Ex-Town defender Tommy Smith featured for Colchester United in their home friendly against Gillingham this afternoon and appears likely to face the Blues in their game against the U's on Tuesday.

New Colchester manager Steve Ball fielded a different XI in each half against the Gills with Smith in action in the opening 45 minutes.

The 30-year-old centre-half is a free agent having left Sunderland after his short spell at the Stadium of Light at the end of May without making an appearance.

Gillingham won this afternoon's fixture 2-0 with former Town academy midfielder Stuart O’Keefe netting the first goal.

Smith could next be in action against the Blues when they play League Two Colchester in two 75-minute behind-closed-doors friendlies at the JobServe Community Stadium on Tuesday.

A stream for the two games, which can be accessed here, costs £5 with the Blues receiving 50 per cent of the revenue.

The New Zealand international, who is still based locally, left Town to move to the Colorado Rapids in January 2018 having joined the club at 16.

Smith previously had a spell on loan at Colchester in 2011 when he made six starts.

Photo: TWTD

Mark added 17:01 - Aug 15 Trial at Colchester? His career has certainly gone downhill!
1

Len_Brennan added 17:29 - Aug 15 We're in need of a left sided centre half, especially one who has experience of playing in a back 3. He wasn't exceptional when he played with us in the Championship & was certainly a poorer option to Berra; however, in general he was perfectly capable of performing at that level. He is surely good enough still, at 30, to be a more than decent centre half in League 1, and if Colchester are able to offer him wages that are acceptable in the current League 2 climate, it would not be a problem for us. Obviously we'd have to sell Nsiala first, which might be difficult given the likely wage package he agreed when joining us as a Championship club.

5

Suffolkboy added 17:33 - Aug 15 Have only ever received good reports of this man and his character ,and he was ‘one of ours ‘ performing consistently as a loyal team contributor . Wish him the best in his trials at Colchester . COYB
10

Murphys_Law added 18:53 - Aug 15 For heavens sake he must be good enough for our squad surely?
7

muhrensleftfoot added 19:56 - Aug 15 He was a decent left footed steady Championship defender. You've got to think he'd be an asset to us. Why on earth aren't we snapping him.up?
5

muhrensleftfoot added 19:57 - Aug 15 He's also a great header of the ball and weighed in with the occasional goal from set pieces.
6

Murphys_Law added 20:30 - Aug 15 Come on then @runningout let's have some substance to that minus mark!
0

planetblue_2011 added 20:34 - Aug 15 Very strange can't understand it at all why we haven't got him at town? A decent defender always liked him, still only 30 & could get in our team!! Lambert is seeing something I'm not. Well all I can say is go for it Col U what a defender you will have in league 2
5

Linkboy13 added 20:34 - Aug 15 He trained with us and proved he was not up to it that's good enough for me . Also was not wanted at Sunderland it's not going to happen no time for sentiment in football time to look forward.
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OsborneOneNil added 21:11 - Aug 15 Better than Chambers too.
2

unknown100 added 21:28 - Aug 15 He won't sign him out of principle, he said that you can't keep returning to the past for answers
1

KiwiBlue2 added 21:37 - Aug 15 unkown - that reaction from PL is, on the face of it, absurd. People like Wark, and Murphy come instantly to mind and no doubt there have been others. I would sign him in an instant if he was fit so am wondering if there is an injury issue? Given Tommy's ability, record and commitment to the club I think that PL's stance is rather strange especially when we are crying out for a left sided cb to partner Woolfie. Could it be that PL is worried about having to leave our cart-horse captain out......?

1

COYB11 added 23:07 - Aug 15 This is how I see it... A left footed centre back, with over 30 international caps and 200+ games in the Championship and he is still only 30. We are in League One and in desperate need of an experienced defender and a leader who can share the captaincy work load with Chambers. Aside from the fact that he's one of us and he would take a bullet to stop a goal, it actually makes sense. Sign him up!

6

runningout added 23:36 - Aug 15 Tommy Smith had his time with us. He got plenty of grief then. He didn't impress Sunderland and they're in more need than us
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dolphinpie added 00:36 - Aug 16 Top 5 left sided centre backs:- 1 Venus 2 Beattie 3 Sedgley 4 Hreidarsson 5 Smith
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KiwiBlue2 added 03:23 - Aug 16 Dolphinpie - we could probably make it six and add Berra when at his best.....
1

Cakeman added 07:22 - Aug 16 I wish Tommy the best at Col U. He would be a good signing for them. Steady, excellent attitude and generally stays injury free. If not Col U I hope he gets a club somewhere. He is an honest pro with limited ability but who has always never shirked effort when things do not go well. He deserves success for his attitude alone.
1

Dissboyitfc added 07:40 - Aug 16 Kiwi and dolphin.... you missed out Terry Butcher! Also 2 we never saw the best of Smith and Clarke! I would have Tommy back in an instant! Surely fitness is not an issue at only 30?
4

Len_Brennan added 09:00 - Aug 16 @runningout , maybe he's not the player he was, perhaps he has picked up an injury or some bad habits in play or attitude since he left here; if so you might be right & it explain the lack of contract offers last season. But, he came back during the season, not because we were looking to sign him, but because he wanted to train with us & keep up his fitness in order to try & win a contract somewhere. I wasn't crying out for him at the time & was happy that Woolfenden was making such a positive impact; as said above, it was unlikely that Chambers would have been dropped in order for Tommy to get a starting role, and even then Wilson would have been in line. If Tommy joined us now & had the rest of pre-season with perhaps the early cup games under his belt, I think it would be a different story. He can't have dropped from 'capable' Championship defender to not being good enough for League 1 in short a short time & at his age.

1

Len_Brennan added 09:05 - Aug 16 - I think Nsiala may well be the issue here, and in particular his wages. Even with whatever relegation clause he had, he is bound to be on a good deal more than the salary cap average. If he managed to find another club, on a permanent transfer, it would free up a block of cash for player wages that could justify another CH signing.
1

Lightningboy added 10:25 - Aug 16 Would rather (much rather) him in our team than Nsiala and arguably can't be any worse than Chambers or Wilson.
4

TractorRoyNo1 added 11:19 - Aug 16 He must gave p!ssed off Lambert as he is far superior to Chambers.
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 13:01 - Aug 16 Great signing for them. Should boss L2
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ChrisFelix added 13:26 - Aug 16 I felt that he needed a experienced partner along side to guide him, such as Jason De vos. Or even further back Alan Hunter. Unfortunately he played alongside Captain Calamity & the record with the exception of the playoff season speaks for itself
1

timkatieadamitfc added 14:53 - Aug 16 @Kiwiblue2 - you've hit the nail on the head, of course Lambert isn't going to drop Chambers you only have to look at last season when everyone was being rotated, Chambers was rarely and I'd go as far as saying that under lambert that Chambers would play in front of even Woolfenden. It's an absolute joke, I'm not knocking Chambers because some of the things he's done at club especially with youngsters is a credit to the man, but the bottom line is he's not good enough even at this level, lost count last season how many goals we conceded due to a Chambers mistake. Chambers and Skuse will play bar injury 80% of games regardless and that's sad.

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