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Kane Smith
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Kane John Smith (born 7 February 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back for EFL League Two club Barnet.
Key Information
A product of the Luton Town academy, Smith was released by his hometown club in 2014 and signed for Biggleswade Town. He joined Southern League Premier Division club Hitchin Town in December 2014 and made 123 appearances during his two-and-a-half years there. A transfer to Boreham Wood of the National League followed in July 2017. He spent five years at Boreham Wood, where he was a mainstay at right-back, making 181 appearances in all competitions. Smith signed for EFL League Two club Stevenage in June 2022, helping the club achieve promotion to EFL League One during the 2022–23 season. After three seasons at Stevenage, he signed for Barnet on a free transfer in July 2025.
Early life
[edit]Born in Luton, England, Smith attended Stopsley High School.[4][6] He is a lifelong supporter of Everton.[4]
Club career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Smith began his career in the youth academy at Luton Town.[6] During his time in the club's development squad, Smith was named as first reserve to represent England Schoolboys in 2014.[6] Luton opted against offering Smith his first professional contract,[7] and he subsequently joined Biggleswade Town.[8]
Hitchin Town
[edit]Smith signed for Southern League Premier Division club Hitchin Town in December 2014.[9] He made his debut as a 76th-minute substitute in a 6–2 away defeat to St Neots Town on 21 February 2015.[10] Smith made 11 appearances for the club during the remainder of the 2014–15 season.[10] He scored his first goal in senior football in Hitchin's 3–1 victory against Slough Town on 22 August 2015.[10] Smith trialled with Premier League club Crystal Palace in December 2015, playing in two matches for the club's under-21 team, although no transfer ultimately materialised.[9] He also spent time at Ipswich Town in February 2016.[11] Smith made 59 appearances in all competitions during the 2015–16 season, scoring seven goals, as Hitchin won the Herts Senior Cup in May 2016.[2][10]
Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Smith played in two pre-season friendlies for Shrewsbury Town and spent time on trial with Coventry City.[8][12] Having missed Hitchin's opening four matches of the new season due to the trials, Smith returned to the first team on 20 August 2016 against Stratford Town. He was initially deployed in midfield for the first time in his career, before reverting to right-back for the remainder of the season.[7][10] Smith played 53 times during the season, as Hitchin missed out on promotion to the National League South after losing in the Southern League play-off final to Leamington in May 2017.[10]
Boreham Wood
[edit]Smith joined National League club Boreham Wood on 5 July 2017, signing a two-year contract.[13] He made his debut for Boreham Wood in the club's first match of the 2017–18 season, scoring in a 2–2 draw away to AFC Fylde on 5 August 2017. Smith suffered a knee injury in Boreham Wood's play-off match against AFC Fylde, which resulted in his substitution at half-time.[14] He made 53 appearances during his first season with the club, scoring four goals, as Boreham Wood missed out on promotion to the Football League after losing 2–1 to Tranmere Rovers in the 2018 National League play-off final at Wembley Stadium.[10] The knee injury sustained at the end of the season limited Smith to three appearances during the 2018–19 season.[10][14]
Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Smith signed a two-year contract extension with Boreham Wood, which included the option of a further year.[14] Boreham Wood reached the National League play-off semi-finals that season, with Smith making 36 appearances in all competitions on his return from injury.[10] He scored six goals in 48 appearances during the 2020–21 season.[10] The following season, Smith played in all six of Boreham Wood's FA Cup matches as they reached the fifth round of the competition for the first time in their history.[15] Boreham Wood were eventually defeated by Premier League club Everton 2–0 at Goodison Park, with Smith playing the first 74 minutes.[16] He made 41 appearances in all competitions that season.[10] In June 2022, Boreham Wood announced his departure, with manager Luke Garrard praising Smith's role in the club's success and his resilience in overcoming injuries.[17]
Stevenage
[edit]Smith signed for League Two club Stevenage on 23 June 2022, officially joining on 1 July 2022.[18] He made his debut as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 2–1 victory against Stockport County on 6 August 2022,[19][20] and scored his only goal for the club in a 2–1 win over Carlisle United two weeks later.[19] Smith made 30 appearances during the 2022–23 season as Stevenage achieved promotion to League One with a second-place finish.[19][21] He signed a new contract with the club in August 2023.[22] He played a peripheral role during the 2023–24 season due to injury and the performances of first-choice right-back Luther James-Wildin,[23] although he returned to the first team towards the end of the season and was voted the club's Player of the Month for April 2024.[24] He was released by Stevenage at the end of the 2024–25 season.[25]
Barnet
[edit]Smith signed for newly promoted League Two club Barnet on a free transfer on 15 July 2025.[26]
International career
[edit]Smith received a call-up to play for the England C team, who represent England at non-League level, for a match against Republic of Ireland amateurs in May 2018.[27]
Style of play
[edit]Deployed predominantly at right-back throughout his career, Smith has also been utilised as a right-sided midfielder.[5] His preferred position is right-back.[7] He has been described as "providing an attacking outlet" from defence, with previous managers highlighting his forward runs from full-back as a strength.[7][28]
Personal life
[edit]Smith is married.[29]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 15 November 2025
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hitchin Town | 2014–15[10] | SFL Premier Division | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2015–16[10] | SFL Premier Division | 40 | 4 | 5 | 2 | — | 14[a] | 1 | 59 | 7 | ||
| 2016–17[10] | SFL Premier Division | 39 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 11[b] | 1 | 53 | 4 | ||
| Total | 90 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 123 | 11 | ||
| Boreham Wood | 2017–18[10][30] | National League | 43 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 7[c] | 1 | 53 | 4 | |
| 2018–19[10][31] | National League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20[10][32] | National League | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[d] | 1 | 36 | 4 | ||
| 2020–21[10][33] | National League | 43 | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | 1[e] | 0 | 48 | 6 | ||
| 2021–22[10][34] | National League | 32 | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | 3[e] | 0 | 41 | 4 | ||
| Total | 153 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 181 | 18 | ||
| Stevenage | 2022–23[19] | League Two | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[f] | 0 | 30 | 1 |
| 2023–24[35] | League One | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[f] | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2024–25[36] | League One | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[f] | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| Total | 47 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 67 | 1 | ||
| Barnet | 2025–26[37] | League Two | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[f] | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Career total | 301 | 23 | 28 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 53 | 4 | 386 | 30 | ||
- ^ Four appearances and one goal in FA Trophy; one appearance in Herts Charity Cup; four appearances in Herts Senior Cup; four appearances in Southern Football League Cup; one appearance in 2016 Southern Football League play-offs
- ^ Five appearances in FA Trophy; two appearances in the Herts Charity Cup; three appearances and one goal in Herts Senior Cup; one appearance in Southern Football League Cup
- ^ Four appearances and one goal in FA Trophy; two appearances in Herts Senior Cup; one appearance in 2018 National League play-offs
- ^ One appearance in FA Trophy; two appearances and one goal in 2020 National League play-offs
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
- ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
Honours
[edit]Stevenage
- EFL League Two runner-up: 2022–23[38]
References
[edit]- ^ "2022/23 Registered intermediary fees and transactions published". The Football Association. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Soccerway – Kane Smith". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Kane Smith - Defender - First Team - Stevenage Football Club". www.stevenagefc.com.
- ^ a b c Lennox, Peter (7 February 2022). "Boreham Wood star Smith: Why I love Everton and Tony Hibbert!". Everton F.C. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Kane Smith signs for Stevenage". Stevenage F.C. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ a b c "Smith still has England Schoolboys chance". Luton Today. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ a b c d Roberts, Damion (23 December 2016). "Hitchin boss says Kane Smith is back to his best after missing out on a summer move to a Football League club". The Comet. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Kane Smith features for Shrewsbury Town". Shropshire Star. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ a b Roberts, Damion (2 December 2015). "Hitchin defender on trial with Premier League Crystal Palace". The Comet. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Kane Smith – Aylesbury United". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Player: Kane Smith". Pride of Anglia. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ Turner, Andy (5 August 2016). "Coventry City take highly-rated young right-back Kane Smith on trial at Ryton". Coventry Telegraph. Reach plc. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Boreham Wood sign Kane Smith". Boreham Wood F.C. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ a b c Goodlad, Nat (10 July 2019). "Kane Smith signs new contract at Boreham Wood". Borehamwood & Elstree Times. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ Johnston, Neil (7 February 2022). "Bournemouth 0–1 Boreham Wood". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ Dawkes, Phil (3 March 2022). "Everton 2–0 Boreham Wood". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Wood confirm retained list". Boreham Wood F.C. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Taye Ashby-Hammond and Kane Smith: Stevenage sign goalkeeper and defender". BBC Sport. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Games played by Kane Smith in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Stevenage 2–1 Stockport County". BBC Sport. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ "Stevenage 2–0 Grimsby Town: Steve Evans' side seal promotion to League One". BBC Sport. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ "Kane Smith signs new Stevenage contract". www.stevenagefc.com. Stevenage F.C. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ "Kane Smith profile". BoroGuide. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ "Kane Smith wins GCIS Player of the Month for April 2024". www.stevenagefc.com. Stevenage F.C. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ "Stevenage FC Retained List 2024/25". www.stevenagefc.com. Stevenage F.C. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ "Kane Smith: Barnet sign former Stevenage defender on free transfer". BBC Sport. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ^ "Kane Smith receives England C call-up". Boreham Wood F.C. 22 April 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ Gray, Harry (5 July 2017). "Boreham Wood sign right-back Kane Smith from Hitchin Town". Borehamwood & Elstree Times. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ William (3 March 2022). "Boreham Wood star Kane Smith to stun Everton childhood idols as FA Cup fairy tale continues". Good Word News. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Kane Smith in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Kane Smith in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Kane Smith in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Kane Smith in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Kane Smith in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Kane Smith in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Kane Smith in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Kane Smith in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ^ "Reeves goal secures Stevenage second spot". BBC Sport. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.