Richard Martin (footballer born 1987)
Encyclopedia
Richard William Martin is an English
footballer who currently plays the Puerto Rico Islanders
in the North American Soccer League.
with whom he trialled in 2004 and Everton
in 2006.
Martin made his first team debut for Brighton in a pre-season friendly against Le Havre AC
and went on to feature in four more ties including starts against Oxford United
and AFC Bournemouth
. During the course of the 2005–06 season he made fourteen appearances on the substitute bench as understudy to Irish international Wayne Henderson and also had a successful loan
spell at Kingstonian
helping them move from 18th to seventh position in the league before being recalled by the club.
At the beginning of the 2006–07 season Martin was sent on a season-long loan to Conference South
side Dorchester Town, making eleven appearances and helping Dorchester challenge for a playoff place before being recalled by Brighton after suffering an injury. Martin then went out on loan to Folkestone Invicta
at the end of February 2007 and helped the club avoid relegation playing in every one of their remaining games.
Martin was released at the end of his contract in May 2007 his departure coinciding with that of long time goalkeeping coach, John Keeley
. In August 2007 two weeks before the start of the new Premiership season Martin, still without a club, was invited to train with Manchester City for a week by goalkeeping coach Eric Steele. However, injuries to Joe Hart
and Andreas Isaksson
resulted in Martin unexpectedly playing for City that weekend. After impressing in the friendly fixture Martin was given a month long contract. Martin continued to impress in subsequent premier reserve team fixtures, including a victory over Manchester United. This didn't go unnoticed as City boss Sven-Göran Eriksson
saw fit to extend Martin's contract to the end of the season. At the end of the Premier League 2007-08 season Martin made his Manchester City first team debut in the Pok Oi Charity Cup against a South China Invitational XI.
On the 17 April 2009 Martin joined Conference National
league-leaders Burton Albion
on an emergency loan as cover for their two remaining games of the season, after Kevin Poole
suffered an injury. At the end of the 2008–09 season Manchester City decided against renewing Martin's contract.
On 1 July 2009, Martin was taken on trial by League One
side Yeovil Town
and went on to appear in four pre-season games before signing a one year contract prior to the start of the 2009–10 season. Martin made his debut for Yeovil in their 2–1 away defeat against Bournemouth
on 1 September in the Football League Trophy
. After making three league and two cup appearances during the first half of the 2009–10 season, on 19 January 2010, Martin was loaned out to Conference National
club Grays Athletic
to gain match experience. He made his debut in the 4-0 home defeat to Conference leaders Oxford United
on 23 January 2010. He didn't fair any better in the next league game this time being subject to a 4–1 defeat to Kidderminster Harriers
. After those two 4 goal defeats, Grays again slipped to defeat this time just 3-0 to Rushden & Diamonds
although Martin did save three penalties.
He was released along with three other players on 13 May 2010. Martin returned to pre-season training in July but did not sign a contract and was gone before the start of the 2010-2011 season
. On 14 August 2010, Martin turned out for Conference South side Havant & Waterlooville
due to the injury and suspension of their other two goalkeepers.
On 31 December 2010, Yeovil brought in Martin for the second time. The length of the contract was unspecified.
of the North American Soccer League. He subsequently signed with the club on April 7. He made his debut for Puerto Rico on May 21, 2011, in a 3-0 loss to the Carolina RailHawks
. His second appearance came on July 31 against Montreal Impact
at the Saputo Stadium
.
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...
footballer who currently plays the Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the North American Soccer League.
England
Martin grew up in Liverpool and progressed successfully through the youth ranks at Brighton and was awarded a professional contract in September 2004 on reaching his 17th birthday. During this time the highly rated 'keeper was a target for a number of premiership clubs including LiverpoolLiverpool 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...
with whom he trialled in 2004 and Everton
Everton 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...
in 2006.
Martin made his first team debut for Brighton in a pre-season friendly against Le Havre AC
Le Havre AC
Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association is a French association football club based in Le Havre. The club was founded originally as an athletics and rugby club in 1872, thus making it the oldest association football and rugby club registered in France...
and went on to feature in four more ties including starts against Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
and AFC Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
. During the course of the 2005–06 season he made fourteen appearances on the substitute bench as understudy to Irish international Wayne Henderson and also had a successful loan
Loan (football)
In sports, a loan involves a particular player being allowed to temporarily play for a club other than the one he is currently contracted to. Loan deals may last from a few weeks to all season-long....
spell at Kingstonian
Kingstonian F.C.
Kingstonian Football Club are an English, semi-professional football club that are playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division for the 2011–12 season. The club has played at Kingsmeadow in Kingston upon Thames since 1989, after leaving their traditional Richmond Road ground...
helping them move from 18th to seventh position in the league before being recalled by the club.
At the beginning of the 2006–07 season Martin was sent on a season-long loan to 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, making eleven appearances and helping Dorchester challenge for a playoff place before being recalled by Brighton after suffering an injury. Martin then went out on loan to Folkestone Invicta
Folkestone Invicta F.C.
Folkestone Invicta F.C. are a football club based in the town of Folkestone, Kent, England. They play their home matches at Cheriton Road, currently known under the terms of a sponsorship deal as the Buzzlines Stadium, and currently compete in the Isthmian League Division One South.-Kent County...
at the end of February 2007 and helped the club avoid relegation playing in every one of their remaining games.
Martin was released at the end of his contract in May 2007 his departure coinciding with that of long time goalkeeping coach, John Keeley
John Keeley
John Keeley is a retired English football goalkeeper.John Keeley was signed from Chelmsford City after gaining football league experience with Southend United....
. In August 2007 two weeks before the start of the new Premiership season Martin, still without a club, was invited to train with Manchester City for a week by goalkeeping coach Eric Steele. However, injuries to Joe Hart
Joe Hart
Charles Joseph John "Joe" Hart is an English football goalkeeper who plays for Premier League club Manchester City and the England national football team and was previously a regular for the England under-21 team....
and Andreas Isaksson
Andreas Isaksson
Andreas Isaksson is a Swedish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven and for the Swedish national team.-Club career:...
resulted in Martin unexpectedly playing for City that weekend. After impressing in the friendly fixture Martin was given a month long contract. Martin continued to impress in subsequent premier reserve team fixtures, including a victory over Manchester United. This didn't go unnoticed as City boss Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City....
saw fit to extend Martin's contract to the end of the season. At the end of the Premier League 2007-08 season Martin made his Manchester City first team debut in the Pok Oi Charity Cup against a South China Invitational XI.
On the 17 April 2009 Martin joined 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...
league-leaders Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
on an emergency loan as cover for their two remaining games of the season, after Kevin Poole
Kevin Poole
Kevin Poole is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Football League Two side Burton Albion, where he is also goalkeeping coach...
suffered an injury. At the end of the 2008–09 season Manchester City decided against renewing Martin's contract.
On 1 July 2009, Martin was taken on trial by League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
and went on to appear in four pre-season games before signing a one year contract prior to the start of the 2009–10 season. Martin made his debut for Yeovil in their 2–1 away defeat against Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
on 1 September in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
. After making three league and two cup appearances during the first half of the 2009–10 season, on 19 January 2010, Martin was loaned out to 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...
club Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
to gain match experience. He made his debut in the 4-0 home defeat to Conference leaders Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
on 23 January 2010. He didn't fair any better in the next league game this time being subject to a 4–1 defeat to Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
. After those two 4 goal defeats, Grays again slipped to defeat this time just 3-0 to Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
although Martin did save three penalties.
He was released along with three other players on 13 May 2010. Martin returned to pre-season training in July but did not sign a contract and was gone before the start of the 2010-2011 season
2010–11 in English football
The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
. On 14 August 2010, Martin turned out for Conference South side Havant & Waterlooville
Havant & Waterlooville F.C.
Havant & Waterlooville Football Club are an English football club based in Havant, Hampshire. The club formed in 1998 after a merger between Havant Town and Waterlooville, and are currently members of the Conference South. Nicknamed The Hawks, they play at West Leigh Park.-History:In 1998 Havant...
due to the injury and suspension of their other two goalkeepers.
On 31 December 2010, Yeovil brought in Martin for the second time. The length of the contract was unspecified.
North America
On March 2011 Martin left Yeovil by mutual consent so that he would be free to sign with the Puerto Rico IslandersPuerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the North American Soccer League. He subsequently signed with the club on April 7. He made his debut for Puerto Rico on May 21, 2011, in a 3-0 loss to the Carolina RailHawks
Carolina RailHawks FC
Carolina RailHawks FC is an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
. His second appearance came on July 31 against Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
at the Saputo Stadium
Saputo Stadium
Saputo Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada which opened on May 21, 2008, and is the current home of the Montreal Impact. The stadium is built on the former practice track and field site on the grounds of the 1976 Summer Olympics, while the stadium's west side has a...
.