Boy Martin
Northern Irish footballer
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David Kirker Martin (1 February 1914 – 10 January 1991), known as Boy Martin or Davy Boy Martin, was a Northern Irish professional football centre forward, best remembered for his spells in the Football League with Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Notts County.[1][2][3][4] He was capped by Ireland at full and amateur level.[2] After retiring from football, Martin coached at Ballymena United and Carrick Rangers.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Kirker Martin[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 February 1914 | ||
| Place of birth | Belfast, Northern Ireland | ||
| Date of death | 10 January 1991 (aged 76)[2] | ||
| Place of death | Belfast, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position | Centre forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Royal Ulster Rifles | |||
| –1932 | Cliftonville | ||
| 1932–1934 | Belfast Celtic | ||
| 1934–1936 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 25 | (17) |
| 1936–1938 | Nottingham Forest | 81 | (41) |
| 1938–1946 | Notts County | 26 | (16) |
| → Glentoran (guest) | 41 | (63) | |
| 1942–1943 | → Watford (guest) | 9 | (7) |
| → Aldershot (guest) | 1 | (0) | |
| → Fulham (guest) | 1 | (1) | |
| → Derry City (guest) | |||
| 1946–1947 | Ballymoney United | ||
| 1947 | Ballymena United | 6 | (6) |
| International career | |||
| 1932–1933 | Ireland Amateurs | 4 | (4) |
| 1933–1934 | Irish League XI | 4 | (4) |
| 1933–1938 | Ireland (IFA) | 10 | (3) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
In September 1933, Martin scored both of goals as Ireland defeated Scotland 2–1 in a full British Home Championship international.[5] Two weeks later he got another brace, this time for the Irish League XI in Belfast when they won 3–0 over the Scottish Football League XI.[6]
Personal life
Martin served as a drummer boy in the Royal Ulster Rifles, where he acquired his nickname, "Boy".[2] He re-enlisted in the British Army early in the Second World War and was wounded in Normandy in 1944.[2]
Honours
Belfast Celtic
