Lionel Martin

[hazox]

I see a thread and a bit of vintage film showing the 69 QPR F.A. cup win. My first game was the reply against Southampton on the 29th Jan. I just remember the fantastic atmosphere being in the Holte end. As a nine year old, my eyes were  I was almost at pitch level as the terracing in those days ran slightly down below the level of the playing surface. The flood lights towering high into the swirling night sky. A sharp cold night warmed by an amazing atmosphere.
My first memory is just being able to see the white soles of Willy (Billy??) Anderson running down the wing knocking the ball impossibly past the fullback and (sometimes) catching it before the bye line to put in a cross that drew the Holte End forward in expectation.
As the game went on I became more aware of another player, I guy with a shuffling gate who looked just like any of us had put the famous shirt on and trudged nervously out onto the turf hoping that no one would find us out.  That guy was Lionel Martin.
In an age when technique and balance were probably not to the fore especially in Tommy Docherty's thinking, Lionel Martin had it.
I think I can say as others have, that his skill and technique would not be out of place in today's game. And yes it is true, that there were days he could be infuriating but he never got the the true appreciation of his worth. It has been really wonderful to read how people have remembered him exactly the way I did. I didn't imagine it!!
I last saw him hunched over a pint of Brew 11 in the Cross Keys in Erdington. I know he used to work not far from there. Does anyone know if he is still around...??
Ah, what might have been .....UTV.       

[levico]

Remember him well. In some ways quite a similar player to Jack Grealish. Tremendous skill on the ball but don't ask him to shoot. The difference is that Grealish will learn to score goals.

[Virgil Caine]

Those with better memories than I will fill in the gaps but I believe Lionel Martin spent a good part of his football career at Worcester City. I remember scoring in another match against Burnley (?), lobbing the goalkeeper from 30 yards, but again I will leave to others with far sharper minds to confirm.

He was a very skilful player especially being able to turn players on the byline, however I think he was perhaps too mercurial for his own good in an age when ball skills had to be coupled with a high work rate.

[Dazvillain]

Whilst I was a ST holder at worcester city in the 70's I saw him play many games. Remember him being player of the season around 73/74. He was one of 3 ex villans playing for worcester then, along side jimmy cumbes in goal and my favourite jimmy brown

[Ron Manager]

Lionel Martin had sublime skills on the ball. He was at Tamworth as Assistant Manager (I think) and worked for a Car Dealers somewhere.
Would be long retired now. I liked him he had,like Carles Gil,something different to the average footballer. Scored a goal against Tony Waiters of Blackpool from way out along the Witton Lane stand. Chipped him. It was a sight to behold.

[villa4thecup]

My first game was with my Dad & Grandad who were season ticket holders at the time. It was about 1963-64 (I was 5 or 6 at the time) sitting in the old wooden Trinity Road stand. I think it was the old 3rd Division South game against Rotherham. Villa did everything but score & Rotherham stole the game 1-0. Andy Lockhead & Charlie Aitkin are the only two players I remember from the game. 30+ thousand there & we had fish'n'chips on the way home.

[dave shelley]

I've posted on here about Lionel before.  Lionel had tremendous skill but the inability to use it correctly.  His biggest problem IMO was, that he never knew when to pass the ball.  He had the ability to infuriate you because of passing the ball, he would try and beat the extra man and inevitably get beaten.  One of the genuinely top skilful players I have seen play for the Villa but, as said, never used it properly.  As said above, that goal he scored against Burnley was one of the best I have ever seen by a Villa player.

Lionel has broad shoulders and that could confuse defenders when he feinted to go one way and then went the other.  They were useful for shielding the ball from opponents too, which helped him greatly when turning defenders.  I liked Lionel.

[Dr Butler]

here you go fellas...

http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=53448.0

UTV
The Doc

[pooligan]

In over 50 years of following the Villa i honestly can not remember seeing a more skillful player than Lionel Martin. At times it looked as if he had the ball tied to his feet he was that good. Not sure why he never quite made it  as a first team regular,as he certainly had the skill.

[dave shelley]

here you go fellas...

http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=53448.0

UTV
The Doc

The discussion about the Argus on that thread reminded me that after moving over here, for years my mother used to send me copies of the Argus.  I used to get bundles of three or four at a time!  She did this until her mind went.  Then I used to get sent all kinds of weird things!  No, only kidding, but thanks for those Argus Mom, rest in peace.

[pooligan]

How i used to love the Sports Argus. After home games i would be at my local paper shop around 6.30 pm waiting for it to arrive, if i had been at a away game, i would always buy one from outside New St after getting off the football special .Was a great read and i was really sad when they decided to stop printing it ." Don't be the man without the Argus" was the slogan and my old man would tease me with it i was unable to purchase one

[Rudy Can't Fail]

here you go fellas...

http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=53448.0

And there's more..

http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=40612.0

and here..

http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=46431.0

[Oscar Arce]

Yes, we've spoke about Lionel before several times on the old thread.
He was a very infuriating player with sublime skill, no pace at all, but was great in tight areas (they use to call it dribbling) and a good holder up of the ball, even though he wasn't tall, as someone else said he was very broad shouldered and could keep defenders off the ball, hence Tommy Doc using him as a centre forward.
One of those players you always thought would go on to better things, I even remember press reports of Man United looking at him once, but ultimately he played less than 50 games for Villa and drifted into non-league at Worcester City.
Remember his goal in the FA Cup Replay against Southampton, he slammed the ball into the roof of the net in front of the Holte End, and a couple of chipped goals against Blackpool and Burnley I think.
He used to be able to keep the ball and often had defenders running round in circles.
Should have had a much better Villa career.
Trying to post a great image of Lionel, I hope it works....

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-lionel-martin-aston-villa-fc-footballer-1969-54116828.html

[Oscar Arce]

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-lionel-martin-aston-villa-fc-footballer-1967-54114246.html
http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-lionel-martin-aston-villa-fc-footballer-1968--54116191.html

[Rudy Can't Fail]

He went on loan to Doncaster Rovers and made 2 appearances for them at the end of the 1970/71 season.

Oh and it's his birthday on Friday.

MACE have early footage of him that sadly hasn't yet been transfered to digital but here is the summary:


Leslie Dunn visits Charles School at Cleobury Mortimer to meet 15 year old Lionel Martin who hopes to become a professional footballer.

Description: Leslie Dunn introduces the item with a piece to camera describing the mundane future facing many school leavers. He then talks to Lionel Martin about his sporting hopes; Lionel's parents about their son's ability. On the football pitch Dunn next talks to Mr Stubbs the school's sports master as well as the Aston Villa Assistant Manager, Dick Taylor, who has come to watch Lionel play. We see a boys' match in progress.