Lee Adrian Smelt (born 13 March 1958) is an English former footballer and author of a goalkeeping coaching book (Practice Keeping: An elite goalkeeper development plan for under 9 to under 21s). A goalkeeper, he played professionally for Nottingham Forest, Peterborough United, Halifax Town, Cardiff City and Exeter City, making a total of 175 appearances in the Football League between 1980 and 1986.[2]

Lee Smelt
Personal information
Full name Lee Adrian Smelt
Date of birth (1958-03-13) 13 March 1958 (age 66)[1]
Place of birth Edmonton, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1975–1976 Colchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976 Margate
1976–1980 Gravesend & Northfleet
1980–1981 Nottingham Forest 1 (0)
1981Peterborough United (loan) 5 (0)
1981–1984 Halifax Town 119 (0)
1984–1986 Cardiff City 37 (0)
1985Exeter City(loan) 13 (0)
1986 Maidstone United
1987 Welling United
1987–1988 Thanet United
1988–1991 Hythe Town
Managerial career
1989–1991 Hythe Town player-assistant manager
1991–1992 Margate
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

After Cardiff, Lee then went to non-league Maidstone United and from there played at Welling United, Thanet United and Hythe Town.[3] Lee was player-assistant manager in latter part of his time at Hythe Town[4] and returned to former club Margate as Manager in 1991.[5]

He left football in 1992 to join the police.[3] He was as of 2018, the Academy Goalkeeping Coach (U9-23) at Charlton Athletic.[6]

His son Jack was a goalkeeper and for a short period in his career followed in his fathers footsteps as a 'keeper for Margate.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Hugman, Barry J. (1984). Canon League Football Players' Records 1946-1984. Newnes Books. p. 436. ISBN 0-6003-7318-5.
  2. ^ "Lee Smelt". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Lee Smelt Player Profile". Margate History Website: margatefchistory.com. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  4. ^ "History: 1990–1991". Official website of Hythe Town: hythetownfc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Lee Smelt Manager Profile". Margate History Website: margatefchistory.com. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  6. ^ "The Academy".
  7. ^ "Jack Smelt Player Profile". Margate History Website: margatefchistory.com. Retrieved 15 March 2022.