FC Halifax Town are delighted to confirm the signing of centre back Will Smith following his release from League Two side Harrogate Town.
Coming through the youth setup at Barnsley, Smith was named Academy Player of the Year for the 2015/16 season before signing his first professional contract in May 2017. In December 2018, the defender made his senior debut for Barnsley in the EFL Trophy and a month later was loaned to National League North side Darlington on an initial 28-day loan, which was then extended through to the end of the season.
In 2019, Smith was offered a new deal to stay at Oakwell, however turned it down and signed for Harrogate, then in the National League. The defender started in all but one league game that season as it was curtailed due to Covid-19 with Harrogate finishing 2nd, four points behind champions Sutton United. Smith played in both Harrogate’s play-off semi-final against Boreham Wood, where he assisted the only goal, and the final where Harrogate ran out 3-1 winners over Notts County. It was also the 2019/20 season that Smith would help the Sulphurites to an FA Trophy victory.
Smith continued as a regular for Harrogate in League Two throughout the 2020/21 campaign, scoring twice in 32 league appearances. After two and half seasons in League Two with Harrogate, the defender was sent out on loan to then National League side Scunthorpe United where he managed three goals in 13 appearances, although all those goals came in his first six outings for the Iron as they were relegated. Last season, Smith made just one appearance for Harrogate, before he was sent out on loan to National League side York City in the September.
Smith made 31 appearances for the Minstermen in all competitions last campaign, as they scraped survival on the final day of the season. The defender played the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw at the LNER Community Stadium, however was an unused substitute at the reverse fixture at the Shay in April.
Welcome Will
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist
;
