Jonathan Smith

Jonathan Peter Smith (born 17 October 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.

Smith started his career with Morecambe, who loaned him out to Fleetwood Town and Bamber Bridge.

He made his first-team debut in the Football League Trophy fixture against Grimsby Town on 18 October 2005, with Smith scoring Morecambe's final penalty kick in their victorious penalty shoot-out.

He joined Northern Premier League First Division outfit Fleetwood Town on loan in January 2006 and made his debut in a 2–0 victory at home to Belper Town on 28 January.

He stayed at the club until April 2006, having made 16 appearances and scored one goal.

Having appeared twice for Morecambe he was released in 2007 and subsequently signed for Forest Green Rovers.

Smith was loaned out to Northern Premier League First Division club Bamber Bridge in February 2007.

On 31 May 2007, following Morecambe's promotion to League Two, Smith was released by Sammy McIlroy alongside fellow Morecambe teammates Danny Meadowcroft and Thomas Pickersgill.

Smith completed his free transfer move to Conference Premier club Forest Green Rovers on 3 July 2007 and became an influential member of the squad during his three-year stay at the club.

He was a part of the side that made it to the FA Cup third round during the 2008–09 season and scored in Forest Green's 4–3 loss to Derby County on 3 January 2009.

Smith made 134 appearances for Forest Green in all competitions.

After three years with Forest Green he signed for York City in 2010, but departed after a year to join Swindon Town.

Smith left Forest Green Rovers after signing for Conference Premier rivals York City on a free transfer for a small compensation fee on 6 July 2010.

He made 44 appearances for York in 2010–11, in which he scored five goals.

With them he won the League Two title in the 2011–12 season, but was transfer listed following their promotion and returned to York in 2012.

Like his career at Forest Green, Smith also helped York to a credible FA Cup run, playing in their five matches before being eliminated in the third round by Premier League club Bolton Wanderers on 8 January 2011.

On 21 June 2011, Smith joined League Two club Swindon Town on a two-year contract to become manager Paolo Di Canio's second summer signing.

Smith joined the Wiltshire club for an officially undisclosed fee of £30,000.

He finished 2011–12 with 48 appearances and three goals, with 38 of those appearances coming in the league, as Swindon won the League Two title.

Having been transfer listed by Swindon at the end of the season, Smith returned to York City after signing for the newly promoted League Two club on a two-year contract on 21 July 2012.

He made his second debut for York in their match away at League One club Doncaster Rovers in the League Cup first round on 11 August 2012, which they lost 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out following a 1–1 draw after extra time.

He then played in York's first Football League fixture since their promotion, a 3–1 defeat at home to Wycombe Wanderers on 18 August 2012.

On 5 November 2012, Smith was loaned out to Conference Premier club Luton Town until 5 January 2013, having played in 13 matches for York in 2012–13.

He made his debut the following day in a 1–0 defeat at Hereford United.

Smith scored his first goal for Luton with a header in their 3–0 home win over Alfreton Town on 8 December 2012.

This proved to be his final appearance in his loan spell for Luton, as he was recalled by York on 11 December 2012, having scored once in six appearances for the Bedfordshire team.

Smith was disappointed at the recall, having previously expressed his desire to stay at Luton and experience "playing in front of a big crowd every week".

On 29 December 2012, it was confirmed that Smith would make a permanent move to Luton on 1 January 2013, signing a one-and-a-half-year contract after the two clubs agreed a fee of £50,000.

He made 28 appearances as a permanent player for Luton in 2012–13, including in the club's 1–0 FA Cup win over Premier League team Norwich City.

He signed for Luton Town later that year, initially on loan, before signing permanently in 2013.

Smith spent five seasons with Luton, winning the Conference Premier title in the 2013–14 season, before joining Stevenage in August 2017.

Smith became a constant presence in central midfield during the first half of Luton's 2013–14 season, which helped to propel the club into second place in the table.

However, a mistimed challenge from Jon Nurse in a 2–1 win over Barnet on 26 December 2013 saw Smith suffer a "horrific" bone fracture of both his right tibia and fibula.

Luton won promotion to League Two with three matches of 2013–14 remaining, and Smith came on as a late substitute four months to the day after his injury in a 1–0 victory over Hyde on the last day of the campaign.

In 2014–15, Smith returned fully fit to Luton's starting lineup in a 1–0 home win over Cheltenham Town on 13 September 2014.

His return coincided with an 11-match unbeaten league run that placed the club at the top of the table.

Luton's form fell away in the final months of the season, winning only three times in their last 13 matches, resulting in the club finishing in eighth position.

However, Smith's influence on the campaign saw him awarded the Players' Player of the Year and Luton Town Website Player of the Year accolades.

Smith signed for Chesterfield in November 2018, having been on loan there since September.

Born in Preston, Lancashire, Smith began his career with Morecambe, having progressed through the club's youth system.