Tommy Smith

Watford

As a boy Smith trained with Millwall, Sheffield United, who had a base in Amersham, and Watford, who he was with until the age of 12. After only playing for Comets Sports club in Sunday league football for two years, he was given a chance by his father at Watford in a county trial at the age of 14 and signed with them again. Manager Graham Taylor gave Smith his debut for Watford on 18 November 1997, bringing him on as a substitute in a 2–1 Second Division win over Oldham Athletic. Smith did not play another league game in 1997–98, but made eight appearances for Watford as they qualified for the play-offs in the 1998–99 season, where the club gained promotion to the Premiership. He established himself in the team during the club's first Premier League season, making 23 appearances and scoring two goals, including one at Vicarage Road against Manchester United. Although Watford were relegated in 1999–2000, Smith remained at the club, playing under Gianluca Vialli and Ray Lewington, and scoring on his sole appearance for the England under-21 team in a 6–1 win against Georgia under-21. Watford finished in the bottom half of the First Division for three consecutive seasons, but individually Smith progressed; in 2002–03 he finished as Watford's second highest goalscorer, with nine goals in all competitions. This included crucial goals in Watford's 2003 FA Cup run. His re-taken penalty against Sunderland was the only goal of the fifth round tie, and he also scored…

As a young child Smith played as a central midfielder, before converting to a striker at age 12. He is a quick player capable of kicking the ball with his weaker left foot, and prefers being part of a team that plays passing football, than one that employs a more direct style. Upon signing him for Portsmouth, then-manager Paul Hart said of Smith:

I've liked Tommy for a long time. He's clever, infectious, enthusiastic and a hard worker. He can play as a centre-forward, behind the centre-forward or out wide, so covers a lot of positions. He's going to be a great asset to us.

Smith was born in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. His father Dave, a chartered surveyor and former Watford youth team player, helped coach with the academy during his son's time there. His younger brother Jack, born in 1983, also came through the club's youth system to become a professional player. The pair did not play for Watford together competitively, although they would come within 14 minutes of doing so; Tommy was substituted in the 67th minute of the club's 4–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on 26 April 2003, while Jack would make his first-team debut as an 81st-minute substitute. Jack would not make another appearance that season, while Tommy left for Sunderland in the summer. Smith attended Hemel Hempstead school between 1991 and 1997. He has been with his wife Nina since leaving school. They married in 2005, live in Berkhamsted and have three children. Outside of football, Smith's interests include golf and films. In 2014, he and his brother Jack took over the sales arm of an estate agent and chartered surveyors with its headquarters in Bushey Heath, near Watford.

Queens Park Rangers

EFL Championship: 2010–11 Cardiff City

EFL Championship: 2012–13