Fred Martin

Infobox Football biography
playername = Fred Martin


fullname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1929|5|13
cityofbirth = Carnoustie
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height = Height|ft=6|in=2
nickname =
position = Goalkeeper, Inside Forward
currentclub =
youthyears =
youthclubs = Carnoustie Panmure
years = 1946–1960
clubs = Aberdeen
caps(goals) = 206 (0)
nationalyears = 1954–1955
nationalteam = Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 006 (0)

Fred Martin (born May 13, 1929 in Carnoustie) is a retired Scottish professional international footballer who played as a goalkeeper. His only senior club was Aberdeen, with whom he played for 14 years. He also represented Scotland during their first FIFA World Cup finals appearance in 1954.

Club career

Originally signed from Carnoustie Panmure as an inside forward,cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1998/06/08/swnlei08.html| publisher=The Daily Telegraph|title=Leighton is the latest in a long line of fall guys|date=1998-06-08] Martin was converted into a goalkeeper during his period of National Service. He made his Aberdeen debut in his new position in a 3-1 defeat by East Fife in 1949-50, scoring an own goal when he fumbled a last minute cross into his net.cite book| first=Clive| last=Leatherdale| title=The Aberdeen Football Companion| publisher=John Donald| year=1986| id=ISBN 0-85976-182-7 | pages=33] He recovered from this start and became a regular over the next seven seasons, helping the "Dons" to their first League title in 1954-55 and the 1955-56 League Cup. Martin also featured in three Scottish Cup finals for the "Reds" (1952-53, 1953-54 and 1958-59), although he was on the losing side on each occasion. The latter years of his time at Pittodrie saw Martin fall victim to a succession of injuries and after making only 4 appearances during the season, he retired at the end of the 1959-60 campaign.

cotland career

Martin was chosen to represent the Scottish Football League in 1952 and two years later earned his first full Scotland cap in a 1-0 win against Norway, making his debut alongside "Dons" team-mates Paddy Buckley and George Hamilton. He was selected in the Scotland squad for the 1954 World Cup and played in both Scotland's matches, a 1-0 defeat by Austria and a 7-0 defeat by Uruguay. Martin was considered partially responsible for scale of the Uruguayan defeat and dropped, with his inconsistency being highlighted in the media. In the opinion of Scottish football journalist and historian Bob Crampsey "when the mood was upon him, he could be very good, but at other times, played exactly as you would expect an inside-right to play if shoved between the posts."

Martin was recalled for games against Hungary and England in late 1954 and early 1955 but on each occasion Scotland lost heavily (4-2 and 7-2 respectively) and his international career was effectively over. He conceded a total of 20 goals in his six games for Scotland.

References

External links

* [http://www.afc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/forcereg/halloffame/0,,10284~980484,00.html Hall of Fame Profile] at official Aberdeen F.C. website
* [http://www.londonhearts.com/scotland/players/fredmartin.html Scotland appearances] at londonhearts.com Scotland section

Persondata
NAME=Martin, Fred
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Scottish footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=May 13, 1929
PLACE OF BIRTH=Carnoustie, Scotland
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=