_2023.png) Lee Martin in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lee Andrew Martin[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1968-02-05)5 February 1968 (age 57) | ||
| Place of birth | Hyde, Cheshire, England | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Left back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1982–1988 | Manchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1988–1994 | Manchester United | 73 | (1) |
| 1994–1996 | Celtic | 19 | (0) |
| 1996–1998 | Bristol Rovers | 25 | (0) |
| 1997 | →Huddersfield Town (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 1998–1999 | Glossop North End | ||
| 2005–2006 | Bangor City | 8 | (1) |
| 2006–2008 | NEWI Cefn Druids | 9 | (0) |
| Total | 127 | (2) | |
| International career | |||
| 1989 | England U21 | 2 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Lee Andrew Martin (born 5 February 1968) is an English formerfootballleft back. He played withManchester United,Celtic andBristol Rovers, among others. He represented his country atunder 21 level.
Martin started his career in theManchester United youth system. In 1990, he scored the only goal in theFA Cup final replay againstCrystal Palace. This was one of just two goals Martin scored in his entire United career. The other goal, his first, came 16 months earlier in the 3–1 defeat of West Ham at Upton Park.
His debut came on 9 May 1988 as a substitute in a 2–1 home league win overWimbledon[3] and he made his breakthrough at left backthe following season following the departure ofArthur Albiston. By the time of his first United goal, in a 3–1 win atWest Ham United in the league of 21 January 1989, he was a regular feature in the United squad.[4]
He played in 32 out of 38 league games in the cup winning1989–90 campaign, but managed just 14 league games the following season asClayton Blackmore established himself as United's regular left-back, withDenis Irwin joining as a right-back, and Martin struggled against a back injury.
He did not make the squad for the side that won theEuropean Cup Winners Cup a year later, although he did play in multiple games en route to the final. The arrival ofPaul Parker that summer increased the competition for full-back places.
He managed just one league appearance in1991–92 and did not make the squad for theFootball League Cup winning team. However, he did collect aEuropean Super Cup winner's medal on 19 November 1991 when he featured in their 1–0 triumph overRed Star Belgrade atOld Trafford, though he was substituted in the 71st minute in favour ofRyan Giggs.
He failed to make a single league appearance in1992–93 season, when they won the firstFA Premier League title. His final league appearance came on 23 October 1993 in a 1–0 Premier League win overEverton atGoodison Park, as United were on course for retaining the league title. They also went on to win theFA Cup that season. 1993–94 saw the introduction of squad numbers in the Premier League, and Martin made one appearance in the number 21 shirt. His final competitive appearance for the club was on 27 October 1993 in a 5–1 home win overLeicester City in the third round of the League Cup.[5]
Towards the end of his time at Manchester United, Martin regularly captained the reserve side.[6]
Martin played a total of 108 games and scored two goals for United before he leftOld Trafford in January 1994 to joinCeltic, where he suffered a broken leg within months of his arrival. He played just 19 times in the league in more than two years as Celtic failed to overhaulRangers, who were league champions of Scotland in each of three seasons that Martin spent north of the border. Celtic's only major honour during Martin's time there was theScottish FA Cup in 1995, but he didn't make the squad for that game.
He finally left Celtic in 1996 and signed forBristol Rovers, from where he later had a loan spell withHuddersfield Town. He retired from professional football in 1998.
He then moved to the semi-professionalLeague of Wales teamBangor City, Glossop North End and then toNEWI Cefn Druids in 2006.
Martin retired from football in 2008, and works with young people helping them to gain qualifications, access college and get apprenticeships or employment in the West Cheshire area.[7]
He also helps with the coaching of the Chester FC under 16's youth team. He also works for Manchester United Television at Old Trafford.
Manchester United
Individual