Will Smith joins on loan from Harrogate Town

Scunthorpe United is delighted to welcome Harrogate Town defender Will Smith to the club on an initial one-month loan.

The 24-year-old from Leeds arrives at Glanford Park to bolster the Iron’s options in central defence.

Following a youth career at Barnsley, taking a scholarship in 2015, Smith was named Academy Player of the Year for the 2015-16, turning professional a year later. He made his senior debut for the Tykes in November 2018, playing for the side in the EFL Trophy.

One month later, he joined National League North side Darlington, making a total of 14 league appearances, scoring one goal during his time there.

Despite receiving another contract offer from Barnsley, Smith opted to join Harrogate in 2019 where he would play all but one of their 37 league games in his debut campaign at the club, with the season curtailed early due to COVID-19. It was in that season where he was part of the side which gained the Sulphurites promotion to the EFL for the first time in their history, first providing a headed assist for Jack Muldoon’s winning goal in the semi-final against Boreham Wood before helping the side to a 3-1 win over Notts County in the Final.

He added further accolade to his CV being part of the FA Trophy winning side from the same season, although the final wasn’t played until May 2021.

Smith had returned to contention for Harrogate in recent weeks after undergoing a double hernia operation towards the back end of 2022 and makes the switch to the Iron to assist in our upcoming National League games and regain much-needed match fitness for himself.

In total, he’s made 102 appearances in all competitions for Harrogate, scoring seven goals, with his career total seeing him make 117 appearances in all competitions, netting eight goals.

His next game will see him reach a personal milestone of 100 league appearances.