Alex Smithies

Alexander Smithies (born 5 March 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship club Cardiff City. Smithies is a product of the Huddersfield Town academy who first came into prominence during the 2007–08 season. He joined Queens Park Rangers in 2015 where he played for three years before joining Cardiff City.

Club Career

Huddersfield Town

Early seasons 2007–2009

Having come through the Academy of the club he grew up supporting, Smithies made his first-team debut on 5 December 2007. He came on as a 76th-minute substitute for the red-carded Matt Glennon during Huddersfield Town's 4–1 defeat by Southend United at Roots Hall. His first full start came in the 4–0 defeat at Leeds United on 8 December, after Glennon lost an appeal against his dismissal and Town were refused permission to loan an emergency goalkeeper on the grounds that Smithies was registered as a professional.

Smithies' first appearance at the Galpharm Stadium for a first-team match was on 6 December 2008. In this match, caretaker manager Gerry Murphy dropped regular goalkeeper Matt Glennon in favour of the young custodian, who went on to help Huddersfield to a 2–1 victory over Walsall. The first clean sheet he kept for the club came on 13 December 2008. In the 1–0 win over Southend United, Smithies saved a penalty from James Walker, 10 minutes from time. Smithies became the first choice keeper for the remainder of the 2008–09 season and, after the arrival of manager Lee Clark, made the number one jersey his own.

2009–10 season and first team

Throughout the 2009–10 season, Smithies was the only player to play in each and every league and cup match for Huddersfield. He made 48 starts, 17 of which resulted in a clean sheet for the Terriers. His contribution in helping Huddersfield to a final position inside the League One playoffs was reflected by him winning the club's Young Player of th