By Matt Badcock
Kane Smith might not have expected to play as much as he has this season, but now the former Hitchin Town full-back is a big part of Boreham Wood's Football League push.
The 22-year-old needed just one training session in the summer to earn himself a deal with Luke Garrard's men.
Smith has nailed down a place in the starting XI all year and has a growing reputation as one of the division's best attacking right-backs.
Wood sat fourth in the table ahead of the weekend and Smith says he's loving life in Non-League's top tier.
“It's a lot tougher physically but I've enjoyed it and I think I've grasped it well – I didn't expect to play as many games as I have, to be honest,” he told The NLP.
“I thought I'd be getting rotated, but I've pretty much played every game.
“I feel so much fitter. It was the hardest pre-season I've ever had and that benefits you later in the season.
“We are doing really well. It's all the hard work on the training pitch that the gaffer and Terry (Harris) get us doing. It's all the basics, keeping the ball and being patient, we've done that really well.
“We are in good form at the minute and we've kept in touch with the top three – it's still all to play for.
“We are a tight group and we are all in it for each other.”
Smith began his career with Luton Town before moving to Southern League Hitchin Town where boss Mark Burke turned him into a right-back, which led to trials with Crystal Palace, West Brom and Shrewsbury.
“Mainly I was playing attacking midfield at the time, but the manager put me in at right-back and ever since then I feel I've done really well,” Smith, who had two-and-a-half years with the Canaries, said. “I liked it there straight away. At that age I'd been taught you can play anywhere and I didn't really have a position.
“But as you get into men's football it's good. I like having the game in front of me rather than my back to goal, so it suits me.”
What also suits Smith is Boreham Wood's wing-back system that allows him to get forward and deliver crosses into the box.
Smith says the senior players are a huge help as well as boss Garrard.
“He's been excellent for me,” Smith said. “Because he's so young he gets the banter with you and you know you can have a laugh with him, then when it's time to get down to business it is business.
“He puts a lot of faith in young players and that's why I'm benefiting from being under him and Terry – hopefully I'm repaying them.”
*This article originally featured in The @NonLeaguePaper which is available every Sunday and Monday
