Gillingham defender Andy Smith motivated by Hull City’s promotion to the Premier League and the buzz of a World Cup that sees his old team-mate Alfie Jones playing for Canada

Gillingham defender Andy Smith says watching his old team win promotion and seeing friends at the World Cup has given him extra motivation to succeed.

Smith’s former club Hull City secured their top-flight return through the Championship play-offs last month and Smith, who left them permanently for Gillingham last summer after a successful loan spell, was among those celebrating from afar.

Smith said: “Good friends of mine are still at the club and watching them succeed at Wembley and get promotion to the Premier League has really given me a bit of motivation to try and produce something similar next year.

“Obviously, nothing’s ever going to be certain in football, but it gave me a big spurt of motivation.”

The 24-year-old was unable to make it to Wembley because he was away on holiday, but made sure he watched the game.

“I was a bit gutted about [missing the game], but I had it on the telly,” he said.

“I made sure I watched it, and I was obviously buzzing for the club and for the city. I’ve got a lot of time for a lot of people there.

“I was born down south, but I moved to Hull when I was two. It’s all I’ve ever really known. I had a season ticket growing up, so it was a nice day.”

Although a year has passed since his permanent departure, Smith still has strong connections with the club.

“It feels like a while ago since I left, but there’s still a few players from when I was there,” he said.

“The skipper, Lewis Coyle, and a few of the other players were all there when I was there, so I was rooting for them more than anything.

“I was around the city when I got back [from holiday]. Everyone was celebrating, so it’s been good.”

Smith experienced being around a promotion-winning team at Hull when they won the League 1 title