London City Lionesses confirm Darren Smith as First Team Goalkeeper Coach

London City Lionesses is pleased to announce the appointment of Darren Smith as First Team Goalkeeper Coach.

Darren Smith, London City Lionesses (Image: Wing Chong)

Smith arrives at Princes Park from West Ham United Women, for whom he worked closely with summer arrival Sophie Hillyerd and Australia international Mackenzie Arnold.

"“I'm really pleased and excited to join London City and would like to thank Carolina [Morace], Nicola [Williams], and Ronald [Thompson] for inviting me to join the Club,” explained the experienced coach.

"We have a fantastic set of goalkeepers, all of whom are at various points in their senior careers. My first impressions are that they are all willing to work as hard as they can to maximise their potential and play their part in bringing success to this football club."

Smith started his coaching career with Ipswich Town’s Academy, where he spent three years before joining West Ham as a Professional Development Phase Goalkeeping Coach.

After one season with the Hammers, Smith returned to the Suffolk outfit as Lead Academy Goalkeeper Coach, before working his way through the system to become First Team Goalkeeper Coach in 2018.

Moves to Colchester United, MK Dons and West Ham Women would follow for Smith, punctuated by a three-year stint as International Goalkeeping Coach for the Football Association of Wales.

Everyone at London City Lionesses would like to wish ‘Smudge’ a very warm welcome to the Club and all the very best for his first season in the Barclays Women’s Championship.