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| Ben Smith 'In The Stocks' At An Edgar Street Open Day |
A look back to June 2nd 2002 and Ben Smith is on his way to Edgar Street.
The twenty three year old ex-Yeovil Town midfielder has joined on a one year contract, and is the Bulls' first pre-season signing. He started out as a schoolboy with Arsenal and also had a spell with Reading before joining Yeovil.
"It was a bit of a nightmare, " (last season) said Smith. "I bruised my foot in pre-season and then when I came back I tore my cartilage in training. Eventually I had an operation on it in November and starting playing for the reserves again in January. I was doing quite well and scored a few goals but then pulled my thigh muscle which ruled me out until just before the end of the season. Southend offered me a month-to-month contract but I thought that was too much of a risk with the way football's finances are at the moment. I spoke to Graham Turner and was very impressed with his plans for Hereford so I'm pleased to have signed."
Later in the week there was more news about Smith's move.
NEW Hereford United signing Ben Smith fell out of favour with Southend United and his departure was a choice between contract security or a Football League squad place.
Southend boss Rob Newman recently commented about the situation with the young midfielder. “I believe that Ben has got something to offer but he is not showing us that at the moment," said Newman. "The times he came back last year and we thought yeah he might have something, but he’s had a bad year through injury.
“With the financial constraints of this club I have to be 110% sure of the players that are going to be on long-term contracts, and when I say long-term contracts I mean a year.
“If Ben wants to be a professional footballer, for sure he’s had a couple of offers from non-league, but he is with a professional club. If he has got any confidence in his own ability then surely it might be in his interests, alright he’s currently on a month-to-month contract, but after a month to two months if in that time he shows me that he can do the business then I have said to him that I will give him a year contract. It’s down to Ben now he knows the situation, I’m not changing it, so basically it’s down to him.”
Smith chose a one-year full-time deal with Hereford instead of the risk with Southend United.
GRAHAM Turner has spoken of his confidence in new signing Ben Smith.
Despite an injury hit campaign with Southend United last season, Smith was inspirational during his spell at Yeovil Town last season and Turner told the Evening News: "He always impressed me when we played against him at Yeovil, whether it was going forward or being the playmaker, both roles he did well.
"I talked to Colin Addison who rated him highly and who he did a good job for and I'm sure he can fulfil either role next season. The fact that David Webb took him from Yeovil to Southend shows just how highly he regarded him but he was just unfortunate with injuries but as far as I am aware he is over those."