There are three things that distinguish Andrew in the world of 'field hockey' at the highest level.
Firstly, he has consistently been on top of the Australian Hockey League goal scorers, with a record of 23 goals in 2002. Secondly, although Andrew Smith has been in the Kookaburra team since 2002, he was bewilderingly left out of both the Athens and Beijing Olympic Teams. And thirdly, Andrew Smith is an unashamedly committed Christian.
Andrew Smith was apparently stillborn, whereupon the medical staff worked on him for 45 minutes, and successfully revived him. He was raised in a Christian family in Wollongong, the centre of the Illawarra industrial region just one hour south of Sydney. His dad, Eric, played his hockey for St. Matthews Hockey Club and was selected in the Illawarra representative team. Mark Tronson a Baptist minister and Well-Being Australia chairman, and author of many articles and books on field hockey, also played in those teams.
"That is my claim to fame," commented M V Tronson. "In my opinion, Eric Smith, who played fullback, was the outstanding hockey player in the Wollongong competition. His skills and defensive methodology would have cast him in any New South Wales team, had his work and family commitments allowed such a possibility."
The genes, it appears, have been inherited by Eric's son, Andrew. When the family eventually relocated to Melbourne after short terms in Newcastle (where he initially represented NSW as a nine year old) and Canberra, young Andrew was ready to show his wares. He excelled in both hockey and cricket; he was in the Victorian school boys' cricket team and captained the Victorian Under 13 hockey team and was ultimately captain of the Victorian senior squad, the Vikings. In those years Andrew decided upon hockey as his chosen sport.
His mum, Alyson, said that Andrew was told by the Victorian hockey coach that he would never be selected in an Australian Kookaburra team, but in 2002 Andrew smashed the Australian Hockey League's goal scoring record with an astonishing 23 goals for the Victorian Vikings.
Andrew Smith is very tall (6' 3" - 191cm) and physically imposing and as an attacking forward, he is not the easiest to counter and his specialist penalty corner striking role has been heralded as equal to the best in the nation.
He missed out on the Athens Olympic selections but that huge disappointment was transformed to joy a year later (2005) when selected for the Kookaburras who won the Champions Trophy Gold Medal in Chennai, India. Andrew was out injured for the 2006 World Cup, and on three separate occasions has had hip surgery which in all totalled a period of 16 months. Two years later (2007) he won a Silver Medal at the Champions Trophy Silver Medal in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Unbelievably, Andrew Smith was dropped from the Rotterdam 2008 Champions Trophy Kookaburra team but was called in after one of the players was injured. This team won the Gold Medal, beating Spain 4-1 in the final. Andrew's skills were so apparently demonstrated, that several of his team-mates commented he would be a 'strong showing' for Beijing. However, to his immense disappointment, he was dropped from the 2008 Olympic team.
However, Andrew Smith was registered by Hockey Australia as one of the two Kookaburra reserves. With so many muscle injuries caused by the nature of the artificial pitches, each Olympic team was allocated two reserves, one goalkeeper and one field player. This allowed each team the alternative strategy of registering only the one goal keeper in their 16 man squads, allowing another field player in the squad.
Alyson Smith said that the family discussed this at length, and after much prayer, Andrew finally accepted the 'reserve' position, as he may otherwise regret not going if one of the team became injured. The reserves in each team were permitted to train with their squads but were not allowed to be in the Olympic Village.
Eric and Alyson Smith decided in faith to retain their bookings for the Beijing Olympic hockey tournament.
Two minutes from the end of the fifth and final 'pool' match in the Olympic tournament, Grant Schubert, diving for a line ball, so injured himself on the artificial pitch that the team doctor ruled him out.
Andrew the reserve became Andrew the Olympian! On the day of the semi-final, Andrew moved into the Beijing Olympic Village. Andrew's sister Merewyn heard the news and caught the first flight to Beijing.
Kookaburra Coach, Barry Dancer, when presenting the Kookaburra Olympic shirt along with the Kookaburra Olympic team ring, pointed out to the squad that Andrew's determination and ability to continue despite disappointments and significant set-backs is a strength and a quality that he brings to the team. Andrew received hearty applause.
The Kookaburras and Andrew Smith won the Bronze Medal. It seemed to Andrew that this was a fitting occasion to announce his international retirement; he will, however, continue playing professionally for Club De Campo in Madrid, Spain.
Andrew's secret was his inner strength from the Lord and the faith he had in his God given hockey skills.
"All glory to our Lord," Eric and Alyson Smith exclaimed, knowing the trauma that their beloved son, Andrew, had gone through.