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Anyone recall ROY MARTIN ?

BazzM

BazzM

master brummie
Does anyone remember Roy Martin ? He was a full-back at Blues from 1950-56, playing 74 times. I was in our local Tesco car park the other day, waiting for my better half, when this old chap approached, so I wound the window down and asked if I could help him. He said he had noticed my BCFC sticker in the rear window of my car, and wondered how it was up here in Scotland, as he hadnt seen a Blues sticker for ages. The reason he was asking was that back in the 50s his friend Roy Martin used to play for us, and he also told me that he is still alive and well, and living in Largs ( a seaside town in Ayrshire). Im afraid this was just before my time of watching the Blues (1961) but I was glad he stopped for a chat. He said he would tell his friend the next time he spoke to him, and that it would make his day knowing that there are Blues fans in Ayrshire. Great what you can find out, when sitting in a shop car-park, isn't it ?
 
Hi Bazz,

Yes I remember Roy Martin. He was one of those numerous players who was never going to be a star but could always be depended on. The sort of player without whom the game would fold. I am pleased that he is still with us.

Old Boy
 
Thats right caggyken. And after Derby he went to Burton I think. And Old Boy, nice that someone here remembers him. As I say, he was just before I started going to St. Andrews.
 
Hi baz
i forgot to say that he was up against a full back
position with my uncle cyril trigg.he came to brum
just after my other uncle fred harris had retired
ken
 
BazzM said:
Thats right caggyken. And after Derby he went to Burton I think. And Old Boy, nice that someone here remembers him. As I say, he was just before I started going to St. Andrews.
Click to expand...

Hi Bazz,

I started before the war when my grandfather took my brother and I to the reserves. After a few games he announced that the next match would be a first team game. It was about 1937 and the match was Arsenal who won 2-1 and Alf Kirchen scored both goals.
Although it was my first game I had read all about footie for a number of years and knew most of the players by reputation. After that I hardly missed a home game except when I was in the navy. Sadly circumstances prevent me going now but I still follow them and love it when they are on TV. My brother was the same but he has now passed on.

Old Boy
 
Hi Caggyken,

You mention Cyril Trigg and Fred Harris Fred was a great half back and captained the Blues for a time. Cyril had a great partnership with Billy Hughes the left back who was a Welsh International. There came a time, like now, when Blues could not score for toffee. The manager had the great idea of playing Cyril at centre forward and he was an immediate success there. I think McLeish should try something similar and see what happens. Ridgewell has scored a few goals (more than Cameron Jerome) Perhaps he could have a spell as a striker.

For the record my cousin married Sid Owen the Blues centre half who went to Luton Town and then Leeds Utd. He alsi played a few games for Engl;and.

Old Boy
 
Hi old boy
cyril scored 72 goals in 291 first team appearances.he also scored 88 in 95 regional matches during the war. It would be great to have someone like
it to day.he alsoplayed a few games during the war for blackpool andnotts forrest.it was great standing on spion kop watching my two uncles
playing for the blues.
Caggy
 
caggyken, My friend Barry Thomas who i lost touch with married Cyril Trigg`s daughter unfortunately it ended in divorce, Fred Harris was described by one newspaper as "The best uncapped Half Back in the League" after he retired he opened sports injury clinic on Warwick Rd, Acocks Green, i remember Roy Martin very well a dependable full back. Len
 
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All this is facsinating reading guys. Im glad I put this topic up. Great to hear that caggy is related to the great Cyril Trigg, And the comments from Old Boy, and now Len. I think its great that people actually remember someone that played for their team back in the 50s, with such affection. By the way, he apparently is 81 years of age now, so hes still going well.
 
Bazz Dad can remember watching all of these playing too,he says it was when footballers played football with no silliness on thepitch!!!
I can recall him taking us to see the Blues in the 70's with Bob latchford and Trevor Francis. Also the most frightening incident, can't remember the year, but Blues ahd had a run of matches against Norwich, when this match ended we got on the bus to go back to Stechford and the Norwich fans started rocking it, really hard and everyone on the bus thought it was going to fall over - luckily, the driver managed to pull away from the fans but I wouldn't like to experience it again!
Sue
 
Blimey, I read the thread and thought "silly bugger, he means RAY Martin". Then I checked and realised that Bazz is right. Well done for bringing this to my attention mate.
 
You're welcome David mate. When I was talking to the old guy and he said Roy, I said the same to him. Dont you mean Ray. I remember watching Ray loads of times. It was great watching the team in the 60s & 70s.
 
And Sue. Im glad this has stirred up a few memories for your Dad. I think its great when someone mentions someone from way back, and people then remember him. I doubt whether I will see the old guy in the Supermarket car park again, but if I do, I will tell him to let his mate Roy Martin know that he is remembered on the BHF.
 
Another name dad mentioned was Jeff Hall, apparently he died young and quickly following contracting polio andthere were testimonial games and fetes etc to raise money for research. Dad thinks this was around the same time.
Sue
 
lencops said:
caggyken, My friend Barry Thomas who i lost touch with married Cyril Trigg`s daughter unfortunately it ended in divorce, Fred Harris was described by one newspaper as "The best uncapped Half Back in the League" after he retired he opened sports injury clinic on Warwick Rd, Acocks Green, i remember Roy Martin very well a dependable full back. Len
Click to expand...

I seem to recall it was RAY Martin.
 
John C. Can I refer you to my initial post #1. Roy Martin was before my time, but I also know about Ray Martin as I used to watch him every week playing for Blues. Two different guys. Barry.
 
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