Spalding United striker Gregg Smith discusses abuse on the pitch and his 'gentle giant' nature off it

‘How did we let him score?’ ‘He’s going for a pie in a minute!’ Spalding United striker Gregg Smith gets his fair share of abuse when he takes to the pitch - but how does he take it?

“It’s not recent. It’s been going on for my whole career, for years and years,” he says.

“To be honest, it doesn’t bother me. It just spurs me on. I know I’m going into hostile environments, I know they don’t like me. I’m not interested.

“I go there to do a job, and hopefully score because if I do it puts the icing on the cake for me.”

Gregg is a football man through and through. He’s played at non-league level for 16 years for the likes of Boston United, Grantham Town and Stamford - and is now in his third spell with Spalding.

Despite starting out as a central midfielder and having a stint at right-back before moving to the top of the pitch, he has always embodied the same on-pitch traits that make him a nightmare to play against.

“A few guys at my early teams taught me a lot to do with holding the ball up and shielding it,” he says.

“I was very raw when I came into semi-professional football, and I wanted to learn and listen to the experienced players - and it helped me to no end.

“I still use those tips and techniques that they taught me when I was 18.

“It’s a dying breed, isn’t it? Target men and that way of playing is dying because of the modern way of playing the game.

“Old-fashioned centre forwards don’t exist anymore. For me personally they’re worth their weight in gold, but it’s a matter of opinion.”

He’s a fan favourite on the pitch for whoever he plays for - but what is Gregg like off the pitch?

“I’m like a teddy bear, I suppose. I’m a gentle giant, I’ve got no malice,” he says.

“When I cross the white line, I’m ready for war. I want to win at all costs.”

The 32-year-old is a big family man, and has been married to wife Lucy for nearly ten years.

She and their two kids Zack (10) and Zoey (8) come along to all of Gregg’s home games to support him.

“I remember when I was at King’s Lynn and we had my little girl at the side in a pushchair,” he says.

“My wife is my rock. Everything we do we do together.”

Gregg left Spalding on loan earlier this season after a fall-out with the club’s hierarchy, but was recalled when new boss Brett Whaley took over at the helm.

He says the club will always have a special place in his heart.

“It’s the same with any club that makes you feel welcome. The fans are class, and they’re always the same wherever you go when you put the effort in,” he said.

Now approaching the end of his career, Gregg is already looking at life after he hangs up his boots.

He has taken the first steps into his coaching career, and currently works with the DP Soccer Academy in Newark - with plans to go through his coaching badges.

He says non-league management could be an option in the future. For now, however, he’s focused on continuing to prove his doubters wrong.

He did just that recently when he scored a stunning goal to beat a Halesowen Town side whose fans had been abusing him - and he took the opportunity to celebrate right in front of them.

“I try and goad them a little bit. I’ll stick my belly out - it doesn’t bother me what anybody thinks of me,” he adds.

“I know I play in a horrible way, but if I was playing for their team it would be the other way around.

“You either love me or you hate me, and I’m not bothered about which way it is.

“I don’t want to go out of the game. I couldn’t go a Saturday not knowing what to do.”