DEANE SMALLEY

Full Name: Deane Alfie Michael Smalley

Born: 07 September 1988

Came from: Oxford United   Went to: Released

First game: 09 August 2014   Last game: 19 December 2015

Appearances: 19 (5/14)   Goals: 2

Born in Chadderton in Greater Manchester, just a stone's throw from Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park, Smalley started his career with The Latics under John Sheridan's tutelage. He was given his debut by Sheridan in February 2007 at the age of 18 and scored his first senior goal in the League Cup that August, and then his first League goal the following April in a 2-1 home win against Cheltenham Town - a game in which his fellow future-Pilgrim Lewis Alessandra also scored. After Sheridan left the club in March 2009, there was a managerial merry-go-round at Oldham, with four managers in 15 months, and it was the fourth, Paul Dickov, who allowed Smalley to make three appearances for Rochdale on a month-long loan in September 2010. Returning to Oldham, Smalley seized the chance to be reunited with Sheridan, who by then was managing Chesterfield, and this time it proved to be a more fruitful loan; his 12 goals in 23 games helped The Spireites to the 2010-11 League Two title.

After 105 appearances and 10 goals for Oldham, Smalley was offered a contract extension at the end of the 2010-11 season but he declined and moved on to Oxford United on a two-year deal, which was extended for a third year on reduced terms after an injury-hit second season. His first year at The Kassam Stadium included a loan to Bradford City, for whom he played 13 times without scoring. One of his best performances in an Oxford shirt came in August 2012, when he scored both goals in the 2-1 home defeat of Argyle. At the end of the 2013/14 season he was released by Oxford, having played a total of 81 times and scored 13 goals.

In May 2014 Smalley signed a two-year deal at Home Park to become John Sheridan's second summer signing for the 2014/15 season, linking up with the manager for the third time in his career. He had the benefit of some familiar faces amongst his Home Park team-mates, reuniting with Lewis Alessandra from his Oldham days and former Oxford team-mates, Lee Cox and Luke McCormick. Smalley struggled to secure a regular starting spot and had to be content with substitute appearances. His only league goal in his first season came from the penalty spot in the eighth minute of injury time at Home Park as Argyle snatched a last-gasp draw against Stevenage. In December 2014 he damaged cruciate knee ligaments in training and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Apart from one brief substitute appearance for Argyle after recovery from injury 12 months later, Smalley remained on the bench until January 2016 when he joined League Two rivals Newport County on loan until the end of the season, under the Exiles' new manager and ex-Pilgrim Warren Feeney.

Released by Argyle at the end of the 2015-16 season, he spent some time without a club before joining Chester City for the 2018-19 season. He then had spells with Hyde United (2019) and Abbey Hey (2019-20) before moving to Wythenshaw Town in 2020, where he converted to a centre-back. In July 2023 he signed for Oldham-based Avro FC of the Northern Premier League Division One West.