Less than a year after being told he would never play football again, Ebbsfleet United’s Ross Smith is hoping to kick-start his career with a move to Major League Soccer in 2010.
The defender, who is back on a short-term deal at Stonebridge Road to bolster the Fleet’s Blue Square Premier survival bid, was diagnosed with a life-changing heart condition 48 hours after making his dream move to MLS side Colorado Rapids in January.
When doctors told him he had a defective heart valve, Smith believed his footballing life was over and Colorado ripped up his contract before he had played a single game for them.
Only when a specialist in his native Canada offered him surgery and the chance to return to the sport did the 29-year-old turns his thoughts once more to football and the possibility of lining up against David Beckham next season.
“I woke up in the middle of the night with terrible chest pains,” he said. “I’d had them before but this time I knew something was wrong. I flew out to Colorado for pre-season but two days later I got a call saying there was something wrong with my heart.
“I was told I would struggle to have an active life and I could forget playing football. When they told me I could have open heart surgery, there were tears of joy in my eyes – to think I could be fixed was the best news of my life.”
Smith, who began his career in Scotland, journeyed south of the border in the hope of signing with a club in the London area. He eventually joined Margate before impressing Gravesend & Northfleet manager Liam Daish in 2005 pre-season.
After two years and 87 appearances, Smith’s performances earned him a move to Conference champions Dagenham & Redbridge, where he was forced to wait for his first-team opportunities.
Despite leaving in 2008 to team up with former Leicester and Celtic midfielder Steve Guppy at Rochester Rhinos in the States, Smith has nothing but fond memories of his first spell in England.
He said: “I had a fantastic time at Gravesend. It was the first time I’d been a full-time footballer and it was everything I wanted. I couldn’t believe how well supported they were – it was fantastic playing in front of the crowds at Stonebridge Road.
“I loved playing for Liam Daish and (Dagenham manager) John Still – all they wanted was a good, honest performance and I really got a buzz off that.
“The Fleet fans played a big part in me coming back – I was fortunate to meet many of them during my last stay and I think the world of them.
“I’m just taking it one game at a time but I want to head back to America around Christmas time, in time for pre-season. I hope Steve Guppy and (head coach) Gary Smith give me another chance at Colorado.”
POSTED: 23/11/2009 08:00:00
Bookmark with:
Email to a friend: