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Alan Martin (footballer, born 1923)

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For the Australian player, see Alan Martin (Australian rules footballer).

Alan Martin
Personal information
Full name John Alan Martin[1]
Date of birth (1923-11-23)23 November 1923[1]
Place of birth Smallthorne, England[1]
Date of death 2004 (aged 80–81)
Position(s) Half-back / Inside-forward
Youth career
Nettlebank Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1941–1951 Port Vale 169 (28)
1951–1955 Stoke City 104 (6)
1955–1957 Bangor City
1957–1959 Port Vale 19 (0)
Northwich Victoria
Total 292 (34)
Managerial career
Northwich Victoria
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Alan Martin (23 November 1923 – 2004) was an English footballer who played as a half-back and inside-forward. A pacey and intelligent player, he scored 94 goals in 292 league appearances in eleven years in the Football League.

He began his career at Port Vale, turning professional in December 1942. He was sold to Stoke City in exchange for Albert Mullard and £10,000 in September 1951, and played First Division football for the "Potters". He spent 1955 to 1957 at Bangor City before re-joining Port Vale in July 1957. He helped the "Valiants" to win the Fourth Division title in 1958–59 before moving on to Northwich Victoria.

Career

[edit]

Martin joined Port Vale in February 1941 as an amateur, signing professional forms in December 1942.[1] He played 14 Third Division South games in 1946–47.[1] He scored his first senior goals at The Old Recreation Ground in a 4–1 win over Ipswich Town on 1 November 1947, and was an ever-present throughout the 1947–48 campaign, scoring eight goals.[1] He again played every minute of the 1948–49 season, and also bagged seven goals.[1] He scored eight goals in 28 games in 1949–50, and five goals in 46 games in 1950–51.[1] Manager Gordon Hodgson died in June 1951, and his replacement, Ivor Powell, sold Martin to Potteries derby rivals to Stoke City in exchange for Albert Mullard and £10,000 in September 1951.[1] This was a club record for Stoke.[2]

Martin scored twice in 34 First Division games in 1951–52, as the "Potters" narrowly avoided relegation under Bob McGrory. However, relegation was not avoided in 1952–53 under new boss Frank Taylor, with Martin scoring four goals in 30 appearances. He made 38 Second Division appearances in 1953–54 but featured just six times in 1954–55, and left the Victoria Ground for Welsh club Bangor City.[3]

Martin returned to Burslem to re-sign for Port Vale on non-contract terms in July 1957; the club were now playing at Vale Park and managed by Norman Low, though were still in the Third Division South.[1] He featured just three times in 1957–58, but made 16 appearances in the Fourth Division title-winning season of 1958–59.[1] He then left the club to become player-manager of Northwich Victoria, and also spent time coaching the Vale juniors.[1]

Style of play

[edit]

Former teammate Roy Sproson said that: "Alan's assets were his pace and good control. He was extremely good on the ball and a highly intelligent player too."[4]

Career statistics

[edit]

Source:[5]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 1946–47 Third Division South 14 0 0 0 14 0
1947–48 Third Division South 42 8 1 0 43 8
1948–49 Third Division South 42 6 1 1 43 7
1949–50 Third Division South 24 7 4 1 28 8
1950–51 Third Division South 42 5 4 1 46 6
1951–52 Third Division South 5 2 0 0 5 2
Total 169 28 10 3 179 31
Stoke City 1951–52 First Division 34 2 4 0 38 2
1952–53 First Division 29 4 1 0 30 4
1953–54 Second Division 38 0 3 0 41 0
1954–55 Second Division 3 0 3 0 6 0
Total 104 6 11 0 115 6
Port Vale 1957–58 Third Division South 3 0 0 0 3 0
1958–59 Fourth Division 16 0 0 0 16 0
Total 19 0 0 0 19 0
Career total 292 34 21 2 313 36

Honours

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Port Vale

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 185. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ "Record recruits made huge impacts to justify their big-money moves". The Sentinel Green 'Un. 6 February 2016. p. 7.
  3. ^ Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  4. ^ Harper, Chris (10 February 1975). "Sproson's Eleven". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  5. ^ Alan Martin at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  6. ^ Kent, Jeff (1990). "Fame and Fortune (1950–1959)". The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 171–196. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
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