Alex Smith (footballer, born 1976)

Alexander Philip Smith (born 15 February 1976) is an English former footballer who made 263 professional appearances in an eleven-year career.

In all, he made 31 appearances for Steve McMahon's "Robins", scoring his first senior goal in a 2–1 win over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on 8 February 1997.

He then found himself out of the first-team picture at the Madejski Stadium and spent December onwards of the 2002–03 season on loan at Shrewsbury Town, who were managed by his former boss Kevin Ratcliffe.

Now a free agent, he rejoined Chester in November 2003 and made twenty appearances in their Conference National topping season, thus helping Mark Wright's "Seals" back into the Football League.

[8][9] He played 30 times for Denis Smith's "Dragons" in 2004–05, as the Welsh club were relegated into League Two after being deducted ten points for entering administration.