Young Josh

With our experienced midfield opting for another season at the Grove, seemed appropriate to highlight some of his previous experiences. by Simon Wright

 Joshua Clifford Smile was born next to a football ground at the Sir John Radcliffe hospital in Headington.  His parents and brother lived in the posh village by Oxford and indeed still do. Josh spent his formative years here and I’m presuming he still calls the city home.

As a young man he was spotted playing in the local boys League and for his goal scoring for the county of Oxfordshire U14s.   He’d previously spent time as a 9 year with a Southanptin FC Academy outstation.  Not surprisingly, he was swept up by the Oxford United Centre of Excellence.   His midfield talent shone out so much so quickly that a far bigger club came knocking. Fulham wanted the 14-year-old. At such a young age, this was a difficult decision for the whole family but saying no to such an opportunity was even more troubling.

The Cottagers wanted him to attend the “club” school, situated next to their Motspur Park training ground.  Such an arrangement is normal for the biggest Academies. There are obvious mutual advantages. The school is generally expected to be more liberal with their Academy charges for time out for extra training as the football club “ups the anti.”    To realise his dream, Josh had to move away from home and grow up quickly.  Football would be all-consuming, pushing normal teenage pursuits to one side.  What he drank, what he ate and when were monitored.  Smile and his family would make daily sacrifices for that dream, that tiny chance of “making it”.  Less than one per cent hit the big time, yet youthful optimism wins through.  It’s always the other guy who will be rejected, never them.

Smile impressed with his single-minded determination and earned a pro contract in 2014. He spoke with the optimism of youth to the Oxford Mail about breaking into the Fulham first team before the end of the season. “The Sky is the limit. I could be in the Premier League in two years, you just don’t know.  Where I am now, the U21s are a great level because you don’t know who’s there watching. “

During the same season, the Fulham U18s reached the Final of the FA Youth Cup where they played Chelsea.   It was the Blues who eventually won 7-6 over the two matches, with a late brace from a certain Dominic Solanke settling the game in front of 13,000 at Stamford Bridge.  As a first year, young Josh was always going to be on the bench, but was called upon for a brief second leg cameo as his team chased the game.  There were a few-to-be-familiar names in the epic encounter such as Reuben Loftus-Cheek, ex WBA prodigy Isaac Brown and ex PSG Moussa Dembele (who scored in both legs). 

The following season, when Smile was a more senior figure, the U18s crashed out dismally to Crewe in the first round.  There would be no glory run to the Final.  Still, young Josh received a contract extension for his effort in the U21s.

September 2016 saw Fulham U23’s defeat Villa U23s 3-0 with 20-year-old Josh Smile captaining the team.   As a defensive midfielder, he may have tackled Gabby Agbonlahor, who was playing over-age.    The U23s is something of a misnomer as its very unlikely there will be any 22-year-olds playing regularly unless recovering from injury.  Even 21-year-olds don’t want to hang around there long. This is last chance territory with lots of turnover as players are loaned out or even encouraged to leave.   The ex-Celtic and Norwich player Peter Grant had the difficult job of manager.   

As the New Year came and went, Josh was nearly 20 years old and he’d surely read the writing on the wall.  He’s never been loaned out which left his cv bare. New players had overshadowed him like Elijah Adebayo (later Luton) and Matt O’Riley (later Brighton).   The one man to make it from his original year group was Patrick Roberts, already playing for the first team.   Manchester City then bought him for £12 million which covered the Fulham Academies bills for four years or more.   Moussa Dembele joined the Academy aged 16 and was in the first team by 17.   That season, Josh played the most games for the U23s (23) a figure of dubious merit.

There would be no first team appearance for Josh and no glittering career despite giving his formative years to the West London outfit.   Along with 9 others, his contract expired in July 2017 and that was goodbye.  New job, new accommodation needed. football can be brutal at times.

Mental resilience is key for footballers and it is no coincidence that Josh mainly uses his X feed to highlight progress or new clubs for his old team mates.  Smile was to literally battle back. Initially with Chippenham followed by several others. He’d racked up 200 Step One or Two appearances before Halesowen offered an interesting new challenge.     

Welcome back Josh.