Korey Smith Explained

Korey Smith
Fullname:Korey Alexander Sheridan Smith[1]
Birth Date:31 January 1991[2]
Birth Place:Hatfield, England
Height:1.83m (06feet)[3]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Cambridge United
Clubnumber:14
Youthyears1:2007–2008
Youthclubs1:Norwich City
Years1:2008–2013
Clubs1:Norwich City
Caps1:67
Goals1:4
Years2:2012
Clubs2:Barnsley (loan)
Caps2:12
Goals2:0
Years3:2012
Clubs3:Yeovil Town (loan)
Caps3:17
Goals3:0
Years4:2013
Clubs4:Oldham Athletic (loan)
Caps4:10
Goals4:0
Years5:2013–2014
Clubs5:Oldham Athletic
Caps5:42
Goals5:1
Years6:2014–2020
Clubs6:Bristol City
Caps6:175
Goals6:1
Years7:2020–2022
Clubs7:Swansea City
Caps7:72
Goals7:0
Years8:2022–2024
Clubs8:Derby County
Caps8:72
Goals8:1
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:Cambridge United
Caps9:2
Goals9:0
Club-Update:17:12, 17 August 2024 (UTC)

Korey Alexander Sheridan Smith (born 31 January 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Cambridge United.

Smith started his career at Norwich City, making his senior debut in April 2009, he had loan spells at Barnsley, Yeovil Town and Oldham Athletic, he would join Oldham permanently in June 2013. A year later, Oldham would sell Smith to Bristol City for an undisclosed fee, where he would make 196 appearances in six years and in his first season at the club would win the League One title. Smith joined Swansea City in August 2020, where he would spend to years, before he joined Derby County where in his second and final season for the club would help the club gain promotion to the Championship.

Early life

Smith was "discovered plying his trade on the Sunday league park pitches".[4] He became the captain of Norwich City Academy, and led them on a run in the FA Youth Cup. He has two younger sisters, Harriet and Alice.[5] He is of Jamaican descent.[6]

Career

Smith first appeared on the bench for Norwich City in January 2008 as an unused substitute in an FA Cup match against Charlton Athletic.[7] He made his professional debut in a 0–1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Carrow Road on 4 April 2009, as an 82nd-minute substitute for David Carney.[8]

Smith featured regularly in the Norwich team during the 2009–10 season as they won promotion from League One to the Championship as champions.

In July 2010, Smith was handed the number 18 shirt and continued to play regularly as Norwich won promotion to the Premier League.

In January 2012, Smith penned a one-month loan deal at Barnsley. He made an instant impact at Oakwell, assisting two goals on debut against Derby County in a 3–2 victory for the Reds on his 21st birthday.[9]

In September 2012, Smith signed on a 93-day emergency loan at League One club Yeovil Town,[10] making his debut as a substitute away at MK Dons in a 1–0 defeat.[11]

On 15 March 2013, Smith signed on loan with Oldham Athletic until the end of the season.

Oldham Athletic

Smith signed a permanent two-year deal with Oldham Athletic on 20 June 2013, after being released by Norwich City having been at the club for seven years.[12] Smith was made captain of Oldham Athletic after manager Lee Johnson said Smith was as brave as a lion, brave on the ball and can take the ball anywhere.[13] He scored his first goal for the club with a stunning strike in the FA Cup 2013–14 second round against Mansfield Town.[14]

Smith scored his first league goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Leyton Orient, scoring in added time to bring the scores level and earn the club a point away against the then third in the division Leyton Orient with a fantastic chipped effort from 30 yards out.[15]

Bristol City

Smith signed a three-year deal with Bristol City on 27 June 2014 for an undisclosed fee. He scored his first goals for Bristol City when he scored twice in a 3–1 Football League Trophy win against Cheltenham Town on 8 October 2014.[16] He helped Bristol City to a Football League Trophy and League One double in his first season with the club. Smith started 38 times the following season, as Bristol City finished 18th, meaning they avoided relegation straight back to League One. Smith underwent ankle surgery in April, returning to full training on 5 September 2016.[17]

On 20 December 2017, Smith scored a last minute winner as Bristol City upset Premier League side Manchester United 2–1 in the EFL Cup quarter-finals at Ashton Gate.[18]

Smith left Bristol City on 9 August 2020 after spending six years with the club.[19]

Swansea City

On 14 August 2020, Smith joined Swansea City on a two-year contract.[20] It was confirmed that Smith would leave the club upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2021–22 season.[21]

Derby County

On 16 July 2022, Smith dropped down to League One to join newly relegated Derby County on a two-year contract.[22] Smith would make 48 appearances for Derby County during the 2022–23 season, 40 these in the league, he was ultised as a midfielder as well as a right-back under Paul Warne.[23]

Smith scored his first goal in nearly six years on 29 July 2023 in a 2023–24 pre-season friendly for Derby against Premier League side Sheffield United, tapping in from close range after a Nathaniel Mendez-Laing cross, Derby would go on to lose the game 3-1.[24] Smith scored his first goal for Derby in a competitive fixture during the 2023–24 season, scoring the first goal in a 3–1 League One victory at Blackpool on 3 October 2023,[25] he also played a part in the other two Derby goals that night.[26] Smith made 37 appearances for Derby during the season, to go alongside his goal against Blackpool as Derby managed to secure automatic promotion by finishing runners-up in League One.[27]

On 18 May 2024, it was announced that Smith would leave Derby at the end of his contract on 30 June 2024, after 85 appearances and one goal over two seasons.[28]

Cambridge United

On 17 July 2024, Smith joined Cambridge United on a two-year deal.[29]

Personal life

He's married with three kids. His brother in law is England Rugby player Joe Launchbury (their wives are sisters).[30] [31] [32]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Norwich City2007–08Championship00000000
2008–09Championship20000020
2009–10League One374201000404
2010–11Championship2801010300
2011–12Premier League00001010
2012–13Premier League00000000
Total674303000734
Barnsley (loan)2011–12Championship120120
Yeovil Town (loan)2012–13League One17020190
Oldham Athletic (loan)2012–13League One100100
Oldham Athletic2013–14League One421511040521
Bristol City2014–15League One440400062542
2015–16Championship3601010380
2016–17Championship2301000240
2017–18Championship4511062523
2018–19Championship50001060
2019–20Championship2200000220
Total17517082621965
Swansea City2020–21Championship370101010400
2021–22Championship350101000370
Total720202010770
Derby County2022–23League One400403010480
2023–24League One321201020371
Total721604030851
Cambridge United2024–25League One2000100030
Career Total469723114219252512

Honours

Norwich City

2009–10

Bristol City

2014–15[34]

Derby County

Individual

2014–15 League One[35]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Swansea City . English Football League . 69 . 26 September 2020.
  2. Web site: Korey Smith . 11v11.com . AFS Enterprises . 20 December 2017.
  3. Web site: Korey Smith . Derby County F.C. . 16 August 2022.
  4. Web site: Korey Smith profile. Norwich City F.C.. 2009-04-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20090318093135/http://www.canaries.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10355~43751,00.html. 18 March 2009. dead.
  5. http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com/full_article.asp?i=4561&w=25&a=0&part=1
  6. Web site: Smith: Korey Alexander Sheridan Smith: Player . BDFutbol . 8 May 2018.
  7. http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/Sport/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=Sport&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=Sport&itemid=NOED05%20Jan%202009%2009%3A00%3A03%3A327
  8. News: Norwich 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday. BBC Sport. 2009-04-04. 4 April 2009.
  9. News: Barnsley 3–2 Derby County. BBC Sport. 2012-01-31. 31 January 2012.
  10. News: Norwich's Korey Smith aims to impress on loan at Yeovil . BBC Sport . 17 September 2012 . 17 September 2012 .
  11. News: MK Dons 1–0 Yeovil Town . BBC Sport . 15 September 2012 . 20 September 2012 .
  12. Web site: Norwich City's Korey Smith bound for Oldham Athletic. BBC Sport. 20 June 2013. 7 July 2013.
  13. News: Captain Korey. Oldham Athletic A.F.C.. 4 August 2013.
  14. News: Oldham Athletic 1–1 Mansfield Town. BBC Sport. 7 December 2013.
  15. News: Leyton Orient 1–1 Oldham Athletic . BBC Sport. 25 March 2014.
  16. Web site: Cheltenham 1–3 Bristol City. Sky Sports. 8 August 2017 . 14 August 2017.
  17. http://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/smith-returns-to-training-3293179.aspx
  18. News: Bristol City 2-1 Manchester United . BBC Sport .
  19. News: Korey Smith: Long-serving midfielder leaves Bristol City after six years . BBC Sport . 9 August 2020.
  20. Web site: Swansea City complete signing of Korey Smith. Swansea City A.F.C.. 14 August 2020. 16 July 2022.
  21. Web site: Swansea City confirm retained list. Swansea City A.F.C.. 19 May 2022. 16 July 2022.
  22. Web site: Smith Next in at Derby As Summer Rebuild Continues. Derby County F.C.. 16 July 2022. 16 July 2022.
  23. Web site: Paul Warne raises concern over right-back target as Derby County eye new addition. The72. 2 December 2022. 14 May 2023.
  24. Web site: Pre Season Match Report: Derby County 1–3 Sheffield United. Derby County F.C.. 29 July 2023. 4 October 2023.
  25. Web site: Korey Smith makes 'revenge' comment after Derby County seal Blackpool win. Derbyshire Live. 4 October 2023. 4 October 2023.
  26. Web site: Post Match Verdict: Smith 'Delighted' To Score First Derby Goal. Derby County F.C.. 3 October 2023. 4 October 2023.
  27. News: Breaking: Derby County promoted as duo seal it for Paul Warne's side. Derby Telegraph. 27 April 2024. 28 April 2024.
  28. News: Derby County Retained List: 2023/24 Season. Derby County. 18 May 2024. 18 May 2024.
  29. Web site: Korey Smith becomes latest signing Cambridge United F.C. . 2024-07-17 . www.cambridgeunited.com . en.
  30. Web site: These are some of the biggest Instagram stars in Bristol. 27 January 2019.
  31. Web site: Meet the ice cream making Wasps star scooping acclaim on and off pitch. 15 September 2020.
  32. Web site: Smith opens up on his injury hell, Man United and making new history. 7 October 2019.
  33. News: Bristol City's well oiled 2014/15 League One title-winning team – Where are they now? . bristolworld.com . 2022-04-14.
  34. News: Bristol City 2–0 Walsall . Caroline . Chapman . BBC Sport . 22 March 2015 . 26 January 2022.
  35. News: League One Team of the Year: Five Bristol City players selected . BBC Sport . 26 April 2015 . 8 May 2018.