Tommy Smith (Braintree Town FC | England)

Signed for Braintree?

To be fair to Baze prior Tuiloma was bench warming and Stanger was in the Scottish 2nd tier. Bindon and Surman very new to international football, and Boxall not always available. So can see why Smith was there.

But now surely it’s a non player coaching role, if he's staying around the AWs.

But what does Baze think Tommy?  From Niche Cache, about his signing with Braintree.

Tommy Smith: “Obviously it’s an important year for New Zealand having qualified for the World Cup. I’ve been a part of that squad for a long time now. I want to continue that, I want to be a part of that World Cup squad and playing every week is going to be massive for me in achieving that. Hopefully I can play as well as I can individually, which will help us as a team to be successful, which will keep me in that squad.”

I think the question to Baz whether or not someone playing in the national league is playing at a standard to be considered for the All Whites squad needs to be asked quick smart.

I hope that our esteemed football journalists and commentators have the nous to ask it.

The squad for Sept Socceroos games will be named in about 7-10 days.
Lets see what happens then.

He may still be picked if some of the 3 MLS CBs are unavailable. Apart from that, no Smith shouldn't be in the squad. Esp with Stanger now also up in the SPL.

NL opening round. Provides the assist for Braintree's third goal in a 3-0 win over Halifax Town.

Hutcho137

📝 The Iron are delighted to announce the signing of former Ipswich, Colchester and New Zealand international defender Tommy Smith after his departure from @fc_auckland

The experienced defender will no doubt be a great addition to our already strong backline#PubTeamFromEssex… pic.twitter.com/vH2VdzCTpu

— Braintree Town FC (@braintreetownfc) August 2, 2025

Joins Gray’s former club in the National League. Which I think completes the English pyramid of the   Having kiwis in each tier from Premier League to all the way to National League North

I like how the club even acknowledge they are a pub football team.

7 rounds into the National League season (5th tier) and Braintree are 18th of 24 teams. Smith has played all 7 games and got an assist.

Saw some stuff from Niche Cache where he says Garbett, Waine, Tzanev and Smith ain't in this AWs squad because all are at new clubs, which play through the FIFA window. I think it is a bit of guess work from NC

But Baze has only picked 3 CBs against Socceroos with Pijnaker injured. So if Nando is still out next month, maybe Tommy comes back in against Poland & Norway. Be prepared!

coochiee

7 rounds into the National League season (5th tier) and Braintree are 18th of 24 teams. Smith has played all 7 games and got an assist.

Saw some stuff from Niche Cache where he says Garbett, Waine, Tzanev and Smith ain't in this AWs squad because all are at new clubs, which play through the FIFA window. I think it is a bit of guess work from NC

But Baze has only picked 3 CBs against Socceroos with Pijnaker injured. So if Nando is still out next month, maybe Tommy comes back in against Poland & Norway. Be prepared!

 No, Darren Bazeley has very much grouped all four players together. 

Veteran centre back Tommy Smith has not been named and is yet to return from a hamstring injury suffered playing for his English fifth-tier club Braintree Town, but Bazeley indicated he may join the All Whites in camp even in a non-playing capacity.

“Tommy's very close to being fit. He's one we'll keep monitoring. Tommy does a great job for us. Tommy's a very good player, but he's important for us in regard to the leadership and the experience that he brings for the squad.

“We'll monitor him and his fitness and see how he goes and I think there's a chance that we'll see Tommy in camp – whether he's fit to play, or he just comes in to see the guys for a while, while we're over in Europe.”

The Keven Mealamu of the All Whites, it seems!

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/12/09/defender-tommy-smith-why-im-enjoying-my-role-with-the-all-whites/

Smith (35) said he was a realist about his likely contribution to the national team, for whom he’s played 56 times.

“The centre backs that are ahead of me in the pecking order are playing at a fantastic level, and my minutes are probably going to be limited, and that’s fine,” he said. “I’ve come to terms with that.”

Smith, who is now playing for Braintree Town in England’s fifth-tier National League after leaving A-League club Auckland FC, said only he and captain Chris Wood remained from the 2010 squad that went to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

He said that for him and Wood to share their experiences with the younger players, and the knowledge they had accumulated over the years, had real value.

Must be injured. Hasn't played a game for Braintree Town since 8th November.
Not in a matchday squad since 6th December (unused sub).

Has missed BT's last 6 league games. They sit 20th in the National League (5th tier).
Smith has only played 10 of their 27 league matches.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/tommy-smith/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/54381/wettbewerb/CNAT/saison/2025

At this rate Baze just can't justify continuing to pick him as a player.

Was named on the bench for Braintree yesterday evening but didn't get on. Last played an hour against the Wolves U-21s three months ago. He's almost 36.
 
I've been generally fairly pleased with how we're going under Baze, and have been liking his selections - I'll be fuming if Tommy makes the squad though. I think he'd barely scrape in our top 10 centre backs at a sniff, and I don't even think that's hyperbolic. Very loosely ranked (don't hold me to these):

1. Boxall
2. Surman
3. Bindon
4. Pijnaker
5. Tuiloma
6. Stanger
7. Hughes
8. Payne
9. Kelly-Heald

I would chose any of these over Smith to go to the world cup. Imagine being Pijnaker/Stanger/Hughes and missing out because of a bloke who's barely played all season in the 5th tier.

Braintree Town are also struggling in the National League, 21st of 24 teams, so Smith is on the bench for one of the weakest teams in the 5th tier.

Though he has been injured alot so, that's likely playing a part in him not playing.

Also I'd have Kyle Adams ahead of Smith. Maybe sitting around 8th on that above list, certainly ahead of LKH.

Captain of the best team in the USL Championship - Louisville City. He's on the MLS fringes, was named USL Championship defender of the year in 2025.
https://www.loucity.com/news/2025/11/18/kyle-adams-2025-usl-championship-defender-of-the-year/

Definitely good enough to play in the ALM, but with his partner playing for Racing Louisville in the NWSL and a sometime USA national women's team player, he likely ain't ever leaving the US.