Kelly smith biography

Renowned as one of the country’s most technically gifted and prolific finishers, Kelly Smith is considered one of the greatest players ever to pull on an England shirt.

Smith’s talent was evident from a very young age, showcasing her predatory instincts with Pinner Park before honing them further at Wembley Ladies.

The teenager caught the eye in two seasons with Wembley, earning a move to Women’s Premier League titans Arsenal Women.

Despite enjoying a successful first year at Meadow Park – proving instrumental in the title-clinching victory over Liverpool – Smith sought to broaden her horizons, opting to join the more competitive women’s football scene in the United States.

She turned professional with the New Jersey Lady Stallions in 1999, but two long-term injuries and the collapse of the Women’s United Soccer Association affected her career Stateside, though she continued to feature regularly for England Women when fit.

She returned to North London with Arsenal in 2004, ove