500-game man Steve Smith of CPD Llanfairpwll talks about his long football career
Last weekend was a very special one for CPD Llanfairpwll – and for one of their best-known players it was a cause for double celebration.
As well as being part of the Ynys Môn side which reached the NWCFA Junior Challenge Cup Final against the odds, the game against Llandudno Amateurs also marked the 500th competitive appearance for Llanfairpwll of Steve Smith’s career.
Steve, 42, talked to Grassroots North Wales about his football life and some of the memorable off-field episodes he has encountered.
GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES
So firstly, how did you actually know it was your 500th game for Llanfairpwll on Saturday, which saw your team beat Llandudno Amateurs 2-1 in the NWCFA Junior Cup semi-final?
STEVE SMITH
To say the game on Saturday was my 500th was an educated guess really, based on all the seasons I’ve played for the club across the various divisions and competitions.
I was also taking into account that while playing for the first team I’d regularly help out the reserves in their midweek games, or if our match was off, and vice versa when I was with the reserves in my early years.
Before signing again this season, when adding everything up I came to a figure of 496, so I’ve gone off that really. I also remember a conversation with Alun Mummery when I last played for Llanfairpwll in 2019 where it was said I should be nearing 500 if I hadn’t already even passed that milestone.
GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES
Have you kept detailed records of your football career?
STEVE SMITH
I haven’t kept meticulous records of my playing days I’ll be honest but I can remember most things about every season I’ve played, I’ve always had a good memory for statistics and things like that.
GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES
Which clubs have you represented in your career? How many games might you have played in total?
STEVE SMITH
In addition to my games with Llanfairpwll, thanks to Comet, I know I’ve also more recently played 36 games for Glantraeth and I’ve worked out that I also played 6 for Gwalchmai, 9 for Gaerwen and approximately 75 for Caernarfon Borough and that’s on top of the Sunday league appearances I made every week between 1998 and 2006.
My total for all clubs on a Saturday and Sunday in men’s football is probably up around 780 I reckon.
GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES
If you know the number of appearances you’ve made, do you know the amount of goals you have scored too?
STEVE SMITH
My goals scored record over the years isn’t as impressive, but I think being mostly a full back since the late 2000’s is to blame for that.
For Llanfairpwll, I reckon I’m probably only at around 70 or so, only really contributing around 4 or 5 a season at most from 2008 onwards.
GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES
This is a very hard one….of the 500 games, which one stands out the most? If this is too difficult, can you name a few of the best?
STEVE SMITH
If I was asked to pick one most memorable match I’d probably not be able to, that said there are a few that stand out to me.
I recall clearly Llanfairpwll’s 2 cup final wins in 2001 v Amlwch and Gwalchmai respectively, but also a 3-0 win away to Caernarfon Town in 2012 are the standouts.
GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES
What different positions have you played in your career?
STEVE SMITH
Over the last 26 years I’ve played everywhere. Started out as a winger on either side as well as up front occasionally, but in my late 20’s as I progressed into Llanfairpwll’s first team I ended up playing as a full-back in order to play regularly, as being honest, we had better players than myself in my position so I needed to be adaptable.
To keep myself in the team while Darren Moore was in charge, I became a bit of a utility player really, turning out as a defensive midfielder quite often and also as a stand-in keeper, playing about 30+ games in goal over the years.
GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES
How special is it to reach the 2023-24 NWCFA Junior Cup final? I guess it is extra celebration-worthy in that this achievement comes along just 15 months since the passing of Llanfairpwll’s beloved secretary Alun Mummery.
STEVE SMITH
Reaching the Junior Cup final is a fantastic achievement for the club, especially meaning even more to us since Alun’s passing and also for the fact that we now have 2 of his grandsons in the side.
For me it’s huge personally too, my only other Junior Cup final appearance was 18 years ago in 2006, winning it that day with Caernarfon Borough. Is there a record for the longest time between Junior Cup final appearances for a player? 😁
The only trophies I ever won with Llanfairpwll were back in 2001 as well so a long time has passed since then too.
GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES
How good do you think the current Llanfairpwll side is? Are you building something good? Are there some decent players coming through?
STEVE SMITH
I think we’ve got a decent, young and improving side at the moment too. We’ve not had the right results of late, but we’re in games at least when we’ve lost, only losing by just the one goal more often than not.
Some of our younger players have surprised me with their ability levels since I’ve rejoined after Christmas.
With me refereeing games on a Saturday this season I’d not had that many chances to watch a game, but being around them in training and matches has opened my eyes a little bit in that respect.
I think one of the reasons we’ve done so well in the cup matches this season against mostly higher-level teams has shown that maybe some of our opponents have taken things for granted a little bit.
There’s bags of determination and fighting spirit in these boys and I’ve seen first hand that none of them should be underestimated.
GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES
What has been the response to Llanfairpwll’s kit being sponsored by La Liga this season?
STEVE SMITH
We’ve found it great as a club and it’ll hopefully help us towards our goal of building a new clubhouse and changing facility up at Maes Eilian.
The publicity is great for us obviously, but I think it’s maybe given other local teams a bit more motivation when playing against us too.
GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES
Looking back, how was the experience of the South American media featuring the team due to it having the longest name in club football? Few years back now….do people still talk about it?
STEVE SMITH
The South American attention a few years back was similar (to La Liga sponsorship) in a way, but we were performing really well at the time and it kind of spurred us on a little bit.
We don’t hear so much about that any more but I still try and keep in contact with some of the overseas journalists I dealt with back then as well as some of the guys in Brazil who bought replica shirts from us.
GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES
Having reached 500 games, how much longer do you see yourself continuing as a player?
STEVE SMITH
I’d like to carry on for as long as my legs will carry me. I’ve had to deal with a shoulder injury that had kept me from playing for 14 months and it’s been a tough journey to get myself to this point.
The shoulder issue is still there and will require surgery to resolve it in the future, but I think I’ll sort that out later down the line.
Not being able to play for so long has given me a real hunger for playing again and I had to convince Gwyndaf the gaffer to firstly even allow me to train with them let alone sign me on, so it’s not something I’m going to give up easily.
I think once I get my fitness levels back where I want and need them to be I’ll be able to contribute more consistently in games too. whilst I feel I’m contributing I’ll want to stay involved but obviously that’s going to be at the manager’s discretion.
GRASSROOTS NORTH WALES
Any form of celebration planned for the 500 games landmark?
STEVE SMITH
Sam (Jones-Smith), my wife and club chair, has been working on arranging with the club’s committee a memorial match for Alun this summer and she’s suggested maybe linking up with that as a celebration for myself.
To be able to share a day to pay tribute to such a great man and friend would mean so much and hopefully we can work something out.