Smith leaves Maidenhead United for Harrogate Town after 'six unbelievable years'

Attacking midfielder Reece Smith has announced he’s to leave Maidenhead United after six ‘unbelievable years’ at the club.

With the club having been relegated from the National League this season, Smith was always likely to have plenty of suitors, and he’s chosen to follow in the footsteps of Zico Asare and Shawn McCoulsky in swapping York Road for North Yorkshire by signing for Harrogate Town.

He becomes the League 2 club’s sixth signing of the summer, putting pen to paper on a two-year deal having once again been one of the Magpies key performers last season, scoring seven goals and contributing 10 assists.

There had been rumours linking Smith with a move down the M4 to League 1 side Reading FC last season, however, he’s opted for an EFL side that’s slightly further north and is keen to re-establish the connection he had with McCoulsky at Maidenhead over the past few seasons.

Over the past six seasons at York Road, Smith has established himself as one of the very brightest talents in the National League. When he played well, Maidenhead United generally played well, and although last season wasn’t his most productive in a black and white shirt, he was still named the fans’ player of the season.

An academy graduate, he quickly found his feet in the National League under Alan Devonshire, and it wasn’t long before he became one of the first names on the team sheet.

The season before last he scored 11 goals from midfield and while last season was more of a struggle - for everyone in the side - he still found the net on seven occasions and assisted his teammates on 10 occasions.

In total he made 157 appearances for the Magpies in the National League and now feels he’s ready to test himself at a higher level.

“I had a really good connection with Shawn on the pitch last season and that’s hopefully something I can bring to Harrogate,” Smith said in an interview for Harrogate Town.

“As soon as I spoke to the Manager and staff it was clear to me, this felt like the right place, when I visited the area my family and I immediately fell in love with it. I can’t wait to get out there and play for the club, give it absolutely everything I can and put in some good performances.”

Let's get to work pic.twitter.com/cvvxkniYkN

— Harrogate Town AFC (@HarrogateTown) June 18, 2025

Maidenhead United supporters will accept this is probably the right time for him to move on, but there will still be disappointment at losing a player they felt was ‘one of their own’.

That’s what they sang from the York Road terraces every time he found the back of the net with a curling strike or glided past an opponent as if he wasn’t there.

Announcing the news on X, Smith said: “Maidenhead fans it’s the right time for me to move on.

“The love and support I received from everyone at the club is something I’ll never forget, I want to thank the Gaffer (Alan Devonshire), Peyo (Ryan Peters) and all the staff for giving me an opportunity to fulfil my lifelong dream and the opportunity to play.

“To Aaron O’Brien who has been such a massive part of my development, and I owe so much to.

“All the teammates over the years that I’ve had the pleasure of working with and family to the fans, you’ve made me feel like one of your own and receiving the fans’ player of the year this year just capped off an unbelievable six years that I will never forget.

“I wish everyone all the best and I’ll be back to support the boys soon.”

United are in the process of finalising their retained list from last season.

They are working to persuade ‘three or four more players’ to remain at York Road to help them in their promotion bid from the National League South.

Given his form for the side in the National League it always seemed likely that Smith would move on this summer and Harrogate are the club that have managed to lure him away from York Road.

Reflecting on his departure, Magpies’ supporter Matthew Foster (GoMadStopCaring), said on X: “It's been a pleasure watching him break into the first team and become, over the past two seasons, our best player. No better sight than him running with the ball and gliding past opponents. I really hope he's off to a Football League club, as I think he's more than good enough.”