*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Kevin Smart
Appearances: 23 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 17th October 1958
Position: Right-back / Centre-back
Season of first appearance: 1990/91
Season of last appearance: 1991/92
Also played for: Plymouth Argyle (41,0), Wigan Athletic (53+1,1), Folkestone Town, Folkestone, Hythe Town, Ashford Town, Folkestone Invicta, Canterbury City, Hythe United and Deal Town
5' 8" tall Newcastle-born defender who started his career at Plymouth where he made over 40 first team appearances during the 1976/77 and 1977/78 campaigns.
In the summer of 1979 Kevin signed for Wigan and he played regularly in their first two seasons as a Football League club - 1978/79 and 1979/80.
In July 1980 he joined Folkestone and went on to spend eight years with the club. Kevin was Folkestone's 'Player of the Year' for the 1986/87 campaign.
He signed for Hythe in the summer of 1988 and spent two seasons there, winning their 'Player of the Year' award for 1988/89.
In July 1990 Kevin moved on to Ashford but in November 1990 he suffered a broken leg in a friendly at Whitstable. Kevin initially tried to 'run off' the injury. After recovering he was loaned to Margate in February 1991.
Kevin made his debut in a 2-1 home defeat against Dunstable on 16.2.91. He played as a centre-back and became a fixture in the Margate side for the remainder of 1990/91. He showed his versatility by also playing in midfield before settling into his favoured right-back role in the closing weeks of the season. The Thanet Times said that Kevin was "outstanding" in a 2-1 defeat at Andover on 13.4.91. He made a total of 17 appearances without scoring before the end of 1990/91.
Kevin started the 1991/92 campaign at right-back and played there in Margate's first two games of the new season. After missing two matches in August he returned to the side for a run of four games, featuring twice at right-back and twice as a centre-back. On 14.9.91 Kevin was part of the Margate side humiliatingly beaten 2-1 at Tooting & Mitcham in the FA Cup and the tie was his last game for the club. He'd made six appearances during 1991/92 when he returned to Hythe a few days after the Tooting match.
Kevin became assistant manager of Hythe's reserve team but he also made a few appearances in the senior side before moving on to Folkestone Invicta at the start of March 1992.
After only a few weeks with Invicta he joined Canterbury and finished the season there.
Kevin's was Canterbury's captain during 1992/93 but during the 1993/94 season he left City for a three month spell with Kent County League club Hythe United. He returned to Canterbury in March 1994. On 20.8.94 Kevin scored an unlikely hat-trick in a 5-2 win at Darenth in the Kent League. He finally left City towards the end of the 1996/97 campaign aged 38 and joined Deal for the remainder of the season.
Kevin spent several years at Deal and by 1998/99 he was their reserve team manager and still played when required. He continued in the role during 1999/00 and again made a few appearances. In May 2000 Kevin was a non-playing member of Deal's squad for their FA Vase win at Wembley but he left the club shortly afterwards.
During the 2005/06 season he was involved with running Kent County League side Betteshanger.
In August 2013 Kevin turned out for a Folkestone Legends team in a charity match to celebrate former Thanet player John Lineham's 50th birthday and a host of other former Margate / Thanet players were also involved in the game.
Kevin was a builder by trade.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1990/91 (MFC) |
17 (54) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (10TH OF 21) |
3QR |
3QR |
2R |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1991/92 (MFC) |
6 (52) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (14TH OF 22) |
1QR |
3QR |
1R |
1R |