[2] Many Northampton Town supporters regard Smith as one of the most technically gifted players ever to represent the club.

Dubbed 'The Son of Pele' by Sunderland fanzine A Love Supreme (fanzine),[3] he scored twenty-eight times in 107 starts for the North East giants in a seven-year spell, moving to Sheffield United (scoring fifteen times in 30 starts for the Blades), before joining Huddersfield Town.

Smith went on to score thirty goals in seventy-five starts, including seventeen during the 2002–03 season as the Terriers were relegated.

[4] On 29 August 2008 Martin Smith signed for Conference North side Blyth Spartans and made his debut the next day in the 3–0 win against Hucknall Town coming on as a late sub.

[5] In February 2015, he made an appearance, alongside another former professional, David Duke, for Sassco.co.uk in their victory over Sunderland Deaf FC.