Alvin Martin, an English footballer, played as a central defender mainly at West Ham United over the course of 21 years and earned 17 caps for England. His birth date and birthplace are July 29, 1958 and Walton, Liverpool. Afterwards, he turned into a football manager and pundit.
If you searched for his name, almost all may be this Alvin Martin. To be sure, this is what his dealing really looked like and the myths which appear on lots of other pages.
Key Takeaways
- Alvin Martin is an English defender, not a midfielder, born in Walton, Liverpool, on July 29, 1958.
- He spent most of his career at West Ham United, a stay of about 21 years that ended in 1996.
- He won the FA Cup with West Ham in 1980 and the Second Division title in 1981.
- He scored a famous hat-trick against three different Newcastle United goalkeepers in an 8 to 1 win in April 1986.
- He earned 17 England caps between 1981 and 1986 and played in the 1986 World Cup.
- After playing, he managed Southend United and became a radio and TV pundit.
- Many websites list wrong clubs, wrong birthplaces and wrong birth years for him. Details are corrected below.
Who Is Alvin Martin?
:
Alvin Edward Martin, is an English former professional footballer, manager and pundit. Standing at 6ft 1in, he played as a central defender.
He is remembered mainly as a West Ham one-club player. He has remained at the club through promotions and relegations, which is why the fans of West Ham now look back at him as much as they ever have.
Quick facts
- Full name: Alvin Edward Martin
- Born: July 29, 1958, Walton, Liverpool, England
- Position: Defender
- Main club: West Ham United
- England caps: 17 (no goals)
- Nickname: “Stretch”
- Later roles: Southend United manager, talkSPORT and Sky Sports pundit
Early Life and Path to West Ham
Martin was raised in Liverpool and played schools football for Bootle and Lancashire. Although he was attached to Everton as a schoolboy, he went on to left the club in 1974 after they only offered him a part-time apprenticeship. A trial with Queens Park Rangers was no success. West presented Martin with an apprenticeship contract on August 19, 1974, the next day after just one trial with Queens Park Rangers. He became a professional on July 29, 1976, his 18th birthday.
His first team debut came a little later, on 18 March 1978, coming on as a sub against Aston Villa.
Alvin Martin at West Ham United
The Partnership With Billy Bonds
MLorty’s best years included playing in the centre of defense with Billy Bonds up until the pair helped West Ham take home the FA cup in 1980, which represented an amazing moment because West Ham of that time were a Second Division side and then the club then won the Second Division title in 1981.
The 1985 to 1986 Season and the Famous Hat-Trick
1985 to 1986 season is one of the best in the club’s history The top division third behind champions Liverpool (four points back)West Ham’s reputation.
April 1986, in an 8 to 1 triumph over Newcastle United, Martin scored two more goals. What is unique about it is that all three goals were scored against three different goalkeepers: the injured Martin Thomas, and two outfield players Chris Hedworth and Peter Beardsley who took turns in goal Then-of-a-kind
Loyalty and Testimonials
Martin remained at West Ham after the club’s 1989 relegation and helped secure promotion in 1991. Alongside Billy Bonds, he was one of just two players to receive two testimonial matches from the club: the first against Tottenham on August 21, 1988, and the second against Chelsea on November 11, 1995.
Appearances and Goals
He played 27 goals across 469 league games. He played 598 games and scored 34 goals across all competitions for the Hammers. He made his last turn up on 5/5/1996 as a 37 year old sub against Sheffield Wednesday.
Alvin Martin’s England Career
Martin first played for England in May 1981 when they played Brazil at Wembley, under manager Ron Greenwood. He went on to represent England for 17 games in five years and never scored a national goal. The 1982 World Cup saw Martin miss out on the competition through injury. He was in good touch when Bobby Robson selected him for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and playing in substitution of Terry Fenwick who had been suspended, he helped have a 3 to 0 victory over Paraguay. However he was then left out for the match against Argentina in the quarter-final, which is remembered as the match in which Maradona scored the infamous “Hand of God.”
After Playing: Management and Media
After departing West Ham in 1996, Martin played a brief stint with Leyton Orient at which he played 17 league games.
He served as Southend United manager in 1997, before stepping aside in March 1999, resulting in the club being relegated by the end of his management tenure.
Afterward, he went into media work and has been on talkSPORT and as a pundit on Sky Sports. Be sure checking these as these are not here to be his current media work, it’s not a present day fact.
Family
David and Joe (Martin’s two sons) are also footballers (goalkeeper and defender respectively). Skip other private family details.
Common Mistakes About Alvin Martin
Many pages that rank for his name get basic facts wrong. Here is what is actually correct:
- “He was a midfielder.” No. He was a central defender.
- “He was born in London.” No. He was born in Walton, Liverpool.
- “He played for Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Southampton, Cardiff or Sunderland.” Standard career records list only West Ham United and Leyton Orient as his senior clubs.
- Wrong birth years. Some pages say 1957 or 1963. The correct date is July 29, 1958.
- A 1980 or 1981 West Ham debut. His first-team debut was in March 1978.
- A film director with the same name. Some low-quality pages mix him up with unrelated people. The footballer has no connection to the film “Malcolm X”.
- Net worth numbers. His net worth is not publicly confirmed, so any exact figure should be treated as a guess.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Alvin Martin?
He is a former English defender who played mainly for West Ham United and earned 17 caps for England. He later became a manager and a pundit.
Where and when was Alvin Martin born?
He was born in Walton, Liverpool, on July 29, 1958.
How many caps did Alvin Martin win for England?
He won 17 caps between 1981 and 1986. He did not score for England.
Did Alvin Martin play in the 1986 World Cup?
Yes. He played in the win over Paraguay but was dropped for the quarter-final against Argentina.
Which clubs did Alvin Martin play for?
He played most of his career at West Ham United and finished at Leyton Orient. He was also an Everton schoolboy.
What is Alvin Martin famous for?
He is famous for his long service at West Ham, the 1980 FA Cup win, and the 1986 hat-trick against three different Newcastle goalkeepers.
What does Alvin Martin do now?
He has worked in radio and TV as a football pundit.Check recent sources for his current role.
Conclusion
Alvin Martin is one of West Ham’s most loyal and respected defenders, one of the club’s most loyal defensive stalwarts, aside from the fact his 1986 hat-trick is still one of the oddest records in football. If you read about him on other sites, check the club list and birthplace first, these are the facts usually copied incorrectly.
