Smith Departs for Swansea

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 15/06/2002

VETERAN defender/midfielder David Smith is the latest player to leave Blundell Park this summer, having departed for pastures new with Third Division Swansea. The 32-year-old utility player, a Town player since 1998, became the latest in the BP exodus when he put pen to paper for the Swans today.

Smith, who made over 100 league appearances in 4 years for the Mariners, was released by Town at the end of last season, after struggling with injuries and fitness for all the previous campaign, when he featured in just five Grimsby games. His final game for the Mariners was the 2-1 defeat at Gillingham, in which he hobbled off after just 4 minutes of his "comeback".

The former Baggie, who arrived at Blundell Park from the Hawthorns for £200K, scored the only Town goal in the 1-1 draw against Fulham in the 1998 play off semi-final first leg. Smith's goal, to put Town 1-0 up against the Cottagers, led to Grimsby appearing at Wembley for the second time that season, where they were to gain promotion to Division One, a berth which they have occupied ever since.

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