Archived News from May 2010
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STAGS SIGN CHRIS SMITH
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25 May 2010 One year deal http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2059280,00.html video interview with Chris Smith ---> http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2059337,00.html -------------- Chris Smith will leave Tamworth for Mansfield Town http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/mansfield_town/8704781.stm? Mansfield Town have agreed to sign Tamworth captain Chris Smith on a one-year deal. The 28-year-old centre-back will follow namesake Adam to the club when the transfer window opens on 1 July. Smith began his career as a trainee at Reading, before moving on to play for York City and Worcester City. He helped Tamworth clinch promotion to the Blue Square Premier a year ago and played 38 games this season as they finished 16th in the table. ---------------------- Stags signing Evening Post, May 26, 2010 CENTRAL defender Chris Smith has become Mansfield Town's second signing of the summer. http://www.thisismansfieldtown.co.uk/news/Stags-signing/article-2215683-detail/article.html? The 28-year-old, who was captain at Blue Square Bet Premier rivals Tamworth, has agreed a one-year deal at Field Mill. Smith helped the Lambs to promotion to the Conference North title in 2008-2009 and amassed 38 appearances at the higher level last season. The former Reading trainee has also previously played for York City and Worcester. He helped Tamworth hold the Stags to a goal-less draw at Field Mill in March and is a welcome addition to the squad following the departures of Luke Foster, Luke Jones and Michael Brough. "You only have to look around Field Mill to realise what a big club it is with the right foundations to get into the Football League," said Smith. The acquisition of the Derby-born player follows the arrival of namesake Adam from York last week. -------------------- Chris Smith eyeing skipper's role after signing for Mansfield Evening Post, May 27, 2010 MANSFIELD Town new boy Chris Smith hopes to get the nod to become the club's seventh captain in the last year. http://www.thisismansfieldtown.co.uk/news/Smith-eyeing-skipper-s-role-signing-Mansfield/article-2220565-detail/article.html? The central defender has turned down a new deal at Tamworth to sign a one-year contract with the Stags. Smith skippered at the New Lamb, helping Gary Mills' side to win the Blue Square North title in 2008-09 and establish themselves at the higher level. The 28-year-old is eager to follow in the footsteps of Gary Mills, Luke Garner, Luke Foster, Ryan Williams, Gary Silk and Luke Foster. "I would naturally love to be skipper – it's an honour to lead any side," said Smith. "But I'm a new player so I will have to work hard to win the respect of my manager and fellow players. "Then it is all down to the gaffer and I'm sure he will choose the right person." Manager David Holdsworth insists Smith is certainly in the running for the job and said: "Chris is an honest and seasoned campaigner. "He's not afraid to put his head in where it hurts and is a good organiser. It was a priority to tighten up at the back and he can help with that. "He will certainly come into my thinking for the captain's role because he has the right character." Meanwhile, Holdsworth is waiting to hear from Jake Speight after the striker was offered an improved deal. The striker is under contract, but put in a transfer request after feeling he deserved better terms for finishing as last season's top scorer with 17 goals. "We wanted to look after Jake with this offer and hopefully he will recognise that," said Holdsworth. Striker Jon Shaw is set to join Gateshead. ------------------- Hammer blow for Lambs as skipper quits for Stags thisistamworth.co.uk, May 27, 2010 TAMWORTH'S early pre-season preparations were dealt a shattering blow this week as skipper Chris Smith quit to join Mansfield Town. http://www.thisistamworth.co.uk/tamworthfc/Hammer-blow-Lambs-skipper-quits-Stags/article-2219340-detail/article.html? And, as the influential defender walked away from the club, he admitted: 'Tamworth didn't do enough to keep me'. The former York City centre half insists he wanted to remain at The Lamb. But he was left disappointed by the contract offer put on the table to him after helping the club win promotion to – and then establishing themselves in – the Conference Premier. "Of course it was a tough decision to leave," Smith told Herald sport. "It has been an honour to captain Tamworth football Club and I have loved my time here. But I was disappointed with the offer on the table. "I am not knocking anyone at the club but if the board could have done a bit more, I would have stayed. That was my intention at the end of the season. "I wasn't looking for much but a little bit of reward for helping the club win promotion and staying up would have gone a long way. "But I wish the club all the best, especially the gaffer (Gary Mills), Geebo (Darron Gee) and the fans, who have always been good to me. "The gaffer was someone I got on really well with and respected from day one. He's helped me both on and off the field. "He has done a great job at Tamworth but if the club is to go forward in the coming years, he has to have more in the way of backing. "From my point of view, I want to win things and the fact is Mansfield have ambition and want to win the Conference Premier next season. "It's a much bigger club, and that's not being disrespectful to Tamworth. "Mansfield have a Football League infrastructure in place. It's a step up and I'm looking forward to the chance to challenge for promotion next season. I am really excited by the move and can't wait for pre-season to get started." Smith, who won the Herald Player of the Year award, says he is sad to leave his Tamworth team-mates behind. He added: "When I spoke to David Holdsworth about joining he said that, from the side-lines, he could see how well we all got on at Tamworth, right from the warm ups, group hugs before the game, and celebrations during matches. "The togetherness we had at Tamworth as a group of players was something special. "It's the best set of lads I have worked with at a club and that will probably always be the case. Hopefully, whatever happens in the summer, Gary will recreate that team spirit we had last season and the year before and the side will kick on. I'm sure he will." ------------------------- Gee sad to see Lambs skipper leave thisistamworth.co.uk, May 27, 2010 MASSIVE BLOW: Tamworth assistant manager Darron Gee paid tribute to departing skipper Chris Smith after his move to Mansfield Town on Tuesday, writes Matt Panter. http://www.thisistamworth.co.uk/tamworthfc/Gee-sad-Lambs-skipper-leave/article-2218640-detail/article.html? Smith became the second club captain in two years to leave the Lamb in pre-season, following Martin Foster out of the door. Gee said: "It's a massive blow to us, I'm not going to deny that. "Chris has been an outstanding skipper and a great player in the two years he has been here. "He has been a big rock for us at the back and a key factor in the reason our defence has performed as well as it has. "I totally understand his reasons for leaving. We cannot compete with clubs like Mansfield. "They are a big club, an ex-league club, who will be looking to win the league next year. "Chris is ambitious and all we can do is thank him for his efforts and wish him well for next season. "He leaves with nothing but praise from us and we have been blessed to have such a good captain and player. "What we have to do now is move on and try to replace both an excellent skipper and top class central defender. "That won't be easy but we move on." ------------------------- |
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