‘Keeper commits future to the Terriers
Huddersfield-born goalkeeper Alex Smithies has today signed a contract extension that will keep him at Town until the summer of 2015.
The 22 year-old custodian has played a big part in Town’s promising start to the npower Championship campaign as an ever-present in the side that currently boasts the second best defensive record in the division after seven fixtures.
His previous contract was set to run until 2013 and this new deal now runs for a further two seasons, with the Club having the option of a year’s extension at that point.
Huddersfield Town Manager Simon Grayson told htafc.com that securing Alex’s future was an important step for the Club:
“We want to keep our quality players and we’re delighted that Alex has agreed to stay at Huddersfield Town for the long term. I think he can see the progression of the Club on and off the field and as a local lad he has a passion and drive to add to that success.
“He’s suffered with niggling injuries over the last couple of seasons, but he’s come back in great shape this year and he’s started the season well.
“The good news for everyone is that goalkeepers generally get better with age and he has played a lot of games for a 22 year-old. He’s a very hard worker on the training pitch with our Goalkeeping Coach Paul Crichton and he has two other experienced goalkeepers to learn from in Ian Bennett and Academy Goalkeeping Coach Nick Colgan.”
Alex admitted that signing on the dotted line was an easy decision:
“There’s obviously a lot of momentum behind the Club at the moment following our promotion to the Championship and I want to make sure I am a part of it. This Club is moving forward quickly and everyone is so excited about what could happen here.
“I’m glad my contract extension has been resolved so quickly and easily, as I want to focus entirely on my football. It’s been great to play all the games so far this season, but with the competition we have for places here means that you have to be at it every single day. I feel fit and well, so my sole focus is on keeping my performances at a high level.”
Alex, a former England under-19 international, graduated from Town’s Academy before breaking into the First Team in November 2008. He has made well over 125 appearances for the Club since that time and it would have been more if not for injuries that restricted him throughout the last two seasons.
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