Colin began his career at Nottingham Forest signing as a schoolboy in April 1976. However he never made the Forest first team and was released in February 1982. After a short spell in Hong Kong with Caroline Hill and a trial with Huddersfield, he joined Norwich on a non-contract basis. This lasted just six weeks in which he made five appearances, two as substitute.

He returned to Hong Kong to play for See Bee before joining amateur side Shepshed Charterhouse. He joined Cardiff City in October 1983 and played 50 games for the Bluebirds before transferring to Aldershot Town in December 1984. Here he found a niche as a central defender but Aldershot's overall success did not match that of Colin Smith. The team went bankrupt and dropped out of the football league. Colin later joined non-league Wokingham Town.