Christy Martin (footballer)

Christy Martin was an Irish footballer who played in the Scottish League with both Bo'ness and Falkirk. Martin was also a dual international and played for both Ireland teams - the IFA XI and the FAI XI.[1]

Christy Martin
Personal information
Place of birth Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland
Position(s) Outside-Right
Youth career
St. Anthony's
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1924–1928 Bo'ness
1928–1929 Falkirk
1929–1931 Brooklyn Wanderers 1 (0)
1931–1932 Bo'ness
National team‡
1925 Ireland (IFA) 1 (0)
1927 Irish Free State (FAI) 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 January 2008
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22 January 2008

Club career

Martin first came to prominence as a goalscorer with Bo'ness, scoring 34 goals during the 1924-25 season. His 29 goals during the in 1926-27 season helped Bo'ness win the Scottish Second Division title and gain promotion to the First Division. The Saturday before he made his debut for the FAI XI, he scored a hat-trick for Bo'ness against Clydebank. [2] Bo'ness lasted just a single season in the First Division. With Martin limited to just 7 goals from 37 games, they finished 19th and were relegated back to Second Division. Martin also briefly played with Falkirk and had a spell with Brooklyn Wanderers, playing only one game,[3] in the American Soccer League before returning to finish career at Bo'ness.

Irish international

When Martin began his international career in 1925 there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations. Both associations, the Northern Ireland - based IFA and the Irish Free State - based FAI claimed jurisdiction over the whole of Ireland and selected players from the whole island. As a result, several notable Irish players from this era, including Martin, played for both teams.

IFA XI

Martin made his one and only appearances for the IFA XI on 28 February 1925 in a 3-0 defeat against Scotland at Windsor Park. [4]

FAI XI

Martin made his only appearance for the FAI XI on 23 April 1927 in a 2-1 defeat against Italy B at Lansdowne Road. [5] He was the first player from a Scottish League club to play for an FAI XI.

Honours

Bo'ness F.C.

References
  1. "Players Appearing for Two or More Countries". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  2. The Boys In Green - The FAI International Story (1997): Sean Ryan
  3. Jose, Colin (1998). American Soccer League, 1921-1931 (Hardback). The Scarecrow Press. (ISBN 0-8108-3429-4).
  4. Scotland international results
  5. Irish Free State stats
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