Source: transfermarkt.com
Ammies’ veteran striker Matt Smith has been honoured at the EFL Team of the Season Awards night which took place in the Grosvenor House in London on Sunday.
The 6ft 6 forward scored 23 goals in 44 appearances helping secure Salford’s League Two status for another season.
Smith said: “Proud to be named in the Sky Bet League Two Team of the season. It’s been a tough year for us on the pitch but thank you to my teammates for tonight’s honour.”
The Birmingham-born footballer reflected on the tough season his club went through with Salford only avoiding relegation to the National League last weekend.
“It feels good, but it’s bittersweet. As a collective it’s not been the season we would have liked. I think when you look at where we finished last season, we were all hoping we would have had the season that Stockport have had, but it was not meant to be,” added Smith.
Stockport County have already been crowned League Two champions with two games left to play.
Smith was quick to acknowledge the contribution of the rest of the Salford squad and coaches:
“To pick up a personal award like this is pleasing, I am just grateful to my teammates and staff for helping me.”
It’s been Smith’s highest ever season scoring tally which has seen him picked 12 times for the League Two Team of the Week, and he’s currently joint second-best goal-scorer in the competition.
The 34-year-old striker added: “I am heavily reliant on the people around me, so this is more a testament to their service throughout the year.
“During my career, whether that be in the Championship, or League One and Two, to receive different accolades and bits of recognition is always nice, whatever the level is,” added Smith whose 16-year career has spanned stints at the likes of Fulham, Leeds United, QPR and Millwall.
“This is a particularly pleasing honour, to get rewarded for your consistency over the course of an entire season. It’s not just for a flash in the pan moment, or a player of the month award, this is about consistency over 46 games, so that is probably the most pleasing thing.”
Football analytics website WhoScored.com released a ranking of the highest rated strikers in League Two and the Salford City’s forward is on the top of the ladder.
With an average mark of 7.80 over the course of the whole season Smith leads the table ahead of Sutton United’s Harry Smith who is second with a gap of 0.46.
There’s still time for Smith to add to his tally and catch up with Notts County’s Macaulay Langstaff whose notched up 27 goals this season. City travel to Newport County on Saturday before wrapping up at home to Harrogate Town the following weekend.