---
title: "Chris Smalling: From Maidstone to Manchester"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2015/11/22/chris-smalling-maidstone-manchester/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Features"
published: "2015-11-22T14:07:37Z"
modified: "2015-11-22T14:07:37Z"
---

# Chris Smalling: From Maidstone to Manchester

Today marks the 26th birthday of stalwart defender Chris Smalling, who will have further cause for celebrations after helping Manchester United secure a dramatic 2-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road yesterday.

And as us here at ReadManUtd want to wish our coveted Maidstone Maldini a very happy and belated birthday, below we will look back at some of the defining moments in Smalling’s so far illustrious career including his meteoric rise from non-league football to the top of the Premier League: