The 2020-1 season was a milestone in the career of our young midfielder Jack Smith; turning out 30 times in all competitions. And the impression he made during his match time was impressive. It was enough to secure him that season’s Young Player of the Year accolade; edging out Chelsea goalkeeper Jamie Cumming by two votes. Not only that, but it also secured him a well-deserved, two-year extension to his contract at the Lamex. All in all, it was a good haul for the lad.

His first team path started after taking a place on the bench for our 2019-20 season opener. The Boro’ U18 team regular had already been name-checked by then-boss Dino Maamria, to be fair; Smith’s name coming up in a Comet interview as one to watch as far back as November 2018. In the end, however, his chance might’ve been a little quicker in coming around than he may have first thought. And an injury crisis at the start of the 2019-20 campaign was his chance.

If the lad didn’t have potential, he wouldn’t have found favour under the four managers we had during that campaign. And he remained very much part of Alex Revell‘s thoughts going into that breakthrough 2020-1 season. The next step, you’d think, is for the midfielder to grab a first-ever senior goal for the club. No doubt the opportunities for that will come along as we look forward to what Smith can achieve in the 2021-2 campaign.

Jack Smith: After Boro’

Woah, slow down. He hasn’t gone anywhere. But it’s worth mentioning that Smith’s progress is perhaps helped by a brief loan spell at Braintree Town in early 2020. In his time with the Iron, he made nine appearances before the National League season was cut short due to Covid-19.