Richard Smallwood (born 29 December 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL League Two club Bradford City.
Smallwood's natural position is the holding role in the centre of midfield. He is a product of the Middlesbrough Academy and later became captain of the reserve team. At the start of the 2009–10 season, Smallwood signed his first professional contract with the club.[3] Smallwood made his debut for Middlesbrough on 19 October 2010 in a 1–0 away defeat to Nottingham Forest.[4] In January 2011, Smallwood signed an 18-month contract with the club.[5] On 2 May 2011, Smallwood scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 win against Cardiff City.[6] On 3 November 2012, he scored his second league goal in a 4–1 win away to Charlton Athletic.[7] However, in the 2013–14 season, Smallwood lost his first team place following new arrivals.[8] Under the management of Aitor Karanka, Smallwood was among the players to be offloaded as part of Karanka's plans to reduce the squad size.[9]
On 23 January 2014, Smallwood joined Rotherham United on loan for the remainder of the 2013–14 season.[10] Shortly after arriving at Rotherham United, Smallwood quickly went straight into the first team; he was sent-off for a late challenge on Billy Knott, as Rotherham United beat Port Vale 1–0 on 21 April 2014.[11] As a result of the challenge, Smallwood had to serve a three-match suspension, missing the last two games of the season and one match in the play-offs.[12]
Smallwood scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out after taking the fifth penalty to win it as Rotherham secured promotion with a penalty shoot-out victory against Leyton Orient.[13] After the match, Smallwood said it was the first time he had taken a penalty in his professional career.[14] As a result of his good performance at Rotherham United, the club made a bid to sign Smallwood in early July, only to be rejected by Middlesbrough.[15]
Initially signed in an emergency loan deal,[16] Smallwood signed for Rotherham United on a permanent basis after Middlesbrough accepted a £175,000 bid for him.[17][18]
Smallwood scored his first ever goal for Rotherham United in their 3–3 home draw with Derby County with a free-kick from the edge of the area.
On 31 August 2016, new Rotherham United manager Alan Stubbs sent Smallwood out on a season long loan to Scunthorpe United for the last year of his contract. With Stubbs no longer at the club, agreement was reached to terminate the loan on 9 January 2017. Smallwood scored one goal for Scunthorpe during his loan, the final goal in a 4–0 home defeat of Southend United on 10 September 2016.[19][20] Smallwood elected to leave Rotherham United at the end of his contract, turning down an extension offered by the club.[21]
Smallwood signed a two-year contract with Blackburn Rovers on 20 June 2017.[22] He scored his first goal for Blackburn in a 3–1 EFL Cup win against Coventry City on 8 August 2017.[23] He helped Blackburn gain promotion back to the championship and became a fans favourite at Ewood Park, being referred to as the “king of ewood”.
On 11 August 2020, Smallwood signed for Hull City, on a two-year deal with an option to extend a further year.[24] Smallwood was then named as Hull City's captain for the upcoming 2020–21 season.[25] Smallwood played his first game for the club on 5 September 2020, in the first round of the EFL Cup away against Sunderland, which Hull won on penalties after a 0–0 draw.[26] He scored his first goal for Hull in a 4–1 win at Preston North End on 7 August 2021.[27]
Smallwood was released at the end of the 2021–22 season.[28]
On 22 June 2022, Smallwood signed for Bradford City on a free transfer on an initial two year deal.[29] In July 2022 he was made captain.[30]
At the end of the 2023–24 season, he triggered a contract extension.[31]
He was a member of the England under-18 squad which defeated Austria 2–0 at Hartlepool United's Victoria Park on 16 April 2008.[32]
Rotherham United
Hull City
Individual
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