Born: Lambeth, 30 September 1971
Position: Central midfielder
Signed: 1 August 1997 from Gillingham (free transfer)
Fulham debut: Fulham 1-0 Wrexham, 9 August 1997
Fulham appearances: 76
Fulham goals: 2
Fulham honours: Second Division champions (1998/99)
Sold: 17 August 1999 to Reading (£100,000)
A tenacious midfielder, Neil Smith made 76 appearances for the Whites after moving from Gillingham to Craven Cottage on a free transfer in the aftermath of Fulham’s promotion from the Third Division. It was a testament to Smith’s all-round qualities as a footballer that he survived the replacement of Micky Adams with Ray Wilkins and Kevin Keegan becoming a regular in both of the former England legends’ Fulham sides. Smith, who memorably scored in the FA Cup defeat at his first club Tottenham in January 1998, helped Keegan’s outfit reach the fifth round of the Cup the following year and storm to the Second Division championship.
