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Players Index Page Last Updated
12 August 2025
 
 

Harry Martin

Sunderland AFC

 1 appearance, 0 goals

P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 F 0: A 3
0% successful
1914

captain: none
minutes played: 90

Timeline
  Private Henry Martin
 

According to the 1891 census, Lucy (née Skevington) Martin is pregnant with a child that will become Henry. Lucy and George already have four children. They live in Selston and George is a coal miner.
Birth Saturday, 5 December 1891 in Inkerman, Selston, Nottinghamshire
  registered in Basford January-March 1892
"SPORTS AT SELSTON  In connection with the Selston Town Cricket Club, the third annual athletic sports were held on the Town Cricket Ground on Saturday, there being a large number present. The sack race or a pig created a lot of amusement. The following are successful competitors:—
   "100 yards Scholars' Race.—1. Harry Martin, 2. Caleb Coles." - Hucknall Star and Advertiser, Friday, 13 July 1900
 

According to the 1901 census, Harry is now the third child to George and Lucy. They live on the Inkerman Road in Selston. His father is a hewer in the coal mines.
"ATHLETIC SPORTS
 
 The judges for the sports were Messrs. J. Allin, J. F. Rowe, A. Knighton, T. Clarke, F. Griffiths, and C. T. Dowell, N.C.U. Mr. Jno Clarke was the referee, and Mr. Geo. Hancock starter.
   "100 yards, open, Scholars' Race.—1. Harry Martin, Selston; 2. Abel Vardy, Somercotes. An objection was raised against Martin, and fully sustained, on account of his being a previous winner." - Alfreton and Belper Journal, Friday, 9 August 1901

According to the 1911 census, Harry is the younger of two children that live at home with their parents on Inkerman Road. His young niece also live with them. Harry is a loader at the coal mines, while his father is a carter. The census reveals that his parents had had nine children, four had tragically died.
"At Nottingham one of the first men who tapped my hat was Harry Martin, of Selston, Sunderland, and Nottingham Forest. If you please, he is now Private H. Martin, of the Leicestershires. He belongs to 'The Tigers,' who are training somewhere in the North." - The Sporting Chronicle, Wednesday, 6 September 1916.

"Whilst in the Army he was successful in winning a handsome silver cup for a sprint race and a silver cake stand in a relay race, the occasion being the great sports arranged by the Forces.  He was wounded at the Somme two months before the Armistice was signed."
Marriage to Elsie Hind Smith, on Thursday, 10 July 1919 in Selston Parish Church, Nottingham
  registered in Basford July-September 1919
"INTERESTING CEREMONY AT SELSTON.
"A wedding of particular interest to the football world took place last Thursday at Selston Parish Church, the Rev. R. D. Weller, M. A., officiating. The bride was Miss Elsie Smith (eldest daughter of the late Mr. Smith and Mrs. Smith), of the White Lion Hotel, Woodnook, Selston, and the bridegroom was Mr. Harry Martin (third son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Martin), of Inkerman, Selston. The bride was very prettily attired in a dress of grey silk crepe de chene, with a georgette hat to match, and carried a shower bouquet of white carnations. The bridesmaids were Miss Marjorie Smith (sister of bride), who was dressed in white crepe de chene, with hat to match, and Miss K. Brown (of Mansfield), who wore blue crepe de chene and hat to match. The late Mr. Smith was for many years schoolmaster at Langwith, and died four years ago. The bride was given away by her mother. For seven years the bride has been on the staff of the St. Peter's Girls' School at Mansfield, where she is exceedingly popular, and highly respected, and as a token of esteem she was the recipient of a case of silver tea knives. The bridegroom is the well-known international footballer, Sunderland's famous outside left. The best man was Mr. Thos. Smith (brother of bride)." - Ripley & Heanor News, Friday, 18 July 1919
  According to the 1921 census, Henry, a professional footballer (for Sunderland AFC), is now married to Elsie Hand, and they live with her mother at the White Lion Inn in Woodnook in Selston.
"DEATH OF SELSTON NATIVE.  The death of a well-known native of Selston, Mr. George Martin, Inkerman Road, occurred recently. He had been confined to his bed for several weeks with an acute attack of neuritis and sciatica. He was the victim of a very serious accident in his younger years when working in one of the Butterley Company's pits. He has lived all his life in Selston and he leaves behind three sons and two daughters." - The Derbyshire Times, Saturday, 5 December 1925
"SELSTON RESIDENT DEATH.  We regret to record the death of a very well-known and highly esteemed native of Selston in the person of Mrs. Lucy Martin, widow of Mr. George Martin, Hanstubbin Hill. Deceased had lived in Selston all her life up to some days ago, when owing to illness she was moved to her eldest daughter's (Mrs. John Holland) home at Dinnington (Yorkshire), and there passed away in the early hours of Monday morning. She leaves behind three sons and two daughters. One son is Mr. Harry Martin, who is now engaged as trainer for Rochdale." - Ripley & Heanor News, Friday, 4 July 1930
  According to the 1939 register, Henry, a football trainer, is married to Elsie H., and they live at 16 Shrivenham Road in Swindon.
"GOLDEN DAY FOR EX- ENGLAND AND FOREST WINGER
"FORMER England, Sunderland and Nottingham Forest footballer, 77-year-old Mr. Harry Martin, and his wife Elsie, celebrated their golden wedding yesterday. The couple moved to their present address at 78 Victor Crescent, Sandiacre, 11 years ago... He still enjoys watching football and spends a lot of time in the garden—a fresh-air hobby in complete contrast to the four years he spent sown the pits at the age of 13. Mrs. Martin (75), the daughter of a schoolmaster, entered into the teaching profession in her home town of Mansfield, but retired when they were married. They held a small family party yesterday, and tomorrow travel to Scarborough, where they spent their honeymoon." - Derby Evening Telegraph, Friday, 11 July 1969
Death Tuesday, 31 December 1974, at his home, 78 Victor Crescent in Sandiacre, Derbyshire
aged 83 years 26 days registered in Ilkeston January-March 1974
"MARTIN Harry. Loving husband of Elsie of 78, Victor Crescent, Sandiacre, passed away suddenly on 31st December 1974. Formerly of Sunderland A.F.C. and Nottingham Forest. No flowers by request..."
Funeral "...The funeral and cremation will be held at Wilford Hill Crematorium, Nottingham, on Wednesday, January 8th at 11.15am." - Nottingham Evening Post, Thursday, 2 January 1975
Probate "MARTIN Henry of 78 Victor Cres Sandiacre Derbyshire died 31 December 1974 Probate Nottingham 10 February. £5221. 752500896B" [2025 equivalent: £40,792]
  His wife, Elsie, died on 16 March 1982.
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Started his career with Selston United FC...
"OPEN LETTER TO HARRY MARTIN, SELSTON UNITED RESERVES.
"Dear Harry,—Many congratulations on your effective displays for the Selston Club. Although under 17, you possess an excellent knowledge of the game, and, better still, you possess the ability to play high class football. An outside left, with a splendid turn of speed, unselfish when in possession, a splendid shot, and able to centre splendidly from the wing, you are, unless I am greatly mistaken, destined to make your way into the charmed circle of Division I. Your runs quite electrify the crowd, and the excellent manner in which you trick your opponents cannot but rouse enthusiasm, whilst your success from the extreme left in goal scoring is phenomenal. Am glad to say that the Forest Committee have decided to give you a trial, and we are confident that against class players you will prove your worth. Don't get swollen headed, but wear the same sized hat, and them I am confident that you will be a credit to the 'Reds' to Selston, and to the League. Wishing you every success and hoping that you will be another 'Newsite' to confound the scoffers who query our status.
  "Believe me, yours very sincerely,
"WM. M. HAYWARD,
League Secretary." - Football News, Saturday, 7 November 1908

He joined Sutton Junction FC, and after three seasons and impressing in an FA Cup tie against Swindon Town FC, he and fellow left-sided forward, Walter Tinsley were signed by Sunderland AFC on 15 January 1912 for a £150 transfer fee. At the outbreak of WW1, Martin guested for Nottingham Forest FC, he also played some matches for Hull City AFC. He returned to Forest when he signed for them on 23 May 1922, before ending his playing career with Rochdale AFC on 19 June 1925 until his appointment as trainer on 9 August 1928.

League honours
411 appearances, 53 goals		 Sunderland AFC 1912-22 211 appearances, 22 goals
debut: 5 April 1912 Liverpool FC 2 Sunderland AFC 1.
Nottingham Forest FC 1922-25 107 appearances, thirteen goals
debut: 26 August 1922 Nottingham Forest FC 1 Sunderland AFC 0.
Rochdale FC 1925-31 93 appearances, eighteen goals
debut (division three north): 26 September 1925 Chesterfield FC 1 Rochdale AFC 2.
last (division three north): 28 March 1931 Rochdale AFC 0 Gateshead FC 1.
Club honours Football League Division One Champions 1912-13 (38ᵃ 4ᵍ); Division Three North third place 1925-26 (28ᵃ 4ᵍ), runners-up (21ᵃ 10ᵍ);
FA Cup runners-up 1912-13 (9ᵃ);
Individual honours Football League (three appearances)
Distinctions Martin only made his Sunderland FC league debut because his teammate, Arthur Bridgett, had conscientiously objected to play on Good Friday.
The Harry Martin Cup was a football competition for the West Nottinghamshire Schools League from 1935.
Height/Weight 5' 10½" 11st. 7lbs [1920]. 5' 10¼", 12st. 0lbs [1913]. 5' 10½" [1920].
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

Management Career

Club(s)
League History
P 56 - W 25 - D 12 - L 19.		 After ending his playing career with Rochdale AFC on 8 August 1928, Martin took up the position of club trainer. Following Jack Peart's move to Bradford City FC, Martin was appointed caretaker manager on 15 August 1930. He did, however, make a further league appearance with Rochdale in the 1930-31 season. He later became manager. Afterwards, on 15 August 1931, Martin was appointed to train the York City FC players. Then he became the trainer of Mansfield Town FC on 16 November 1933, taking over as their manager on 11 January 1934, in succession to J.G. Hickling, until his the directors of the club demanded his resignation on 15 March 1935, which he duly gave. But returned to training with Swindon Town FC in 1936, where he remained on their staff in some capacity until the 1950's.

England Career
Player number One of three who became the 376th players (378) to appear for England.
Position(s) Outside-left
Only match No. 117, 14 February 1914, England 0 Ireland 3, a British Championship match at Ayresome Park, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, aged 22 years 71 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1913-14;
Team honours None
Individual honours The North (three appearances, January 1914-February 1920);
England Victory (two appearances, April-May 1919)
Distinctions None

Beyond England
No additional information other than which is stated above. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.168/9.
Served in France with the Leicestershire Regiment


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
1 1 1 90 0 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 1 0 0 3 0 -1
his only match was played in the British Championship competition, at a home venue and against Ireland

Tournament Record

British Championship Tournaments
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1913-14 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 1 0 0.00 3.00 0.00 -1
BC All 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 1 0 0.00 3.00 0.00 -1

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 1 0 0.00 3.00 0.00 -1
1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 1 0 0 3 0 -1

Match History

 Club: Sunderland A.F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) F.A. International Select Committee - one full appearance (90 min)x

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 22 trial  
one appearance - The North vs. England, 21 January 1914;

1 117 14 February 1914 - England Ireland 3
 Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough		 BC HL   ol
 

one of three who became the 376th player (378) to appear for England
the ninth Sunderland FC player to represent England

Age 27 trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, 14 April 1919;


Victory
Inter'nals		 26 April 1919 - England 2 Scotland 2
Goodison Park, Liverpool		 Fr HW   ol
3 May 1919 - Scotland 3 England 4
Hampden Park, Glasgow		 Fr AW   ol

Age 28 trial  
one appearance - The North vs. England, February 1920;

 

 
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