*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.
Malcolm Smith
Appearances: 139+5 Goals: 15
Date / Year of birth: 3rd August 1970
Position: Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1992/93
Season of last appearance: 1996/97
Also played for: Gillingham (2+1,0), Hythe Town, Ashford Town, Tonbridge Angels, Folkestone Invicta and Snodland
5' 8" tall Maidstone-born midfielder who began his career as a junior with Gillingham, joining the club in August 1986. Malcolm progressed through the Gills youth ranks to the first team squad and on 21.11.87 he made his senior debut in a game at Northampton a few months after his 17th birthday. He made two more first team appearances before the end of the 1987/88 season. In June 1988 Malcolm was signed as a professional but he was released by the Gills at the end of the 1988/89 campaign and joined Hythe.
Malcolm went on to spend three seasons at Hythe and after the club folded at the end of 1991/92 he joined Margate for the 1992/93 campaign.
Malcolm made his debut as Margate beat Wealdstone 4-1 at Watford on 22.8.92, the opening day of the season, and became a fixture in the midfield from then on. He scored his first goal to secure a 1-0 win over Fareham in an FA Trophy tie at Hartsdown Park on 24.9.92 and the Thanet Times said it was "a gem of a winner" - a low drive from just outside the penalty area. On 10.10.92 Malcolm was sent off for a second bookable offence five minutes from the end of a 0-0 home draw with Sudbury and after serving a three match ban he started to find his best form. The Thanet Times praised Malcolm's "pugnacious display" in a 2-2 draw with Dunstable at Hartsdown on 28.11.92 and said he "beavered away diligently" in a 2-0 home defeat against Bury on 19.12.92. The Isle of Thanet Gazette reported that Malcolm was "always prominent" as Margate drew 0-0 with big-spending visitors Sittingbourne on 28.12.92 whilst the Times said he was "outstanding" in a 1-1 home draw with Newport IOW on 2.1.93. In February 1993 Malcolm was the first winner of the new Margate Supporters Club's 'Player of the Month' award and towards the end of March he was switched to left-back, playing seven times in the number three shirt before the end of the season. He scored from 25 yards in the last of those matches - a 1-1 draw at Dunstable on 1.5.93. It was his third goal in 48 first team appearances and Malcolm was chosen as the 'Supporters' Player of the Year'. He also played 12 times for the reserves in the Kent Midweek League.
In August 1993 Malcolm featured in Margate's first four matches of the 1993/94 campaign but he fell out of favour during September, only playing twice as a substitute in the month's four games. On 2.10.93 he made his first start since 30.8.93 in a 3-1 win over Weymouth at Hartsdown and Malcolm kept his place in midfield for the next four matches. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he was "tenacious" during a 2-1 home win over Sudbury on 26.10.93. After another run of games without a start Malcolm played at left-back in a 1-0 win at Fisher on 9.11.93 and after two more outings in the number three shirt he returned to the midfield and didn't miss another match all season. The Gazette said he "masterminded the midfield" in a 2-0 win at Ashford on 26.11.93 and on 15.12.93 Malcolm scored his first goal with a 25 yard shot in a 4-1 defeat at Tonbridge in the Southern League Cup. On 19.1.94 he scored a hat-trick from midfield as Margate won 4-2 at Tonbridge in the Kent Senior Cup and on 8.3.94 Malcolm played for the Southern League in a centenary challenge match against Millwall at Ashford. The Isle of Thanet Gazette praised his "skilled midfield probing" during a 2-0 home defeat against Gravesend & Northfleet on 22.3.94 and on 24.4.94 Malcolm scored in a 6-0 win over Braintree at Hartsdown. On 2.5.94 he was chosen as the sponsors' 'man of the match' as Margate beat Dover 2-1 at his old club Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium to win the Kent Senior Cup. The Gazette's end of season round-up said Malcolm had "often been a revelation and had few superiors in the league" and he scored five times in 49 appearances during the campaign.
Malcolm spent the 1994/95 season with Ashford before rejoining Margate on a two-year contract in the summer of 1995. The Gazette said it was a "welcome return".
He made his first appearance in midfield as Margate lost 1-0 to Waterlooville at Hartsdown Park on 9.9.95 and played regularly after that, always in the number 11 shirt. On 9.9.95 Malcolm scored his first goal of the season in a 5-2 win at Corinthian Casuals in the FA Cup but he was sent off for dissent after an hour. On 7.10.95 he scored from 30 yards in a 4-3 defeat at Weston-Super-Mare and the Gazette said he "beavered diligently in midfield" during a 2-1 defeat against Bashley at Hartsdown on 17.10.95. Malcolm scored what the Thanet Times said was "a tremendous goal" from 20 yards in a 2-2 home draw with Newport IOW on 25.11.95 and on 13.1.96 he got two in a 4-0 win at Waterlooville. The Thanet Times said Malcolm "earned maximum credit ratings" in a 2-1 defeat against visitors Clevedon on 2.3.96 and he finished the season having scored seven goals in 46 appearances.
He stayed at Margate for the start of the 1996/97 campaign but only played once, as a sub in a 1-0 home defeat against Banstead in the FA Cup on 31.8.96, before moving on to Tonbridge in October 1996.
In the summer of 1997 Malcolm joined Folkestone and he spent two years there before linking up with Snodland of the Kent County League for the 1999/00 season.
He carried on playing for Snodland for several years before retiring.
Malcolm's cousin Ricky Pearson played for Margate during the 1994/95 season.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1992/93 (MFC) |
48 (53) |
0 |
3 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (10TH OF 22) |
2QR |
2QR |
1R |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1993/94 (MFC) |
45 (54) |
4 |
5 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (9TH OF 22) |
3QR |
1QR |
3R |
W |
|
| Played in Kent Senior Cup Final (02.05.94 - beat Dover 2-1 at Gillingham FC). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1995/96 (MFC) |
46 (51) |
0 |
7 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (11TH OF 22) |
2QR |
1QR |
2R |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1996/97 (MFC) |
0 (48) |
1 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (5TH OF 22) |
PR |
1QR |
2R |
1R |
|