James Smith

Right Back - Hawke's Bay United
1 Mar 2027
Monday
Process
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Marked for James Smith

5 Edition

The Hawke's Bay United Courier

31 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad31 Aug 2026

A knee injury of the worst kind for Callum Reid

36 days on the estimate, and a long, private, unglamorous year of a rehabilitation nobody watches. Hawke's Bay United lose a footballer; he loses considerably more than a season.

Market31 Aug 2026

David O'Neill asks to leave Hawke's Bay United

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Squad31 Aug 2026

A falling-out at Hawke's Bay United

Kosta Sutton and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.

Transfer targets31 Aug 2026

Hawke's Bay United rebuffed over Sam Kirwan

Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Canterbury United have kept their man, and Hawke's Bay United go back to a list with one name crossed off it.

Squad31 Aug 2026

James Smith stays put

“The easiest signature of my career.” James Smith and Hawke's Bay United agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.

The dugout31 Aug 2026

James Smith knocks on the manager's door

“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Hawke's Bay United, and both men came out saying it was fine.

In brief

Back issues
4 Edition

The Hawke's Bay United Courier

24 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Market24 Aug 2026

Terms done: Callum Payne is going

Fee agreed, wages agreed, and Southern United waiting with a shirt. Nobody at Hawke's Bay United is pretending otherwise, and the supporters have stopped asking whether and started asking when.

Market24 Aug 2026

Hawke's Bay United turn down WaiBOP United for Tommy Nelson

The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.

Squad24 Aug 2026

Kosta Sutton in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Hawke's Bay United this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Transfer targets24 Aug 2026

Door shut on Liberato Wood

Hawke's Bay United asked and Waitakere United said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.

The dugout24 Aug 2026

No hiding place for Monty Rufer

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Monty Rufer, and the manager let it.

Squad24 Aug 2026

David O'Neill has company in his position

The competition arrived without a word said to him about it. David O'Neill keeps the shirt for now, at Hawke's Bay United's convenience rather than his own.

In brief