[3] He was unable to displace the number 1 shirt from Ray Goddard and John Jackson and made just a handful of League Cup appearances before departing the Os in 1979.
[3] To revive his stalled career,[3] Smeulders began the first of three spells with Bournemouth in July 1979.
[5][6] This time he did establish himself in the first team, making 75 league appearances, setting a then-club record seven consecutive clean sheets and being named the club's 1984–85 Player of the Year.
[3] Smeulders later returned to Bournemouth as a coach to goalkeepers Neil Moss and Ian Andrews.
[3] Smeulders won caps for England at youth level and played in the same team as Bryan Robson, Ray Wilkins, Glenn Hoddle and Peter Barnes.