Alex Smithies not ruling out return to Huddersfield Town one day

The former Terrier spent his formative years at the John Smith’s Stadium after coming through the Huddersfield academy.

He was the hero for Huddersfield in the 2012 League One play-off final, saving two penalties and scoring one in sudden death to help Town earn promotion to the Championship at the expense of Sheffield United. He went on to play every league game, bar two, in the following three seasons before being sold to QPR at the beginning of the 2015-16 campaign.

“It wasn’t really my decision to leave,” he said.

“I had three years left on my contract and in the previous season I had just signed a new contract.

“My wife gave birth to my first child, my daughter, on the Wednesday and on the Friday night I got a phonecall from Chris Powell, who was the manager at the time, that the club had accepted an offer for me, from QPR.

“I didn’t know anything about it to be honest. I did have a link to the goalkeeping coach at QPR, who was previously at Huddersfield, it was quite surprising.

“I remember having the conversation with my wife that we might have to move 200 miles away with a two-day old baby.

“It was a strange time and one that was not really expected. I played the first league game and then I left.

“I felt like it was more the club’s decision than mine, I felt I had to go at that point.

“It was the right decision looking back, I had a great time at QPR.

“I had been at Huddersfield for years and it was probably the right time to change things up and get a fresh start.”

A move back to Huddersfield will never be off the cards for Smithies but he insists he is firmly focused on performing his best for the Bluebirds.

“Right now, I am completely focused on Cardiff,” he continued.

“My family is down here, my eldest is in school and we couldn’t be happier.

“You never say never, I love Huddersfield Town, it has got a massive place in my heart.

“You never know what is going to happen in the future.”

Smithies recently surpassed 406 career appearances, 271 of which were for Huddersfield, prior to the shutdown of professional sport by the coronavirus crisis.

He moved to South Wales during the club’s one-year stay in the Premier League but made just three FA Cup appearances last term.

He has established his place in the team this campaign under manager Neil Harris and his next goal is to hit 500 matches.

“I have only recently turned 30, so I am quite proud to have played over 400 games so far,” he added.

“My target is to pass 500 games and play as long as I can.

“While I am still enjoying it and I am fit and well, it is a great time to make the most of it.

“My priority at the moment is to stay in the team at Cardiff, I have still got two years left on my contract after this season.”

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