Smart Soccer Director  

Neil M. Smart was born and raised in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, an industrial working class town in the NW of England that is nestled on the outskirts of the beautiful scenic Lake District. In all the years Neil has lived in the USA he has never once failed to make an annual pilgrimage back to the town he loves. Enough said!

Playing

Neil has played football (soccer) since he could walk and still counts one of his proudest moments as a player when Barrow Island junior school beat the mighty Abbotsmead in the final of the town 5 a side competition. David trounced Goliath! While attending senior (high) school at Barrow-in-Furness Grammar School Neil's team won over 100 consecutive games in a 5 year span. The team produced Gary Stevens who went on to play for Everton and represent England in the World Cup. Neil was a 5 year starter on the team playing almost every minute of every game.

From high school Neil attended Leeds Metropolitan University and Carnegie School of Physical Education where he completed a teaching degree while playing semi professionally for Barrow AFC and Harrogate Town. Upon settling in the USA Neil continued to play at a high standard captaining the Philadelphia Freedom professional team and representing the United German Hungarian Club in the 1993 US Open Cup Final. Whilst with 'UGH' Neil was on a team that won many honors, including the United Soccer league and US Open and Amateur state cup finals on numerous occasions. He also (with much help from his wife Bonnie) arranged a very successful and incident packed trip to England for the team in 1993. More recently as a player Neil is very proud of the fact that he has won over 30 State Cup titles with 3 different teams UGH, Ukrainians and PA Rush. He would like to acknowledge his longtime playing colleague Ryan Gillespie who was also on all 3 teams.

Teaching & Coaching 

Neil has national coaching licenses with both the English FA and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and has over 20 years of teaching and coaching experience with his Smart Soccer program. While developing his coaching career he also taught PE, Health Education and Math at the Holy Child Academy in Drexel Hill, Pa. During his time there Neil was head of the PE and Health Department. On the coaching front Neil has coached all levels from beginner youth to semi professional adult. His main focus has been player development at the grass roots level from ages 4 to 14. Personally, and under the auspices of Smart Soccer, Neil has literally coached tens of thousands of youngsters with one main aim being a hope of instilling a lifelong love of the game. He continues to play and will 'until he drops' and he hopes many of the youngsters he has coached will embrace the same philosophy. Soccer is and should be a game for life!

Neil would like to take this opportunity to thank all of his friends, colleagues and supporters in the world of soccer and to humbly thank the reader for taking the time to read this information.

Hoping to see you out on the field!   

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