Bermuda international Jonte Smith is the only remaining trialist of five that started this week at Cheltenham Town. He went on for half an hour in last season's 3-2 friendly defeat by Burnley Under-23s and was due to play against Bromsgrove Sporting before the match was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. The 25-year-old former Crawley Town and Oxford United forward is still hopeful of earning a deal with the Robins, writes Jon Palmer Football Writer for the Gloucestershire Live.
How do you feel you did in last Saturday's friendly against Burnley?
I felt like it was beneficial for me to start off on the bench so I was able to see what the manager (Michael Duff) was looking for. It gave me an idea of what he expected from his strikers and when I got on the pitch I felt like I displayed that well. We wanted to win the game, but it’s pre-season and the result isn’t as important as the minutes and working on tactics. I feel I put in a decent performance. I was more looking forward to playing in the game on Tuesday when I was likely to start and could give more of an impression to the manager.
How many days have you trained with Cheltenham?
I started last Friday, played in the game on Saturday, was back in on Monday, due to play Tuesday and then back in on Thursday. I’ve enjoyed it. It’s a really good group of lads and I feel like they’ve accepted me quite quickly. The manager has made sure he has a good dressing room and hopefully I fit into that too.
Did you know any of the players at Cheltenham before arriving on trial?
Charlie Raglan had just left Oxford when I joined. Other than him there wasn’t anyone I knew, but I got on with everyone so quickly and so well.
You have played in League One for Crawley Town and Oxford United, but not in League Two, what do you think it would be like?
The way I look at it is, the goal doesn’t move and if I am given one or two chances in a game, I will score goals. Whenever I’ve played regularly I’ve scored goals and I feel like I can do that here as well, given a chance.
You have a good goalscoring record in non-league football, what's been the key to this?
When I am playing regularly and feeling comfortable, you tend to get the best out of me. I want to be settled somewhere, playing games and scoring goals. Cheltenham would be a good place to do that.
What was the Concacaf Gold Cup experience like this summer?
As soon as I got back to Bermuda I’ve been training, playing friendlies and playing some good opposition in the Gold Cup, Costa Rica, Haiti and Nicaragua. It was an unbelievable experience and I made 16 flights in three weeks going to different parts of the country and playing games, it’s something I’ll never forget. Looking ahead to September, October and November, we have Panama home and away and Mexico home and away, both teams were in the last World Cup, so it’s quality opposition. Kyle Lightbourne, who used to play for Stoke City, is our coach and Shaun Goater used to be our manager too. He was also my coach in Bermuda when I was 15.
What's the most popular sport in Bermuda?
Football. Some cricket fans will say cricket, but football number one. My father (Clay) played for Bermuda at the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
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