[4] While playing for Kirkheaton he was spotted by Chesterfield and was invited for a trial match, and was eventually offered a place on the club' scholarship scheme.

[4] He began training with the first team during the 2001–02 season and was first named on the bench for Chesterfield's 1–0 victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium on 1 December 2001.

[4] He made his debut in a Football League Trophy match against Port Vale on 22 November 2002, where he came on as a substitute in the 77th minute, and scored in the penalty shoot-out that was eventually lost 4–3.

[4][5] His Football League debut came on 13 September 2003 after coming on as a substitute for the injured Mark DeBolla in the 79th minute of a 1–0 defeat to Notts County.

[23] Smith suffered from a knee injury in March 2007, which resulted in him undergoing surgery that ruled him out for the remainder of the 2006–07 season;[24] in which he made 17 appearances and scored one goal, while Chesterfield were relegated to League Two.

[25] His severe tendinitis affected him in September,[26] and eventually made his return in a 2–1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup first round on 10 November.

[27] He was sent out on loan at League Two club Lincoln City for a month on 4 January 2008 and made his debut for the team a day later, helping set up the first goal in a 2–0 victory over Rochdale, after Jamie Forrester scored from goalkeeper Sam Russell's parry of a Smith effort.

[34] Smith made a goalscoring debut for Gainsborough with the team's goal in a 1–1 draw at home to Vauxhall Motors on 30 August.

[35] He joined York City in the Conference Premier on loan on 27 November, becoming Martin Foyle's first signing as manager,[36] in a deal that would expire on 6 January 2009.

[38][48] A bruised foot picked up in a reserve-team match meant he was unable to play for York against Grays Athletic in April.

[49] He was forced into missing some matches towards the end of 2008–09 due to concerns over his baby daughter,[50] which he finished with 17 appearances and two goals for York.

[54] He featured as a substitute in York's play-off semi-final first leg victory over Luton Town, which finished 1–0, with the tie ending 2–0 on aggregate.

[58] He eventually turned down talks with York and agreed to sign a one-year contract with fellow Conference team Mansfield Town on 19 May.

[65] Having been restricted to three appearances as a substitute for Mansfield in 2011–12, Smith joined League Two club Aldershot Town on a one-month loan on 7 October 2011.

[65] Smith joined newly promoted Conference club FC Halifax Town on 2 July 2013,[70] making his debut in their 5–1 defeat away to Cambridge United in the opening match of 2013–14 on 11 August.

[76] He made his only appearance the next day as a half-time substitute in a 4–0 defeat away to Blyth Spartans,[65] before signing for Gainsborough's divisional rivals Bradford Park Avenue on 26 January 2018.

[86] Smith had made 11 appearances and scored 1 goal in all competitions[87] by the time the 2019–20 season was abandoned and results expunged because of the COVID-19 pandemic in England.