressing through the club's academy and signed a professional contract in June 2014. He made his Football League debut on 26 December 2014 in a 1–0 defeat against Preston North End.
He made four League Two appearances during a month's loan at Crawley Town early in 2016, and was not offered a new contract by Barnsley when his existing deal expired in June 2016.

### Gateshead

On 29 June 2016, Smith signed for Gateshead on a one-year deal ahead of the 2016–17 National League season. He made his league debut for the club on 6 August against Chester and scored his first senior goal in a 3–0 win over Southport on 4 February 2017.

### Northampton Town

In May 2017, Smith signed a two-year contract with Northampton Town. He made his debut on 9 September against Doncaster Rovers, assisting Matt Crooks with the only goal of the match after 21 seconds, the quickest goal ever scored at Sixfields Stadium.

### Chesterfield

Smith left Northampton on 31 January 2018 to sign an 18-month deal with League Two club Chesterfield; the fee was undisclosed. Following two loan spells during the 2018–19 season, the first at Dover Athletic, where he made his debut in a 2–1 loss against Barnet on 1 September 2018, and the second at Boston United, Smith was released by Chesterfield when his contract expired.

### Harrogate Town

On 12 June 2019, Harrogate Town announced the signing of Smith.

### Return to Gateshead

On 9 June 2020, Smith rejoined Gateshead on a one-year contract. He made 12 National League North appearances before the season was curtailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was released when his contract expired.

### Darlington

Smith followed full-back partner Kallum Griffiths to National League North rivals Darlington for the 2021–22 season. He was one of ten players released by the club at the end of the season.

### Guiseley

On 20 May 2022, Smith signed a one-year contract with Northern Premier League Premier Division club Guiseley.
In March 2023, he joined league rivals Liversedge on loan until the end of the season.

### Farsley Celtic

In May 2023, he signed for National League North club Farsley Celtic.

### Cleethorpes Town

Smith joined Northern Premier League First Division East club Cleethorpes Town for the 2024–25 season.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 15 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Barnsley | 2014–15 | League One | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Barnsley | 2015–16 | League One | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Barnsley | Total | Total | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| Crawley Town (loan) | 2015–16 | League Two | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Gateshead | 2016–17 | National League | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 38 | 1 |
| Northampton Town | 2017–18 | League One | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Chesterfield | 2017–18 | League Two | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Chesterfield | 2018–19 | National League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Chesterfield | Total | Total | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Dover Athletic (loan) | 2018–19 | National League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Boston United (loan) | 2018–19 | National League North | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Harrogate Town | 2019–20 | National League | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| Gateshead | 2020–21 | National League North | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Darlington | 2021–22 | National League North | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| Guiseley | 2021–22 | Northern Premier League (NPL) Premier Division | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 28 | 2 |
| Farsley Celtic | 2023–24 | National League North | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Cleethorpes Town | 2024–25 | NPL Division One East | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 242 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 274 | 5 |
* ↑ Appearances in Football League Trophy
* ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy
* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
* ↑ Two appearances in FA Trophy, one in Lincolnshire Senior Cup