Striker Jonté Smith has rejoined North Village after a two-year stint with Premier Division rivals St George’s Colts.

The timing of Smith’s return to Village arrives fresh on the heels of St George’s sacking of head coach Jarreau Hayward, but Smith, who scored a hat-trick in the FA Cup Final win against Village, is adamant his decision has nothing to do with internal politics.

“I know the sensitive nature of the topic,” Smith said.

“So I would like to go on record to say that my transfer to North Village was my own decision for personal reasons, which had nothing to do with the changes in the coaching staff.

“This was a move that I needed to make for myself. The timing of it all is unfortunate, but this has been on my mind for a little while now.”

Smith and his family are intertwined with Village and it is a return home for Smith, who started training with the club from a young age.

“I wanted to honour my family legacy as well as repay my debts to a club that raised and trained me from the age of 5,” Smith said.

“They were a big part of my development, which led to me becoming a professional footballer, for so many years.

“My great grandfather [Kenneth DeGraff], my grandfather [Ralph Bean] and my uncle [Ralph Bean Jr] all had extremely strong ties to North Village.

“My great-grandfather was the first-ever coach and Ralph Bean Sr and Jr are two North Village legends, having both won the triple crown.

“It was time to continue that legacy and hopefully write my own story in North Village history.”

Smith admits his decision to part ways with St George’s was a difficult one.

“It was always a difficult decision to make,” he added.

“This has been my community and my home for as long as I can remember. I grew up playing at Wellington Oval every day.

“This community raised me as well as supported me over the years, so it is very tough to leave.

“However, I have another community that did the same for me, and I want to repay them as well.”

Village president Shervin Dill is thrilled that Smith has chosen to return to his former home.

“As the president, I am certainly delighted to have him back,” Dill said.

“Jonté started his football development as a peewee at North Village and we were an integral part of his youth development, so we are delighted to have him back home.

“I am looking for great things from him and he will be a welcome addition to our front-line attack.”

Dill had hoped Smith would rejoin the club a few years ago after calling time on a professional career playing in England, Finland and Northern Ireland.

“We certainly was hoping he would be playing for us but we understood that he had a vision to assist St George's to get them on the map,” Dill said.

“His father [Clay Smith] is from St George's and his mother [Nicole Smith] is a Village girl, so he was certainly split and we had some big discussions when he came back to play full time in Bermuda for St George’s.

“But we understood, and he also promised he would come back home, so he is a man of his word and he's come back home to add to the legacy of Village.

“His grandfather Ralph ‘Gumbo’ Bean and his uncle Ralph Jr are both triple crown winners at Village and when I was talking to him two years ago I told him that if he joined us that I strongly felt we would be triple crown champions, but it wasn't to be done.

“I am truly happy that he is now a legend in St George's and was able to assist them. He scored a hat- trick against us ironically in the FA Cup Final and now he is coming to give back, so we are looking forward to his contribution.”

While Smith is leaving the football arm of St George’s, he is is determined to regain his place in their Cup Match starting XI after being relegated to a reserve role last year.

The batting all-rounder had an inauspicious debut in 2022, scoring four runs in two innings while claiming three wickets and a catch during the ten-wicket defeat.

Fully healed from surgery to his left knee and following a slow start to St George’s cricket campaign and being moved to No 3, he is now one of the island’s most in-form batters.

The 29-year-old’s first three innings included scores of ten, six and seven. However, a sparkling century against Somerset began a resurgence and he has tallied 241 runs in seven league matches, with 218 of those accumulated in his last four innings for an average of just under 50.

With the East Enders at home in the past two weeks Smith has sparkled, notching 60 and 42 not out, combining patience with natural aggression. His strike-rate of better than a run a ball would appear perfect to aid the challengers in their quest to seize away the trophy in August.

St George’s top order of Nzari Paynter, Oronde Bascome and Smith are each averaging close to 40 runs each time they go out to bat setting stages for the middle order, where captain Onias Bascome has feasted on boundaries.

“Being able to come in knowing we have a good start allows me to bat more free,” said Bascome, whose slog-sweep has become his go-to weapon. “Our top order have really set the tone this year for us and had made it a lot easier for the likes of myself coming in at No 4.”

Smith brings variety to the bowling attack and is an excellent fielder at cover and in catching positions.

“Last year I was made a reserve,” said Smith. “It would be even better this year to make it back in as a starter.”