Smith family prepares for homecoming (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

SWINDON TOWN: Smith family prepares for homecoming

6:00am Tuesday 28th August 2012 in Sport

SHOULD Chris Smith manage even a minute of Capital One Cup action at the Britannia Stadium tonight, there’ll be one Stoke resident cheering the Samsung Win A Pro Contract champion on from the stands.

Smith’s father Gary, the man responsible for his son landing a contract with Town after he entered him in the electronics firm’s nationwide competition last year, runs a popular bakery a stone’s throw from the Potters’ former home - the Victoria Ground.

Chris, who has made one appearance for the Robins, was an unused substitute against MK Dons on Saturday and could find himself lining up against the club from which he was released aged 12 should circumstances fall in his favour tonight.

And for his dad, that would present a pretty phenomenal moment.

“I’m really, really hoping he can get on and play against Stoke,” he said. “He’s obviously a very competitive lad by nature and he really wants to play in front of a big audience at Stoke.

“He was in the office with the other Swindon lads when the draw was first made and beforehand, when they’d all asked each other who they wanted to draw, he’d said Stoke City. I don’t know whether he will be nervous if he plays, but I know my knees will be knocking on the terraces.”