The Taunton Town squad rebuilding continues as we warmly welcome Tom Smith to Wordsworth Drive.
The capture of the talented central midfielder following his departure from Bath City represents a major acquisition for the Peacocks as they prepare themselves for a return to the Southern League next season, with Tom having been a regular in the City side over the past seven years to rack up just shy of 250 appearances. His arrival at the club will see him appointed as the new team captain.
Tom’s early career was spent with Swindon Town where he became a member of the first team squad from the 2014-15 season onwards, and went on to make 16 senior appearances during his time with the Wiltshire club, interspersed with loan spells at League Of Ireland Waterford and a successful first stint at Bath where he netted 11 goals in 31 games up until the end of the 2017-18 season. After being released by Swindon, Tom subsequently joined Cheltenham Town before returning to Bath on a four month loan deal in September 2018 which was then extended until the end of the season. The move became permanent ahead of the 2019-20 campaign, one in which Tom excelled scoring 17 goals for the Romans and being named the National League South Player of the Year. Apart from a brief loan period with Dagenham & Redbridge in the final months of 2020-21, he has featured exclusively for City during the past six seasons including 36 League starts last term.
Tom told Peacocks’ media:” I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Taunton Town, a big club with huge ambition. There is a real feel good factor around the club at the moment. Can’t wait to get going!”
Taunton boss Richard Luffman is naturally thrilled to secure such a pivotal signing, commenting:” Tom was my main target in the summer, and I’m delighted he’s bought into what we’re doing at Taunton and signed for two seasons to be our captain. We have so much potential talent in the side and we needed someone who’s been there and done it, and Tom is exactly that. He’s a proven player at Step 2 and our younger players will learn from his eagerness to win and his experience. As I’ve said all along, strap up and enjoy the ride.”
