Jordan Michael Smith
Jordan Michael Smith (born April 14, 1990 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian soccer player for the Winnipeg Alliance FC, of the newly established Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League (CMISL)
Early life
Smith was born to Tina Smith, a European Canadian from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and Rodney Smith, an African Canadian from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Early on in Smith’s childhood his love for sports was very noticeable, being an active participant in soccer, volleyball, and track throughout his attendance at Harold Hatcher Elementary School. Where he then went on to receive Athlete of the Year in grade five. After graduating from elementary he then attended Arthur Day Middle School, where he was once again given Sports Person of the Year upon graduation. Following his middle school years, it was his attendance at Murdoch MacKay Collegiate High School, were Smith finally started to get into his flow with soccer. During his time at the high school he went on to captain the squad to the school’s first Indoor Championship, while receiving three Player of the Year awards on the way. During his high school years Smith was also very heavily involved with the Phoenix Soccer club, where he credits the club for “Opening my eyes to the game of soccer”. While playing for the club, Smith was given the opportunity to compete in National and International Youth Competitions, where later at the age of 15 was scouted and selected to play soccer at the provincial level. After a successful period with the Manitoba Provincial Program, he later than herd about an open-tryout that was taking place for his cities professional soccer club. Along with a friend he decided to attend the try-out, where he later went on to surprise many by making the squad.
Career
Winnipeg Alliance
On March 23 2007, At 16 years of age Smith made his professional debut and became the youngest player to ever suit up in league history when the Alliance where hosted by the Saskatoon Accelerators at the Credit Union Centre, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. On his first shift in the game he contributed to a goal scored by Jamaican International Wolde Harris.Following his debut with the professional club, he was than chosen to play in the clubs home opener against the Edmonton Drillers. That hosted a crowd of 7,727 at the MTS Centre, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After the game a newscast on Global National featured an interview with Smith that had him giving his thanks to the organization for supplying a professional club, for youth in Winnipeg to look up to. In 2008 Smith became a major part of the club, appearing in all ten games. Although a season faced with problems for the club, Smith went on to become a major university prospect for a number of schools throughout the country. Having many to believe he was heading to the University of Saskatchewan at the end of the season, after leaving training with the club for a week, to attend a university prospects camp in Saskatoon.