New Signing Jeff Smith On His Move

Last updated : 05 February 2007 By Thetashkentterror
New Blue Jeff Smith
New United signing Jeff Smith spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's Derek Lacey after training today as he gave his thoughts on his transfer to Brunton Park from Port Vale on a two and a half year deal :


" It's been a long time coming, I heard about it three weeks ago officially, and then nothing really happened, nothing materialised but now finally it has so I'm delighted. I'm from Middlesbrough originally so it's about an hour and a half away I think. I want to play football and I want to play for a club that has ambition and I believe Carlisle United have got that.

" I spoke to Neil McDonald, he sold the club to me, told me about the promotions and that they wanted to get into the play-offs this year, or get promoted automatically if they can and that's what sold it to me. He's got ambition, the club wants to go forward, and it looks like it's doing that.

" I meant the free-kick I scored here by the way (jokes). We played here earlier in the season, it's a nice place to come, a nice ground, the fans are loud and it's a good atmosphere. I believe they get 7,000 fans for home games which is a lot, it's a good following and the pitch is nice. It was a difficult game that day, I don't know how we went in 2-0 up at half-time, I think Carlisle deserved to win 3-2 on the day, I think it was a fair reflection on the game.

" When I was at Bolton Neil was reserve team coach there and I really learned my trade down there. I know that Neil is a fantastic coach and he does things properly, he made me a better player so hopefully I can come here and repay him. I'll be thrown in at the deep end if I'm playing tomorrow, it would be nice to make my debut. Obviously, we've got a massive game on Wednesday against Nottingham Forest so if we can get a win at Brentford that will make the game on Wednesday an even bigger game. "



" I've been in this league three seasons now and I can't believe I'm seeing Brentford at the bottom of the league. They've been in the play-off hunt for the seasons I have been here before, they are still a good team though. I don't know why they are down there, I don't know what has been happening and going on off the field. I know they have had a few problems but I don't think they deserve to be down there, they are a hard team, it's a hard place to go, I've been there before and it's a hard place to get a result but hopefully we can do it.

" I'll give 110% first and foremost in every game, I try to give my all. Obviously footballers have good games and bad games, if I'm having a bad game then I'll still give 110% and hopefully they will appreciate that. I've set myself a target of ten goals this season, I've got four so far for Port Vale so if I can bang in another six for Carlisle by the end of the season then I'll be very happy with that. I want to try and get as many goals as I can this season so hopefully I can do that.

" It's hard to approach life as a footballer because you don't know what is happening from one day to the next, on Thursday I was still a Port Vale player. I drove up here in the morning, setting off at 6.30am to drive two hours up the M6, I got here and I'm leaving as a Carlisle United player, coming back the day after and driving another two hours. Then hopefully making my debut the day after so it's strange, you can't really prepare, it's one of those things in football, you get used to it when you've done it a few times, it's part and parcel of the game.

" There is no hiding at a football club and I think the banter follows you around anyway. You'll find it's strange, you'll be in one dressing room and the banter is exactly the same, it's just the football banter, you can't get rid of it – it follows you. It's the best banter in the world though and there is no better feeling than being in the dressing room with that banter. I scored there (Brentford) last season for Port Vale so hopefully I can do it again this season for Carlisle United and we can get the three points. "