Huddersfield Town keeper Alex Smithies: Leeds United match was making of me

Jun 26 2009 by Nick Lavigueur, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Alex Smithies

He said: “He’s one of my closest friends as well as my brother. We do everything together and play golf together. I look up to him as he’s a well rounded person.”

And Smithies hasn’t forgotten his Colne Valley High School friends either.

“I’ve got a few close friends that I see most weeks, play golf with and go out with.

“My friend Oliver Templeton was in the academy with me but injured his knee and had to retire from the game at 17.

“I’m still best friends with him and we live together.”

Although he always favoured sport, unlike many footballers Smithies’ GCSE results of five As, four Bs and a C are up there with some of the best.

And Smithies will be lending his now famous hands to his old school, Colne Valley High, this Sunday for a charity auction for St James’s Hospital in Leeds.

Pupil and Town fan Joshua Goldspink, 13, is being treated there for severe haemophilia and Smithies has donated some signed shirts and will be making an appearance

Now after his first full season of first team football he says he has learned a lot about the pressures on a modern footballer and dealing with the media and the fans.

He said: “I know my job is playing a part in their lives. Come Saturday I’m going to decide whether they’re going to be happy or upset.

“That pressure can be quite difficult at first but once you get that sussed you should be alright.”

For the record, Smithies says his best save so far was the penalty save in the final ten minutes of last season’s victory away at Southend – the final game for Gerry Murphy.

And his advice for youngsters that want to follow in his footsteps.

“Enjoy it, don’t be under too much pressure, don’t take it too seriously. If you’re at the right level you’ll make it.”

The Colne Valley High School charity auction is on June 28.

All the items can be viewed online at www.cvhs.kirklees.sch.uk

Bids can be submitted for any of the items before the auction.