Terry Smith (football)

Terry Michael Smith (born May 1959) is an American-born American football player, sports coach and businessman. After starting his playing career as a defensive back for American football franchise New England Patriots, Smith went on to coach the Manchester Spartans American Football Team, the Great Britain National Team for American Football, and the Great Britain Spartans American football team. He later spent two years as owner and general manager of English soccer club Chester City from 1999 to 2001, and served as manager following the resignation of Kevin Ratcliffe in 1999.

Career

Smith started his professional American football playing career in the early 1980s, as a defensive back with the New England Patriots. However, he injured his knee in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and was placed on the injured reserve list. After coaching in various U.S. Colleges, Smith went to Great Britain because he was signed as the Player/Head Coach of the Spartans,and due to his success there which included turning around a 2-10 team into a 14-0 undefeated team his first season, then he was chosen by the Great Britain National Governing Body as the Head Coach of the Great Britain National Team. Smith set many playing records including setting the League and National record for pass interceptions in a season, and setting the League and National record for pass receptions in a game. He had several 1,000 yard pass receiving seasons, and he was named to the All-European Team on several occasions. As a Head Coach he won two National Championships and two European Championships, one European Championship with the Manchester Spartans, and one European Championship with the Great Britain National Team. These were the first two European Championships in British American Football history.