.When Andrew ‘Geordie’ Smith takes to the field in the Coventry Jets game against Tamworth Phoenix on Sunday 25th May, AT Coventry Sphinx, it will be his 100th consecutive appearance for the Jets, and possibly his last. He is leaving to become a Diving Instructor on the Mediterranean island of Gozo.
Stalwart lineman Smith has never missed a game since his first as a Jet in 2005. In his time with the team he has seen the highs and lows of British American football, from the humbling defeat by the Søllerød Gold Diggers of Denmark, to a 33 game undefeated run and back to back Championships. He was also an integral part of the offensive line that sealed the 2008 National Championship in a thriller against the London Blitz at the Keepmoat Stadium.
He rates the away game in Norway when the Jets played the Oslo Vikings as his best personal performance ‘I played at centre for the first time no one else wanted to be centre, so I got the job, and the MVP award.’
Geordie recalls that the best game he played in ‘It has to be the 2008 National Championship game against the London Blitz, after having a pre game argument with the Head Coach, getting benched and having to sit there until the second quarter, just waiting to get on. The game was won in the final seconds as we kicked a field goal and took the game 33-32. What a nail-biter.’
On his time at the Jets Smith said; ‘In the eight and a half seasons I’ve been with the Jets, I’ve seen many players come and go, some legends of the game; Mark Cohen, Jeremy Simms, Stuart Franklin and Anthony Perkins, to name but a few, as well as the many players who despite being less known, have all earned their place in Jets history, I'm just happy to have been a part of it. Sadly, for now, it has to come to an end, but all being well, I'LL BE BACK!