Boy Martin

David Kirker Martin (1 February 1914 – 10 January 1991), known as Boy Martin or Davy Boy Martin, was a Northern Irish professional football centre forward, best remembered for his spells in the Football League with Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Notts County.^[1][2][3][4] He was capped by Ireland at full and amateur level.^[2] After retiring from football, Martin coached at Ballymena United and Carrick Rangers.^[2]

Boy Martin

Personal information
Full name	David Kirker Martin[1]
Date of birth	1 February 1914
Place of birth	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Date of death	10 January 1991(1991-01-10) (aged 76)[2]
Place of death	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Centre forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Royal Ulster Rifles
0000–1932	Cliftonville
1932–1934	Belfast Celtic
1934–1936	Wolverhampton Wanderers	25	(17)
1936–1938	Nottingham Forest	81	(41)
1938–1946	Notts County	26	(16)
	→ Glentoran (guest)	41	(63)
1942–1943	→ Watford (guest)	9	(7)
	→ Aldershot (guest)	1	(0)
	→ Fulham (guest)	1	(1)
	→ Derry City (guest)
1946–1947	Ballymoney United
1947	Ballymena United	6	(6)
International career
1932–1933	Ireland Amateurs	4	(4)
1933–1934	Irish League XI	4	(4)
1933–1938	Ireland (IFA)	10	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

In September 1933, Martin scored both of goals as Ireland defeated Scotland 2–1 in a full British Home Championship international.^[5] Two weeks later he got another brace, this time for the Irish League XI in Belfast when they won 3–0 over the Scottish Football League XI.^[6]

Personal life

Martin served as a drummer boy in the Royal Ulster Rifles, where he acquired his nickname, "Boy".^[2] He re-enlisted in the British Army early in the Second World War and was wounded in Normandy in 1944.^[2]

Honours

Belfast Celtic

• Irish League: 1932–33^[2]

See also

• List of men's footballers with 500 or more goals