Smith joins Kidderminster

Last updated : 01 February 2006 By Tony Scholes

Smith, now 30, ended his Football League career at the end of last season following a series of injuries that have blighted him for some time and has recently been playing for Alfreton.

It is almost six years since he left the Clarets, and he was then twice signed by Chris Turner for Hartlepool and Sheffield Wednesday. His last game was for the Hillsborough club in October 2004 in a 1-0 home League One win against Barnsley.

Although he won’t be able to play in the Football League again he has taken the step up to the Conference with Mark Yates’ Harriers and he said, “I’m glad to be at Kidderminster and I’m looking forward to doing a job for them. I’ve got a great deal of experience from my times at Burnley and Hartlepool and hopefully I can use some of that to guide us further up the Conference table.

“I’ve had a lot of offers to go and play for Football League clubs but obviously my injury means that I’ve had to turn them down as the Conference is as high as I can go. I’ve built my knee back up and now it’s looking good.

“The chance to come and play for Neil (Howarth) and Mark at a higher level was too good an opportunity to turn down. Kidderminster has always been a tough place to come to and hopefully we can keep it that way.”