Henry Martin (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Henry Martin


fullname = Harry Martin
dateofbirth = birth date|1891|12|5|df=y
cityofbirth = Selston, Nottinghamshire
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = 1974
height =
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Outside left
youthyears =
youthclubs = Sutton Junction F.C.
years = 1912–1922
1922–1925
1925–1930
clubs = Sunderland
Nottingham Forest
Rochdale
caps(goals) = 213 (23)
107 (13)
093 (18)
manageryears = 1933–1935
managerclubs = Mansfield Town
nationalyears = 1914
nationalteam = England
nationalcaps(goals) = 001 0(0)
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Henry Martin (5 December 1891 – 1974) was an English professional footballer who played as an outside left for Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Rochdale. At Sunderland he won the Football League title and reached the Cup Final in 1913. He made one appearance for England in 1914, and was later the manager at Mansfield Town.

Playing career

underland

Martin was born at Selston, Nottinghamshire and played his youth football with Sutton Junction F.C., based in Sutton-in-Ashfield.cite book | author=Graham Betts| title=England: Player by player | publisher=Green Umbrella Publishing | year=2006|pages=p.167| isbn=1-905009-63-1] He joined Sunderland as a professional in January 1912 and made rapid progress with the club.

His debut came at Anfield on 5 April 1912 when he scored in a 2–1 defeat by Liverpool [ [http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Imatchdets/IMD3910.asp Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1, 5 April 1912 (Match summary)] ] . The following day he was on the scoresheet again in a 4–0 victory over Everton. The other three goals were scored by George Holley. [ [http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Imatchdets/IMD3911.asp Sunderland 4 Everton 0, 6 April 1912 (Match summary)] ]

He was ever-present in 1912–13 helping Sunderland to win the 1913 Football League Championship. He contributed three league goals in the championship winning season, including another against Liverpool in a 7–0 victory, in which Charlie Buchan scored five. [ [http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Imatchdets/IMD3844.asp Sunderland 7 Liverpool 0, 7 December 1912 (Match summary)] ] Sunderland narrowly missed out on the Double, losing the FA Cup final 1–0 to Aston Villa, who themselves were runners-up in the League.

The following year he made his debut for England against Ireland on 14 February 1914, when he was joined by his Sunderland colleague Francis Cuggy. The match was played at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough and England were defeated 3–0. [ [http://www.englandstats.com/matchreport.php?mid=117 England 0 - Ireland 3, 14 February 1914 (Match summary)] ] This was the first time that England had been beaten by Ireland on home soil. [ [http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2003/6/11/88873.html Today's England squad go fourth into history] ]

His football career was then interrupted by the First World War. During the war he guested for Nottingham Forest and he took part in two of the victory internationals played at the end of the war [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng-warvic-intres.html England - War-Time/Victory Internationals - Details] ] but he was unable to break back into the full England side.

After the war he played for another three seasons for Sunderland, rarely missing a match before moving to his native county to join Nottingham Forest on a permanent basis. In his Sunderland career he played a total of 230 first team matches with 22 goals.

Nottingham Forest

He joined Forest in May 1922 and remained with the club for three seasons (again rarely missing a match) as they struggled at the lower end of the First Division table, finally being relegated in 1925.

Rochdale

In 1925 he dropped down to the Third Division North with Rochdale where he continued to play until 1930, although by then his appearances were more infrequent.

Coaching and management career

In 1929 he had been appointed trainer with Rochdale where he remained until 1933.

In December 1933, he was appointed manager at Mansfield Town in succession to Jack Hickling. 1934–35 saw some improvement in the club's league position when for the first time Town finished in the top half of the Football League Third Division North table, a creditable 8th place overall. He also guided them to the Third Round of the FA Cup, losing to First Division Burnley. At the end of the season, his tenure as manager ended when he was surprisingly sacked and replaced by Charlie Bell. [ [http://www.stagsnet.net/vintage/history/Part5.html The History Of Mansfield Town FC] ]

He then joined Swindon Town as a trainer where he remained until the 1950s.

Honours

;Sunderland
*The Football League champions: 1912–13
*FA Cup finalist: 1913

References

External links

*Englandstats|id=630|name=Henry Martin
* [http://www.englandfc.com/Profiles/php/PlayerProfileByName.php?id=645 England profile]
* [http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Mplayers/MPG601.asp Full details of Sunderland career]