Lewis Smith (footballer)

Lewis Smith
Smith with Hamilton U19s, 2018
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-03-16) 16 March 2000 (age 24)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Livingston
Number 15
Youth career
2009–2018 Hamilton Academical
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2024 Hamilton Academical 120 (12)
2024– Livingston 6 (0)
International career
2017 Scotland U17 3 (0)
2019– Scotland U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:09, 29 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 08:32, 6 September 2019 (UTC)

Lewis Smith (born 16 March 2000) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Championship club Livingston.[1]

Club career

[edit]

Hamilton Academical

[edit]

Smith attended St Ninian's High School, Giffnock[2] and was involved with the youth system at Hamilton Academical, the club his family supported,[3][4] from the age of 9.[5]

After signing a professional contract in summer 2016,[3] he appeared for the club's age-restricted teams in three editions of the Scottish Challenge Cup[6] and in the 2018–19 UEFA Youth League,[6][7][8] before making his debut for the Accies senior team on 31 October 2018, appearing from the bench for the last ten minutes of a 3–0 away defeat to Aberdeen in the 2018–19 Scottish Premiership.[9]

Smith made his first league start for the club on 10 August 2019 against Kilmarnock at New Douglas Park; he scored the opening goal and created the second in a 2–0 victory, receiving praise for his performance.[10] In November 2019 he signed a new contract with Hamilton, running until summer 2022.[11]

A hamstring injury disrupted his season in 2020–21 as Hamilton were relegated from the Premiership.[12] He signed a further contract extension, until summer 2024, in November 2021.[13] The club were relegated from the Scottish Championship in 2023, but Smith had an important role as they returned via the promotion play-offs a year later, scoring in wins over Alloa Athletic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[14]

Livingston

[edit]

In May 2024, Smith signed a pre-contract with Livingston, effective from 1 June, on a two-year deal.[15]

International career

[edit]

Smith has represented Scotland at under-17 youth level;[16] he sat four of his Higher school exams while on international duty at the 2017 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Croatia.[4] In August 2019 he was called-up by the under-21 squad,[5] making his debut in September 2019.[17]

Honours

[edit]

Hamilton Academical

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lewis Smith at Soccerbase
  2. ^ "Lewis Smith selected for Scotland". St Ninian's High School, Giffnock. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b "New full time Academy players". Hamilton Academical F.C. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  4. ^ a b Dani Garavelli (8 September 2019). "Dani Garavelli: My son the Hamilton Accies baller and what it's like bringing up an aspiring young player". The Scotsman. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Lewis Smith Selected for Scotland U21s Squad". Hamilton Academical Website. 19 August 2019.
  6. ^ a b "L. Smith". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Mit dem Rücken zur Wand – Der FC Basel U19 kommt gegen Hamilton Academical nicht über ein 2:2 hinaus" [With backs to the wall - FC Basel U19 did not beat Hamilton Academical, 2–2]. Basellandschaftliche Zeitung (in German). 4 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Hamilton Accies UEFA Youth League adventure continues after dramatic penalty victory over Basel". Daily Record. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  9. ^ Clive Lindsay (31 October 2018). "Aberdeen 3 – 0 Hamilton Academical". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  10. ^ Hamilton Academical 2–0 Kilmarnock, BBC Sport, 10 August 2019
  11. ^ "Done Deal for Lewis/Hamilton". Hamilton Academical Website. 24 November 2019.
  12. ^ Hamilton's Lewis Smith determined to use relegation pain in Accies' promotion bid next season, James Cairney, The Herald, 17 May 2021
  13. ^ Burns, Scott (12 November 2021). "Hamilton hand Lewis Smith new deal until 2024". Daily Record.
  14. ^ Hamilton claim play-off glory to replace Inverness in Championship, STV News, 18 May 2024
  15. ^ "Lewis Smith is a Lion!". livingstonfc.co.uk. 24 May 2024.
  16. ^ Lewis Smith at the Scottish Football Association
  17. ^ "Lewis Smith Makes Scotland U21 Debut". Hamilton Academical Website. 5 September 2019.
  18. ^ Raith Rovers 0–1 Hamilton Academical, Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport, 26 March 2023