Barrie Martin
Encyclopedia
Barrie Martin was an English professional footballer. He spent seven years at Blackpool
in the 1950s and 1960s, making almost 200 Football League appearances for the club.
at Bloomfield Road
on 23 April. He also appeared in the final league game three days later, another defeat, this time at Tottenham Hotspur
.
Joe Smith retired after 23 years as Blackpool manager at the end of 1957–58. His successor for the 1958–59 campaign was former Pool player Ron Suart
. Suart gave six league starts to Martin.
It was Martin's third season at Blackpool, 1959–60, that he properly broke into the team. He made 38 league appearances, missing only four games. He also scored his first goal for the club, in a 3–1 victory over Chelsea
at Bloomfield Road on 12 December.
In 1960–61, Martin was ever-present in Blackpool's first twelve games of the league campaign, but he went on to miss the next 22. He returned to the line-up on 31 March, with eight games remaining, of which he appeared in six.
Conversely, Martin missed only one league game of the 1961–62 campaign (and one of Blackpool's 52 total games, which included a run to the semi-finals of the League Cup
).
He went one better in 1962–63, appearing in all of the club's 47 league and cup games.
Martin chalked up another forty league appearances in 1963–64, his final season at the seaside. His swan song
was in the final game of the league campaign, a 4–3 defeat at Ipswich Town
on 25 April.
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in the 1950s and 1960s, making almost 200 Football League appearances for the club.
Blackpool
Martin made his debut for Joe Smith's Blackpool in the penultimate league game of the 1957–58 season, in a single-goal defeat by EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
on 23 April. He also appeared in the final league game three days later, another defeat, this time at Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
.
Joe Smith retired after 23 years as Blackpool manager at the end of 1957–58. His successor for the 1958–59 campaign was former Pool player Ron Suart
Ron Suart
Ronald Suart is an English former football player and manager.-Playing days:Suart was a full-back at Blackpool, playing alongside fellow defenders George Farrow and Harry Johnston in a team which also included Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen. Blackpool reached the 1948 FA Cup Final, but Suart...
. Suart gave six league starts to Martin.
It was Martin's third season at Blackpool, 1959–60, that he properly broke into the team. He made 38 league appearances, missing only four games. He also scored his first goal for the club, in a 3–1 victory over Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
at Bloomfield Road on 12 December.
In 1960–61, Martin was ever-present in Blackpool's first twelve games of the league campaign, but he went on to miss the next 22. He returned to the line-up on 31 March, with eight games remaining, of which he appeared in six.
Conversely, Martin missed only one league game of the 1961–62 campaign (and one of Blackpool's 52 total games, which included a run to the semi-finals of the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
).
He went one better in 1962–63, appearing in all of the club's 47 league and cup games.
Martin chalked up another forty league appearances in 1963–64, his final season at the seaside. His swan song
Swan song
"Swan song" is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement. The phrase refers to an ancient belief that the Mute Swan is completely silent during its lifetime until the moment just before death, when it sings one beautiful song...
was in the final game of the league campaign, a 4–3 defeat at Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
on 25 April.