Swansea City - Skipper Smith Retires

Skipper Smith Retires

Swansea City club captain Jason Smith has retired from the game through injury. The 29 year old has finally conceded defeat in a two and a half year ankle injury battle. Smith joined the club in 1998 when Alan Cork signed him from Tiverton Town.

Skipper Smith Retires

On his day Smith was widely regarded s one of the best central defenders in the Third Division. Especially as he was such a key player in securing the Third Division Championship under John Hollins in 2000 .

Smith cost the club just £10,000 in 1998 and did not miss a single game during his first two seasons at the club.

However Smith has rarely taken the field since the LDV Vans Trophy tie with Brentford on Valentine's Day 2001, despite making a comeback just three weeks later at Stoke City.

It was during the 2-1 Second Division win at The Britannia Stadium that the real damage to Smith's ankle was done.

Now four operations and two and a half seasons later, Smith has called it a day on his playing days.

Roberto Martinez has now been appointed club captain.

Jason Smith On The Injury Picked Up At Stoke

"That was the one that really killed me."

"Ever since then my range of movement hasn't been what it was and I've suffered problems.

Smith Again On His Reasons For Retirement

"It's got to the stage now where I can't do it as a professional anymore, not to the level that's required every day.

"I thought after the operation this summer that I would finally be okay, but once I missed pre-season I realised that things weren't looking good.

"I can't train properly so I can't get fit enough to play, and I don't want to hang around all season and then get released next summer."

Smith On His Time In Swansea

"I've had some great times since moving to Swansea."

"My first two years at the club were an absolute dream. I'd come to a fantastic club in a fantastic city with 15 or 16 great lads as team-mates.

"I scored at West Ham and then we won the championship - they're great memories.

"And the most disappointing thing is that there should be more to come. I should be coming into my prime now and staying there for the next five years.

"I've been playing since I was 15, and all that time has been about developing as a player and a person for my best years.

"To have them taken away is heartbreaking.

"And not being able to lead Swansea out when a management team as respected as Brian Flynn and Kevin Reeves had made me their captain is devastating.

"I wanted to do what Cus (Nick Cusack) did - to lift the Third Division trophy for Swansea because that's what this squad is capable of achieving.

"People who saw me play when we won the title know that back then I was quick, strong, agile and sharp. I'm not that player now because of injury, and that hurts."

"I came to a different country when I signed for Swansea, but now I genuinely feel part Welsh."

Flynn On Losing His Captain

''I liked Jason as a player and as a captain,'' Flynn said. ''It's important to have a captain-manager relationship and I made Jason mine because he was captain material.

''But he feels his ankle can no longer stand up to the pressures of professional football and this is a devastating time for him.

''It's tough for any player who has to retire before the age of 30."

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