Martin Britt
Encyclopedia
Martin Britt was a centre forward for West Ham
from 1963 to 1965 before injury ended his career whilst playing for Blackburn Rovers
.
, Britt signed for West Ham in 1963. He won three England youth team caps and played in both legs of the 1963 Youth Cup
final against Liverpool
. Britt made his full debut for West Ham in May 1963 against Blackburn Rovers
. Finding opportunities limited behind strikers Johnny Byrne
and Johnny Sissons he still managed four goals from eleven appearances in season 1963-64. Serious injury then struck when during a training session he suffered cruciate
ligament
damage. Failing to make a single appearance the following season he did score three goals from 14 appearances the next season; mostly aided by using his left leg and avoiding jumping using his damaged right leg.
Understandably annoyed Blackburn felt they had been ripped-off and that Britt's injury had not been fully revealed to them before his transfer. After a disagreement between the two clubs Blackburn gained some of Britt's transfer fee back.
Unable to play he remained at Blackburn for eighteen months in a coaching
capacity.
Leaving football he later started his own successful textile business.
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
from 1963 to 1965 before injury ended his career whilst playing for Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
.
West Ham United
Spotted playing youth team football, for Essex and London schoolboys, by West Ham chief scout, Wally St PierWally St Pier
Stanley Walter St Pier was an English footballer and scout.-Career :St Pier arrived at West Ham United from Ilford in April 1929 making his senior debut in October 1929 against Leicester City. Spending most of his time as understudy to Jim Barrett, St Pier managed only 24 appearances for The...
, Britt signed for West Ham in 1963. He won three England youth team caps and played in both legs of the 1963 Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
final against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. Britt made his full debut for West Ham in May 1963 against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. Finding opportunities limited behind strikers Johnny Byrne
Johnny Byrne (footballer)
John Joseph "Budgie" Byrne was an English professional football player.Johnny started his career playing for Epsom Town, and then Guildford City Youth, before moving to Football League club Crystal Palace, signing a professional contract on his 17th birthday...
and Johnny Sissons he still managed four goals from eleven appearances in season 1963-64. Serious injury then struck when during a training session he suffered cruciate
Cruciate
Cruciate, and similar words, can mean:-*The cruciate ligaments in the knee.*For a magic spell in the Harry Potter scenario, see crucio....
ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
damage. Failing to make a single appearance the following season he did score three goals from 14 appearances the next season; mostly aided by using his left leg and avoiding jumping using his damaged right leg.
Blackburn Rovers
Finding his selection chances still limited Britt fell out with manager Ron Greenwood and, despite still carrying a bad injury to his right knee, he transferred to Blackburn Rovers in 1967 for £25,000. He made just eight appearance for Blackburn before an exploratory operation discovered a broken knee and resulted in a piece of bone being removed from his knee. He would not play another game and retired from injury aged only 21.Understandably annoyed Blackburn felt they had been ripped-off and that Britt's injury had not been fully revealed to them before his transfer. After a disagreement between the two clubs Blackburn gained some of Britt's transfer fee back.
Unable to play he remained at Blackburn for eighteen months in a coaching
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
capacity.
Leaving football he later started his own successful textile business.