Brian Martin (footballer)

Brian Martin (born 24 February 1963 in Bellshill) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a central defender, best known for his seven-year spell at Motherwell.

Brian Martin
Personal information
Date of birth (1963-02-24) 24 February 1963
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
Playing position(s) Defender
Youth career
Plains BC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1981 Albion Rovers 10 (0)
1981 Stenhousemuir 6 (0)
1981–1985 Shotts Bon Accord
1985–1987 Falkirk 59 (0)
1987–1988 Hamilton Academical 30 (0)
1988–1991 St Mirren 129 (9)
1991–1998 Motherwell 237 (10)
1998 Stirling Albion 45 (1)
1999–2000 Partick Thistle 16 (0)
2000–2001 Lanark United
2001–2002 Stonehouse Violet
2002–2003 Shotts Bon Accord
2003–2005 Cambuslang Rangers
Total 532 (20)
National team
1995–1996 Scotland B 3 (0)
1995 Scotland 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Martin began his career in the Scottish lower leagues with Albion Rovers and Stenhousemuir. He then dropped back into the Junior grade with Shotts Bon Accord[1] for three years before joining second-tier Falkirk in 1985. In his first season with the Bairns the club achieved promotion to the top division, and maintained their status in the second.

In 1987 Martin moved to Hamilton Academical, and in his single campaign there he again helped the Accies win promotion, this time as champions. By then he had already moved on to St Mirren, where he stayed for three seasons in the Scottish Premier Division before being signed by fellow top-level club Motherwell in November 1991 for £175,000. He made 237 appearances for Motherwell between 1991 and 1998,[2] and was part of the side which finished league runners-up in 1995.[3]

Martin left Motherwell in 1998 and had spells with Stirling Albion and Partick Thistle before retiring from the professional leagues in 2000, aged 37. He returned to local Junior football, appearing for Lanark United, Stonehouse Violet, Shotts - two decades after his first spell there,[1] and Cambuslang Rangers, also playing the occasional game for the 'Motherwell Legends' team.

International career

While playing for Motherwell, Martin earned two caps for the Scotland national team (making his debut aged 32) in the 1995 Kirin Cup matches against Ecuador and Japan alongside clubmates Rab McKinnon and Paul Lambert.[4] He also represented the B side on three occasions in the same era.[5]

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References
  1. "Brian Martin - Players - Shotts Bon Accord". www.sba.teamexpert.co.uk. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  2. https://www.motherwelltimes.co.uk/sport/football/motherwell-fc/ex-well-defender-brian-martin-is-impressed-by-current-steelmen-ahead-of-semi-final-tie-1-4591418
  3. https://www.carlukegazette.co.uk/sport/football/ex-lanark-united-stopper-brian-martin-foreign-centre-backs-are-hurting-scotland-international-team-s-chances-1-4614433
  4. https://www.scotsman.com/sport/opportunity-knocked-for-scots-debutants-at-the-1995-kirin-cup-1-778359
  5. "Scotland 'B' profile". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
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