Matt Smith

Early years

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. 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.

Oldham…

Former Oldham manager Lee Johnson as well as former Oldham caretaker manager Tony Philliskirk have likened Smith to Duncan Ferguson or Andy Carroll.

As of match played 28 April 2024

Smith's father Ian is a former professional footballer having played for both Queen's Park and Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Football League, and for Birmingham City in the English First Division. His grandfather, James, is also a former professional who played league football for St Mirren and Clyde. His half-brother Jean-Francois is a former professional basketball player, who played for Hyères-Toulon Var Basket in the French Pro A League. Smith's wife Amy is the daughter of football manager and former player Steve Bruce; in October 2024, the couple's four-month old son Madison died. Smith completed his A-Levels in Cheltenham's Pate's Grammar School whilst a trainee at Cheltenham Town. In September 2007 he went to Manchester to study for a degree at Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, with a year spent in the United States at Arizona State University. He graduated in the summer of 2011 with a 2:1 in International Management with American Business Studies. Whilst at Manchester he was also captain of the university's men's football team, was called up to the Great Britain squad for the World University Games in China in 2011 and was nominated for the university's Sportsman of the Year Award. Despite being English-born, Smith was also eligible for both the Scotland and France national teams as his father was born in Edinburgh and his mother Françoise was born in Paris.