The accents of football, its folklore and most of all its humour, were gift-wrapped for a boy from Preston with a God-given appreciation for the game.

Today he is the manager of Clitheroe, who play in UniBond League Division One North, but to say Smith lives and breathes football is probably understating the obvious.

He has had more clubs than Tiger Woods, and delivered goals galore for Preston Postal FC, Fleetwood Town, Barrow, Kirkham and Wesham, Lytham, Bamber Bridge, Great Harwood Town, BAC Preston and Accrington Stanley.

His winning goal for Kendal Town, in the last minute of their tense play-off final tie against Gresley Rovers three years ago, is still remembered with great affection at Parkside Road.

"I was 40, but that goal was the proudest moment in my career," recalled Smith.

"I'll never forget the raw emotion of that day as long as I live.

"Kendal had missed out on automatic promotion through goal difference, won a penalty shoot-out in the play-off semi-final, and then to clinch the final with seconds left was amazing.

"I remember Ricky Mercer flying a cross over and it just opened up in front of me.

"I guided the ball home and Kendal were a UniBond League Premier Division club for the first time in their history.

"But that's the sort of drama football brings, doesn't it?

Smith, a courteous and obliging man, savours his football. Every game is an event.

Last season Smith hung up his semi-pro boots, but admits "I have to play at least twice a week – it is a drug.

"I still turn out for Ingol's Sunday League side, their Vets' team on Thursday –- and I got the winner for Euxton Villa Over-35s in the semi-final of the Umbro Cup last weekend.

"I felt like I'd scored at Wembley.

"I felt 24 again, never mind 44. Blimey! I'm meant to be retired.

"The other week we were short of numbers, so I named myself as a substitute at Skelmersdale.

"I was going, 'Go on Pete lad, get yourself on and score a goal'. I didn't get on, but I'd never rule out a comeback.

"I wish I could play on for another 30 years."

Proud as punch he showed me the medals and silverware in the cabinet in his front room.

"It is the people that make football the greatest game in the world.

"I've got a scrapbook a group of children presented me when I was at Great Harwood – they called it the Peter Smith fan club.

"It is full of cuttings, cartoons and drawings. And do you know, I treasure that as much as my medals and cups.

"I'd had two years without football in my life and it opened my eyes to the game again."

Smith scored 126 goals in 163 starts for Great Harwood – and is still listed in the legends section on their website, although the Lancashire club are no longer in business.

"Great Harwood won two promotions, the Lancashire Cup, and fought their way through to the quarter-finals of the FA Vase – and to be appreciated in that manner was something very special indeed.

"Yet nothing can replace the feeling of scoring a goal.

"That elation, that incredible rush of energy – it still brings me a special buzz in my life."

Smith took charge of Clitheroe earlier this year, and a win at Trafford toady would see the Ribble Valley club clinch their highest-ever placing in the non-league pyramid.

He cut his managerial teeth at Kendal, saving them from relegation in his first season and guiding the Cumbrians to their first senior cup final appearance for 30 years the season after.

"Going into the management game was an eye-opener," he said.

"I've seen players and managers in non-league football who've lost their marriages because of the pressures.

"They'd split up from their partners because they brought that pressure home and were not able to deal with it.

"I can understand how that happens, but I'd never bring that home to my family. That would be totally unfair.

"You can't imagine what a Championship manager fighting to stay in the league has to deal with.

"If we get sacked we carry on with our lives, but it can be the end of you in the professional game if you lose your job.

"Football was never my bread and butter, it was always about enjoyment.

"Odds are stacked against you in management, players letting you down, supporters having a gripe about team selection and so on.

"You can't please everybody and have to realise that very quickly indeed."

Non-league, like the senior game, has changed almost beyond recognition.

"It's very different from 20 years ago. When I played I'd never ask for a penny.

"I let the goals do all the talking, then we'd talk money. Today they want it easy.

"They play half a good season, and want this and that. It's, 'How much am I going to get? How much expenses can you pay me?'

"They ask silly money, and haven't proved themselves. The mentality has changed and I find that disappointing. They're too pampered, I think. Some need a rocket."

Smith was not just another promising schoolboy who settled for Sunday football.

He played for the Preston town team alongside Steve Walsh, the former Wigan and Leicester defender.

"We were both decent prospects, yet North End never offered us anything, or asked us along for a trial.

"One day Steve's dad packed us in the car and took us up to Wigan Athletic.

"I just had this incredible enthusiasm and hunger for the game. I've never lost that."

One of Smith's biggest pals is Lancaster boss Tony Hesketh, who paid Great Harwood £3,500 to take him to Barrow.

Smith admits they are still talking, despite City's thumping 5-0 win at Clitheroe last week.

"Tony's a great guy, a very good manager. I learnt a lot from him and guys like Tony Greenwood.

"It was a dream start at Barrow. I scored two in my first game at Buxton, then a hat-trick on my home debut in a 6-2 win against Chorley.

"One was a diving header, and I scored one with my left and the other with my right.

"That was special. I've only scored two hat-tricks in my career. At Accrington Stanley I played up front with Brett Ormerod. He'd just come into the team. We hit it off straight away. He was as brave as a lion, a bundle of raw energy.

"I always knew he had a chance of making it and then Blackpool bought him.

"Non-league will always produce gems like Brett, and is a fantastic grounding for young talent."

Smith's football passion still burns bright.

"When I was a kid I'd spend all day on Ashton Park in the holidays playing football and looking forward to birthdays when you'd get a new kit or boots. They would be 20-a-side games, and all the kids seemed to be involved.

"I don't see that these days and that's really sad.

"I've never fallen out with anybody in football, as the game's been very good to me.

"It has played such a big part in my life, along with my wife Christine and my two lovely daughters. I'm very lucky."