Home-grown ‘keeper staying at Town until 2018
Goalkeeper Alex Smithies has signed an extension to his contract that will see him stay at Huddersfield Town until at least 2018.
The Huddersfield-born Academy graduate has put pen to paper on a deal that keeps him at ‘The Yorkshire Club’ until the summer of 2018, with the Club having the option of extending for a further season.
His previous contract at the Club was due to expire at the end of the 2015/16 campaign, although Town also had a year’s option at that point.
Now 24 years old, Alex made his Town debut as a substitute at Southend United back in December 2007 aged just 17 and has been the Club’s first choice goalkeeper for over six years.
The former England Under-19 international famously scored the penalty that secured Town’s promotion back to the second tier in the dramatic shoot-out win over Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium in May 2012.
To date he has made 260 First Team appearances, 123 of which have come in the Sky Bet Championship. In fact, Smithies has missed just two league games since Town’s 2012 promotion; both have been through injury.
Huddersfield Town Manager Chris Powell commented:
“I’m absolutely delighted that Alex has committed his long-term future to the Club.
“24 year-old goalkeepers don’t usually have 250 First Team games under their belts; Alex is in a class of his own on that front. ‘Keepers get better with age and experience and we are seeing that with Alex.
“With those games already behind him, he will only get better from hereon in. Given the level that he is at now – I believe he is among the best ‘keepers in the division – I’m really excited at that prospect.”
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Alex added:
“I can see the Club going in the right direction and I know I can achieve things here. We’re progressing steadily and I want to be part of what the next few years will hold.
“As a Huddersfield lad, I take a lot of pride in progressing from our Academy into the First Team. I was very proud to help the Club gain promotion to the Championship and I want to play my part in the team succeeding at this level too.
“The Manager and his staff work very hard and Nick Colgan is a big factor, as I know working with him every day will make me a better goalkeeper. I’m only 24 and although I’ve clocked up quite a few appearances, most goalkeepers don’t peak until their early thirties. There’s a lot more to come from me.”
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