Martin Horsell
Encyclopedia
Martin Horsell is an English
professional football goalkeeper, currently playing for Weymouth
having previously played in the football league for Torquay United
.
Horsell was spotted by a scout from Plymouth Argyle
while playing for his school, the King Edward VI Community College in his hometown Totnes
. He played for the Argyle Youth sides and while attending Plymouth College was selected for the British Colleges side.
He left Plymouth in 2004 when he moved to the Bristol Academy of Sport at Filton College. Soon after starting at the College he was selected to play for the Bristol Rovers
under-18 side and in October 2004 was signed by Rovers manager Ian Atkins
on non-contract terms as cover for Kevin Miller
. He signed a professional contract with Rovers for the 2005–06 season, but failed to break into the first team.
In July 2006, after his release by Rovers, he signed for Torquay United
, by now managed by Ian Atkins
as back-up for Nathan Abbey
.
With Abbey set to leave over a contract dispute, Horsell was given his league debut in bizarre circumstances when he replaced Abbey as a substitute with seven minutes remaining of the home game with Milton Keynes Dons
, despite Torquay trailing 0–2 at the time. Abbey subsequently signed a contract with Brentford
He made his full debut in the next game, a 1–0 defeat at home to fellow strugglers Macclesfield Town
in which he was given the Man of the Match Award. However, after the signing of Kevin Miller
on loan from Southampton
, Horsell returned to being second choice goalkeeper. With Torquay relegated to the Conference National
at the end of the season, Horsell was offered a new contract. However, with the signing of both Simon Rayner
and Martin Rice, Horsell chose to seek a move back to league football.
He began the 2007–08 season with Yate Town
, signing an initial one-month contract with Conference National side Salisbury City
in late September 2007 after an injury to regular Salisbury keeper Jamie Bittner. On 29 January 2008 he signed for Conference South
side Dorchester Town
.
He was unattached when he joined Tiverton Town
in March 2008. He then joined Belgian side R.R.F.C. Montegnée
.
At the start of the 2010/11 season he is playing for Weymouth F.C.
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional football goalkeeper, currently playing for Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
having previously played in the football league for Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
.
Horsell was spotted by a scout from Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
while playing for his school, the King Edward VI Community College in his hometown Totnes
Totnes
Totnes is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
. He played for the Argyle Youth sides and while attending Plymouth College was selected for the British Colleges side.
He left Plymouth in 2004 when he moved to the Bristol Academy of Sport at Filton College. Soon after starting at the College he was selected to play for the Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
under-18 side and in October 2004 was signed by Rovers manager Ian Atkins
Ian Atkins
Ian Leslie Atkins is a former English professional footballer who became a manager later in his career, and now works as a coach with Sunderland. During a 20-year playing career he had eight clubs, including two spells with Sunderland and Birmingham City and playing more than 200 games with his...
on non-contract terms as cover for Kevin Miller
Kevin Miller (footballer)
Kevin Miller is an English football goalkeeper, currently playing for Bodmin Town FC in the South West Peninsula League....
. He signed a professional contract with Rovers for the 2005–06 season, but failed to break into the first team.
In July 2006, after his release by Rovers, he signed for Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, by now managed by Ian Atkins
Ian Atkins
Ian Leslie Atkins is a former English professional footballer who became a manager later in his career, and now works as a coach with Sunderland. During a 20-year playing career he had eight clubs, including two spells with Sunderland and Birmingham City and playing more than 200 games with his...
as back-up for Nathan Abbey
Nathan Abbey
Nathanael "Nathan" Abbey is a journeyman English professional football goalkeeper currently without a team.-Career:Abbey was born in Islington, London and began his football career as a trainee with Luton Town, turning professional in August 1995...
.
With Abbey set to leave over a contract dispute, Horsell was given his league debut in bizarre circumstances when he replaced Abbey as a substitute with seven minutes remaining of the home game with Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
, despite Torquay trailing 0–2 at the time. Abbey subsequently signed a contract with Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
He made his full debut in the next game, a 1–0 defeat at home to fellow strugglers Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
in which he was given the Man of the Match Award. However, after the signing of Kevin Miller
Kevin Miller (footballer)
Kevin Miller is an English football goalkeeper, currently playing for Bodmin Town FC in the South West Peninsula League....
on loan from Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, Horsell returned to being second choice goalkeeper. With Torquay relegated to the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
at the end of the season, Horsell was offered a new contract. However, with the signing of both Simon Rayner
Simon Rayner
Simon Christopher Rayner is a Canadian football goalkeeper, currently signed to Three Bridges F.C. in the Sussex County League Division One.-Early career:...
and Martin Rice, Horsell chose to seek a move back to league football.
He began the 2007–08 season with Yate Town
Yate Town F.C.
Yate Town F.C. is a football club based in Yate, South Gloucestershire, England. They were established in 1906 as Yate Rovers and changed their name to Yate YMCA in 1946, becoming Yate Town in 1969...
, signing an initial one-month contract with Conference National side Salisbury City
Salisbury City F.C.
Salisbury City Football Club is an English football club based in Salisbury, Wiltshire currently playing in the Conference South. They were formed in 1947 and play at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium...
in late September 2007 after an injury to regular Salisbury keeper Jamie Bittner. On 29 January 2008 he signed for Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
side Dorchester Town
Dorchester Town F.C.
Dorchester Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club, based in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and currently playing in the Blue Square Bet South...
.
He was unattached when he joined Tiverton Town
Tiverton Town F.C.
Tiverton Town Football Club are an English football club based in Tiverton. The club are currently members of the Southern Football League South & West Division and play at Ladysmead.-History:...
in March 2008. He then joined Belgian side R.R.F.C. Montegnée
R.R.F.C. Montegnée
Royal Racing Football Club Montegnée is a Belgian association football club from the municipality of Saint-Nicolas, Liège. It is currently playing in the Belgian Promotion D.- History :...
.
At the start of the 2010/11 season he is playing for Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
.