Over the last year, it has been an absolute thrill to meet many of the Brighton squad from that iconic 1996/97 season. One of the most interesting stories and most unusual journeys into league football is that of right-back, Peter Smith. In the early '90s, Peter had moved to London to study Urban and Environmental Studies he describes himself as not the ideal student, spending his time drinking, smoking and laying in bed all day. I get the feeling he's underplaying his commitment to his studies, but he wasn't living the life of an athlete, that's for sure.
Alongside his studies, he played for Alma Swanley in the Kent league under Franny Fitzpatrick. Smith was exceptional at this level, scoring 'about thirty goals a season' as a full-back. They won the Kent Senior Trophy in 1994 and Smith scored two in the final against Folkestone. Being a star of the Kent league alongside studying suited Peter, but an opportunity for his life to change emerged out of a tragedy. Manager, Franny Fitzpatrick died in 1994 and a match in his memory was arranged between select sides representing Millwall and Charlton. Peter went along just to watch, but one of the sides was a player short and he had his boots in his car. Smith put in an incredible performance, his pace impossible for the opposition to handle and at the end of the game, Brighton assistant manager, Gerry Ryan approached him and invited him for a trial at Brighton.
Liam Brady was impressed with Smith's raw energy, signed him up, and he quickly became a regular in the team, winning Player of the Season in 1994/95. Smith recalls how helpful the experienced heads were to him in those early days although he had to deal with the contradictory instructions from manager, Liam Brady who encouraged him to "Bomb on" while club legend, Steve Foster wanted more defensive stability, urging him, "Don't bomb on." My first days watching the Albion were at this time, paying the £3.50 entry fee out of my paper-round money to get into the South-West terrace, getting as close to the dug-outs as I could. My memory is that Smith more commonly followed Liam's instructions and it was his courageous, energetic play that endeared him to the Brighton fans.
Smith played through the war years, preferred by some managers more than others, and was one of the few players that played at the Goldstone, Priestfield and Withdean. He made 140 appearances from Brighton, scoring five goals.
Like his unconventional entry into professional football, his exit was equally unconventional. Smith knew when his time was up when Micky Adams didn't fancy him. Humbly, he recognises that his exit came at the right time as Adams' team kicked on, taking Brighton back up the football league. Alongside appearances for non-league sides, Smith got involved with Sky's Dream Team, after a conversation with former-Brighton striker Andy Ansah who had become the Football Consultant for the show. He then went back to university, this time to study Sports Management which opened up an opportunity for him to work with the PFA, although he had to offer to work for free to get his foot in the door. This led to him being one of the pioneers of Masters' Football, six-aside tournaments between ex-pros, screened on Sky in the noughties. Again, Peter was called upon as a spare man when the Manchester United team lacked a player. There will have been some bemused United fans watching that day, I imagine, wishing that Smith had been Beckham's wingman instead of Gary Neville.
In 2008, Peter reconnected with Jamie Moralee, a striker who spent a season at Brighton in the late '90s. Together, they set up a football agency, becoming agents for a range of players, a role they've been fulfilling ever since. In a world of grasping agents, to have genuine ex-pros like Peter and Jamie involved is important. One of the players they've supporteed is Rio Ferdinand and they helped him transition out of football and into the world of media, getting involved in starting a magazine and launching a fashion brand. Check out this video of the launch party of Rio's magazine: Rio chatting to Michael Jackson and then Peter Smith walks into shot at 51 seconds: Degrees of separation: Michael Jackson / Rio Ferdinand / Peter Smith / Me
Peter seems to be a man who jumps at opportunities to live life fully and go on adventures. When we chatted to him on the podcast, he was interested in each of our lives and the projects we're involved in. He has been in touch with me, Ed and Jon about films, music and business many times in the intervening months.
When Liam Brady managed Peter, he recognised him as the cleverest player, the man they'd sent out to talk to the public and attend PFA meetings on the club's behalf and having met him, it is obvious why this articulate, charismatic player was their choice. And he was an exciting player too.
Podcast link: Embers S1 Ep 16: Peter Smith
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