Tom’s heart at home with the Romans
TOM SMITH says having a home to call his own at Bath City has helped fire the scintillating form that sees him land the Sportsbeat National League South Player of the Year.
The 22-year-old scored 17 goals from midfield to help the Romans to a chance of promotion through the Step 2 playoffs.
Smith has had past loans at Twerton Park from Swindon Town and Cheltenham Town, but he thinks signing permanently for Jerry Gill’s side last summer has been the rocket fuel his career needed.
“I really wanted to be in an environment where I was enjoying myself and under a manager who understood me so I think it was important for me to make that decision to sign for Bath and kick-start my career,” Smith said.
“It was dropping down but this is a very competscientist itive league and is getting better year on year. I needed to step down and show what I can do.
“There’s nothing better as a young player than playing every week wherever that is. If I’m playing I’m improving and I get satisfaction from that.”
Smith says studying a Business Management degree through the Open University has helped his enjoyment for the game while he is also dedicating himself off the pitch to give himself the best chance of a return to the pro game.
He works with sports John Watson and in lockdown he cycled ‘virtual’ Everest while raising money for Mind UK.
And he says working under Gill will help him to keep climbing the football ladder too.
“When I came in that first season with Bath I was a different player,” Smith said. “Part of it is trying to make myself into more of a goalscoring midfielder and Jerry encourages me to do that.
“As the season goes on you understand what he expects from you and he respects you as a player. You know the standards and that is important.”
And he’d love to cap the season with promotion should the play-offs get the green light.
“Bath as a whole are very ambitious,” Smith said. “The last three years we’ve been trying to build something to get promoted. We’ve got a great squad, we’ve got great fans, so hopefully we can make something happen in the play-offs.”