Hungerford’s George Smith describes recovery from 18-month ACL injury

Hungerford Town’s George Smith has endured a challenging 18-months.

The combative central midfielder was initially injured in a National League South game against Hampton & Richmond back in April 2023.

What would usually be a run of the mill challenge would end up costing the 25-year-old an entire season of his career.

“It was a shoulder to shoulder,” he explained.

“My foot got caught and my knee went… I knew straight away.

“The players around me, the opposition, they knew what had happened.

“The pain was bad, I knew something wasn’t right.

Smith sought medical help straight afterwards, but a misdiagnosis only served to prolong his time on the side lines.

“I went to the hospital the next day, and they got it wrong.

“They said I had only sprained my knee.

“I spent six weeks rehabbing it, then came back last summer for pre-season.

“I played five games… but everyone thought I still wasn’t right.

“Then it popped out again, so I went for an MRI.

“The doctor called later and I told him I’d been playing games.

“He said ‘I don’t know how… because you’ve got no ACL’.”

The news was tough to take, with Smith having hoped to continue his progress and help his side get back on track following relegation.

“I was disappointed, because I knew it was a big season for myself and the club.

“It felt like bad luck really.”

From that point onwards, Smith’s footballing life has been one focussed on rehabilitation, working with a sports therapist who now plays for the club, forward Zidan Akers.

“I’ve been doing three days a week on legs, strengthening, getting mobility back,” he said.

“It’s been a long 10-months of gym… a bit lonely, but you’ve got to do the hard graft to get back on the pitch.”

Such a long absence can make it difficult to stay involved, but Smith is sure that he’ll fit back in quickly.

“I’m one of the senior lads now, but it’s hard to socialise with the boys when you’re not out there on the battlefield with them, you’re not bleeding with them,” he explained.

“You don’t get the same bond, but I’m good mates with all of them.

“I don’t think there’s many who can do what I do, breaking up play, winning the ball, so I think I can fit in nicely.

“Louis McGrory is back, who I played with for a while, so I think it will go well.”

Such a lengthy road to recovery has come with difficult moments, but with the support of manager Danny Robinson, Smith is now on the verge of making his return.

“He’s been spot on, he knows what I’m like.

“I’m an old school player and he knows what I’m about, I just deal with it and crack on.

“He always says to call him if I need a chat, he’s always there… getting me involved with the lads.

“It’s starting to click more now I’m coming back.”

Smith believes that Hungerford can push on now, having revived their season with a 9-3 win against Plymouth Parkway last weekend.

“We’ve seen the quality, now we need to perform like that week in, week out,” he said.

“Even if we don't perform, we need to find a way to win.

“We’re slowly finding a way to do that.”