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Darren's Smith Motherwell career was a curious one. Debut at sixteen. Seventy plus appearances under his belt with several important goals to boot. Yet by the time he had reached twenty-two he hadn't played a game for the first team in over a year and his time at Fir Park would soon be over.
Aged just sixteen Darren came off the bench as Motherwell lead Inverness 1-0 in an SPL encounter at Caley's temporary home at Pittodrie. Unfortunately the Highlanders almost immediately grabbed an injury time leveller to prevent a winning start for the youngster but the small band of 'Well fans present had witnessed one of the youngest players to line up for their club in many a year.
It was all the more surprising since Smith had seemingly come from nowhere to take his place on the bench and after making that debut would fail to feature in any first team game in the remainder of the campaign!
Darren did however begin the 2005'06 campaign in the first team squad and made his second appearance as a substitute in the 5-0 win over Falkirk at Fir Park.
A few days later saw Darren score his first goal for the senior side in a hard-fought League Cup victory over St Mirren at Love Street. Again Smith had come off the bench but with the game having gone to extra-time he took advantage of the extended run out and scored the second and clinching goal which saw Motherwell safely through to the Quarter Finals.
Then just 17, Darren was given a standing ovation from his more senior colleagues in the dressing room after the game such was the impact he made, although perhaps they were just grateful he had dug them out of a hole! Terry Butcher however was quick to ensure Darren's feet remained firmly on the ground after his match winning exploits, by making him clean up the dressing room and load the club's hampers on to the team bus.
Following the excitement that followed his first senior goal Darren remained on the fringes of the first team without adding any further appearances to his tally.
Throughout the remainder of the campaign he was joined in the first team squad by many of his U19 team-mates and ironically it was some of those team-mates who benefited most when Darren succumbed to injury towards the end of the season. Just as the Motherwell management began to give their more youthful players some game time Smith was forced to watch from the sidelines, his season over.
Returning to action in October 2006 Darren quickly set about making up for lost time by working hard and impressing in the reserves. When Smith was then given a chance in the first team he grabbed the opportunity with both hands, impressing on the right hand side of midfield. Darren offered 'Well a more pacy and youthful option to the more experienced McGarry and Molloy.
Smith also chipped in with a couple of high profile goals, netting an injury time equaliser against Celtic and the winner, with his first touch of the ball against Falkirk in February 2007 and again against the Bairns in the 3-3 draw at Fir Park towards the end of the 2006'07 season.
Darren got his first taste of international action for his country when he was a late call up to the Scotland U21 squad to face Germany and played 45 minutes as a substitute in the 2-0 loss at Broadwood in the spring of 2007.
Further international recognition came for Darren in the Scotland U19 squad later in the season, including a goal for his country, but sadly it wasn't enough to earn him a spot alongside Mark Reynolds in the U20 World Championship Squad for the trip to Canada. All things considered though it was a breakthrough season he could be rightly proud of.
The arrival of Mark McGhee however meant that previous reputations counted for nothing and as with every other player Darren had to prove himself all over again.
His inclusion in the first team was initially rare though through hard work and making the most of his chances when presented to him Darren made himself a fixture in the first team by the close of the season.
The bulk of Smith's appearances came from the bench, 22 times, no less and he proved himself to be a superb impact player able to change the course of the game.
His tally of four goals for the season all came after coming on as a sub, including one in the 2-1 victory over Aberdeen late in the season which all but secured 'Well's place in the UEFA Cup.
Things continued in a similar vein for Darren throughout the 08'09 campaign with just one of his twenty-two outings for the Steelmen coming from the start.
Injury ended his season prematurely with his last outing of the campaign coming, once more as a substitute in a 2-1 loss to Hearts at Tynecastle in early March. Amazingly it turned out to be his last ever action for the 'Well first team.
Surgery meant that at a crucial time when Jim Gannon was installed as Mark McGhee's replacement, Darren was stuck on the sidelines and ironically much the same occurred when Gannon himself was replaced by Craig Brown.
Darren recovered sufficiently to be allowed to go out on loan to Stenhousemuir, in an effort to gain match sharpness in the hope of pressing a claim for a place back at Fir Park, yet once again he was struck down by injury, this time a hamstring problem.
By the time Darren recovered once more the season was all but over leaving him no time at all to impress Brown and Knox.
Despite a feeling amongst some supporters that Darren had some unfinished business at the club, there was an air of inevitability when news broke that Smith would be free to leave the club and his contract would not be renewed.
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D.O.B:
27/03/1988
Born:
Lanark
Height:
6'
Weight:
11st 5Ibs
Signed From:
MFC Youth
Position:
Winger
International Caps:
 0
International Goals:
0
2009/10 Squad No:
12
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