Harry Smith named in League Two Team of the Season
Smith, who joined Swindon last summer from Sutton United, has impressed in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring 15 goals and providing three assists.
His contribution played a significant role in helping Ian Holloway's side avoid relegation.
Read more: Swindon Town loan-striker Tshimanga released by Peterborough
Smith's goal tally was his highest in an individual league campaign, and his aerial prowess was unmatched in the division, winning 348 aerial duels.
The accolade was awarded by WhoScored.com, a football statistics website.
Smith's fellow Team of the Season members include players from Notts County, Crewe, Cheltenham, Port Vale, Doncaster, Colchester, Gillingham, and Bromley.
(Image: Skybet)
Notts County's goalkeeper Alex Bass, with a WhoScored.com rating of 6.80, led the team after helping his side secure a play-off place and the division's seventh-strongest defensive record.
Crewe's Mickey Demetriou was named Sky Bet League Two Player of the Season with a rating of 7.53.
The 35-year-old defender scored two goals and provided one assist, ranking second among players in his position for aerial duels won (264) and fifth for clearances (342).
Cheltenham's Sam Stubbs, Port Vale's Connor Hall, and Doncaster's Luke Molyneux also made it to the team.
Stubbs led the division in interceptions (78), while Hall contributed to his team's automatic promotion from League Two.
Molyneux had the most productive league campaign of his career, with 16 goals and 12 assists, helping Doncaster secure the League Two title and automatic promotion.
Colchester's Jamie McDonnell and Jack Payne were the central midfielders in the team.
McDonnell, with a rating of 7.36, ranked second for tackles (132) among all players in League Two.
Payne equalled his finest individual campaign in terms of goal involvements, with eight goals and 10 assists.
Gillingham's Max Clark, who made more tackles than any other defender in League Two (109), was the left midfield choice.
Bromley's Michael Cheek, with 25 goals, won the Golden Boot and was also part of the team.
Port Vale's Jayden Stockley, despite making just 29 League Two starts, rounded off the Team of the Season with 11 goals and seven assists.
Smith's recognition in the League Two Team of the Season is a testament to his outstanding performance and contribution to Swindon Town over the past season.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bradley Barcola transfer would throw up crucial Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi question for Liverpool
Liverpool's 2025 summer transfers will be remembered for many years to come as a whirlwind window, one that FSG seemingly unshackled itself of the usual constraints, flexed its muscles and showed that the Reds are among the biggest on the planet. Few could have seriously predicted a summer spend of just under $400 million, or around £300M. The arrivals of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike are statement signings on the back of such a convincing title win - and they could still be eclipsed by Alexander Isak's potential deal. Should Newcastle United's stance soften, then Liverpool is likely to make its move despite already landing a new No. 9. But for all the hype, the squad remains light in two key departments. Center-back is the most obvious given Trey Nyoni, Andy Robertson and Wataru Endo all started at the heart of defense during Monday's double header against Athletic Bilbao. READ MORE: Liverpool 'admires' Marc Guehi transfer alternative as Reds face Tottenham competition READ MORE: Everything Eddie Howe has said on Alexander Isak as striker banished amid Liverpool transfer saga Arne Slot's resources in the wide areas should also raise a few eyebrows. Luis Diaz's departure and the expected exit of Federico Chiesa leaves the Reds with just two recognized senior wingers in Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo. Rio Ngumoha is expected to play a bigger part at first-team level this term, although Slot will be wary of placing too much onus on a 16-year-old's shoulders. Ben Doak could also be an option, but is open to leaving this summer, while Frimpong, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ekitike can all be utilized out wide. But it's still an area of concern for the Reds. Rodrygo has been mentioned as a possible solution, Anthony Gordon's name has again cropped up in media whispers, and Malick Fofana was briefly flavor of the month. On Wednesday, with less than four weeks of the window left, another name emerged. Bradley Barcola will need no introduction to Liverpool supporters. The 22-year-old played in every single Paris Saint-Germain Champions League game en route to winning the competition last season, including the last-16 matches against Liverpool, and provided 21 goals and 21 assists in all competitions. They're staggering numbers, so reports in L'Equipe that the Reds are considering a move for PSG star, while not ruling out a move for Isak too, will have been well received on Merseyside. Transfer reporter Sacha Tavoleieri has since claimed Liverpool is planning a 'concrete offer' and wrote on X that any transfer would be north of €100M ($117M/£87M). Should it happen, it's a deal that would make sense for Liverpool given its lack of options in the wide areas, while Barcola would fit into the age range and talent required to pique FSG's interest. That he has fallen out of Luis Enrique's first-choice XI is another factor worth considering. On the surface, it seems more practical to add a winger above a striker - although that stance could shift if Darwin Nunez leaves in the next few days. A common question over recent weeks has been how Liverpool can afford such a lavish outlay this window. Those in the know on the complex topics of PSR, SCR, and FFP have repeatedly insisted Liverpool's finances are so healthy that concluding a deal for Isak remains possible. The bigger question, perhaps, is whether Isak, Barcola, and a center-back—let's say Marc Guehi—could be acquired in the coming weeks while Liverpool remains within the financial regulations. If so, that really would be a summer for the ages! For now, it seems a bizarre verdict on a title-winning squad that has strengthened to such an extent in the market, but Slot's group does still feel a little light in certain areas. Barcola would undeniably help and provide FSG with another statement signing.
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ekitike and Mamardashvili moments spotted in Liverpool tunnel cam vs Athletic Bilbao
Liverpool won a pair of friendlies — 4-1 and 3-2 — against Athletic Bilbao on Monday. The side returned to Anfield for the first time after forward Diogo Jota's death. Tributes rang throughout the home stadium in both contests. The club has now released its typical "Behind the Scenes" tunnel footage of both games, which featured a pair of Liverpool debutants: striker Hugo Ekitike and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The players seemed to generate a positive buzz both from the crowd and their Reds teammates. Both debuted in the second after talented 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha lit up the first fixture with a stunning solo goal just two minutes into the match. READ MORE: Darwin Nunez fee agreed as Liverpool set to take hit on transfer exit READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Isak misses training, Barcola move 'considered', Nunez exit looms Ekitike Liverpool signed the forward from Frankfurt for an initial £69 million ($92 million) in late July. The club recently announced his No. 22 jersey number: it was conveniently stationed next to fellow Frenchman Ibrahima Konate's No. 5, as captured on Liverpool's YouTube. Ekitike wasn't featured much in the tunnel, though he was captured at one point looking jittery. Both Dominik Szoboszlai and match captain Wataru Endo came over to offer the 23-year-old a hug. Then, he let his game do the talking. Ekitike carried a delightful through-ball from Szoboszlai all the way to the touchline before deftly squaring it back to Mohamed Salah at the top of the box. The Egyptian slotted home into the Bilbao net to earn the French forward his first preseason goal contribution for the club — his Reds teammates rushed to congratulate him after the finish. A strong performance will help him earn a place in head coach Arne Slot's team (critical considering the pending arrival of Alexander Isak). Mamardashvili Liverpool purchased the Georgian international from Valencia for an initial £25.6 million ($34.2 million) in the summer of 2024 before loaning him back to the Spanish side last campaign. Multiple Bilbao players and staff clearly remembered Mamardashvili. Unai Simon, a Spanish international and the team's starting goalkeeper, smiled when he saw the Liverpool player emerge in the tunnel before the goalies entered the pitch together. READ MORE: Liverpool told it could sign 'missing link' that would unlock 'special' Florian Wirtz connection READ MORE: Sergio Aguero makes his feelings clear on Trent Alexander-Arnold joining Real Madrid - 'Surely' Longtime Bilbao forward Inaki Williams made sure to pat Mamardashvili (the only player he approached) while the two teams lined up before the match. After the contest, Mamardashvili was captured having a lengthy conversation with a member of the Bilbao staff as the pair entered the tunnel together. Nine of Mamardashvili's 134 appearances for Valencia came against Athletic Club: in them, he kept two clean sheets and recorded just a solitary Georgian's record in La Liga was much better: he kept 36 clean sheets across 127 matches.
New York Times
17 minutes ago
- New York Times
Mikel Arteta hopeful Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard will be available for Athletic Club game
Mikel Arteta is hopeful that Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard will be fit when Arsenal host Athletic Club on Saturday, August 9 'if everything goes to plan'. Havertz missed their 3-2 home defeat to Villarreal with a muscle issue. Calafiori felt a tweak in their 3-2 win over Newcastle United in Singapore, while Trossard picked up a groin issue in a 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong, with both players missing the Villarreal game. Advertisement On the trio, Arteta said: 'Yesterday in training he [Havertz] felt something and this morning he wasn't quite right, so we decided to rest him. I think it will be a matter of a couple of days. Hopefully by the weekend, if everything goes to plan, he will be fit. 'The three that we lost during the tour were Big Gabi (Magalhaes), Leo and Ricky. For Saturday I think they both [Trossard and Calafiori] have a chance if everything in the next few days evolves in the way they have already been.' In the Villarreal loss, Gabriel played his first minutes for Arsenal since April 1, when he suffered a hamstring injury that required surgery at the end of last season. He was joined by Jurrien Timber, who also got his first minutes of pre-season after suffering an ankle injury in May. New signing Viktor Gyokeres made his first start for the club, playing 63 minutes before Arteta made wholesale changes to his side. With Havertz absent, Mikel Merino finished the game up front. On Gyokeres, the Arsenal manager said: 'It was very important for him to start a match and start to have the feeling and the connection with the team. 'He's been with us only a week or so, but I already saw a lot of things and a lot of purpose, especially the way he was attacking in certain spaces. 'I think mentally, and understanding what he needs to do, it will be 100 per cent or more because he's so willing and so confident that he can deliver straight away. I have no doubt that he will be in a really good place.' Arteta's only other chance to give Gyokeres a start before the Premier League season begins will be against Athletic Club on Saturday, August 9. Then, Arsenal will be just over a week away from kicking off their campaign away to Manchester United on Sunday, August 17. () Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
