Con Martin
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cornelius Joseph Martin | ||
| Date of birth | 20 March 1923 | ||
| Place of birth | Rush, Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Date of death | 24 February 2013 (aged 89) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper / Defender / Midfielder / Forward |
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| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1941 | Dublin GAA (Gaelic football) | ||
| 1941–1946 | Drumcondra | 76 | (7) |
| 1946–1947 | Glentoran | 11 | (1) |
| 1947–1948 | Leeds United | 47 | (1) |
| 1948–1956 | Aston Villa | 194 | (1) |
| 1956–1959 | Waterford | ? | (12) |
| 1959–1960 | Dundalk | ? | (?) |
| National team | |||
| 1946 | League of Ireland XI | ||
| 1946–1956 | Ireland (FAI) | 30 | (6) |
| 1946–1950 | Ireland (IFA) | 6 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1959–60 | Dundalk | ||
| 1965 | Shelbourne | ||
| 1960s | Cork Hibernians (assistant) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Cornelius Joseph "Con" Martin (20 March 1923 – 24 February 2013) was an Irish footballer. Martin initially played Gaelic football with Dublin before switching codes and embarking on a successful soccer career, playing for, among others, Drumcondra, Glentoran, Leeds United and Aston Villa. Martin was also a dual international and played and captained both Ireland teams – the FAI XI and the IFA XI. In 1949 he was a member of the FAI XI that defeated England 2–0 at Goodison Park, becoming the first non-UK team to beat England at home.
Martin, nicknamed Mr. Versatility, played in nearly every position during his soccer career. Although he played mainly as a centre-half, the ball-handling skills he developed playing Gaelic football also made him a very useful goalkeeper. He actually made his international debut with the FAI XI as a goalkeeper and despite turning down the chance to sign for Manchester United as a goalkeeper, he later played nearly a whole season in goal for Aston Villa.
Martin played Gaelic football in his youth and was called into the Dublin senior panel aged just 18. On 9 November 1941 he helped Dublin win the Leinster title, partnering Joe Fitzgerald of Geraldines in midfield in the final against Carlow. However at the same time as playing for Dublin, he was also playing soccer for Drumcondra. When this was discovered, the Gaelic Athletic Association, which maintained a ban on foreign sports, expelled Martin and withheld his winners medal. He eventually received the medal in 1971, after the ban was lifted. Martin is one of several notable Dublin footballers to have successfully switched codes. Others include Jack Kirwan, Val Harris and Kevin Moran.
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