Nigel Martyn’s Sporting Journey
Former England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn has been given the opportunity to represent his country once again, this time in cricket, after excelling as a senior player. Reflecting on a memorable moment, Martyn recalls,
“I once hit a six in very murky conditions to win a game which got us promoted.”The former footballer, who played for England, Leeds, Everton, and Crystal Palace, was English football’s first £1 million goalkeeper. Over a career spanning three decades, he made 846 club appearances, participated in two World Cups, and featured in an FA Cup final. Yet, it is a cricket moment—a six hit in fading light—that remains particularly vivid for him.
“Wow. I remember that feeling was … yeah. That was as good as any feeling that I had on a football field.”
Martyn elaborates on the circumstances,
“It was right down to the wire, I think we had one wicket left and it was almost pitch black.”The game took place in Cookridge a few years ago, where Martyn, now 59, was playing for Leeds Modernians in the Airedale & Wharfedale senior cricket league. He explains,
“The ball before I had not seen at all. I decided to just swing at the next one and somehow I really middled it! If I close my eyes I can almost feel it now. Then it was pandemonium.”
Memorable Football Moments
When reminded of his football career, Martyn reflects on one of England’s most intense moments: David Beckham’s free-kick against Greece at Old Trafford. England was losing 2-1 and faced the risk of failing to qualify for the World Cup. Martyn’s long ball forward led to the foul on Teddy Sheringham, which resulted in the decisive free-kick.
“That was a horrible final few minutes,”Martyn says with a chuckle.
“The lads in defence kept passing the ball back to me, inviting all this pressure on. I kept thinking: ‘Rio, don’t give it back to me, get it up there!’”
He was unaware immediately after Beckham’s goal that it was sufficient to secure England’s qualification.
“That moment of euphoria was in a way taken away from me. We had to match Germany’s result and I just assumed they had won their match against Finland. Steve McClaren [then assistant manager to Sven-Göran Eriksson] only managed to get a message to me seconds before the whole ground knew.”
Transition to Cricket
Martyn’s football career ended in 2006 due to a serious ankle injury. Soon after, he took up wicketkeeping in cricket. Growing up in St Austell, he was a promising young cricketer and remained a keen follower of the sport despite restrictions on playing once he turned professional with Bristol Rovers in 1987. Few of his former football teammates shared his enthusiasm for cricket; he recalls,
“I’m racking my brains, I can only really think of Phil Neville having a passing interest when we were at Everton together.”
After retiring from football, Martyn initially did not take cricket seriously and suffered a severe hamstring tear. Encouraged by his daughter, a physiotherapist for Harlequins, he resumed training.
“I’ve never been much of a runner, but I always loved diving around and catching balls, I was a natural goalkeeper and wicketkeeper. I’m still really competitive though so when I set my mind to something I really go for it.”
Commitment and Influence in Cricket
Martyn now demonstrates a strong commitment to fitness, inspiring younger players at Knaresborough Cricket Club in Yorkshire to adopt a professional approach. Having achieved three promotions and with emerging young keepers, he accepted a move to Scarcroft, north of Leeds, for a new challenge. He also plays midweek for Cornwall’s over-50s team and regularly completes an 800-mile weekly round trip.
“My wife is a huge cricket fan and is very understanding. She does find the whole thing slightly bonkers though.”
Recent Selection for England Over-60s
Martyn’s dedication has been rewarded with selection for England’s over-60s cricket team. He will make his debut for the Lions, effectively the second XI, on Friday at Seaton Carew in County Durham. Paul Bradley, England over-60s manager, states,
“He’ll be presented with a red cap on Friday for the match versus Scotland. If he makes it into the first team, which I’m sure he will at some point, then he’ll get the blue cap and be able to call himself a dual international.”
Martyn expresses his pride,
“It’s a real honour to be selected. I was really impressed at the trial at Loughborough a few weeks ago. These guys are super fit and really strong cricketers, there’s no doddery old men or anything like that. These older gents could give blokes decades younger than them a run for their money.”
Approaching his 60th birthday in August, Martyn acknowledges he was not in contention for the World Cup scheduled in Canada the same month.
“I’d like to play a World Cup or a ‘Grey Ashes’ one day, but right now I’m taking it all as it comes. Fitness is never guaranteed when you get to my age so anything could happen.”
Experiences and Recognition in Club Cricket
Regarding on-field banter, Martyn notes,
“Not really, I had one annoying bloke last season just listing famous goalkeepers while I was batting, that was a bit odd.”He mentions that he is seldom recognized in cricket whites but recalls a match when Paul Robinson, a fellow former Leeds and England goalkeeper, played for Knaresborough due to a shortage of players.
“There were a few quizzical faces that day, a couple of wide-eyed Leeds fans in the opposition. I think they half expected Harry Kewell or Lucas Radebe to be opening the bowling for us. Robbo used to be my boot boy at Leeds. After the match I flung him my spikes for old times’ sake. Luckily, he saw the funny side.”
Highlighting Senior Cricket
Martyn hopes his selection will draw attention to senior cricket, which receives no funding from the England and Wales Cricket Board and depends on sponsorship and player contributions. Paul Bradley emphasizes,
“We’ve got 135 teams from 36 counties competing in 60s and 70s age groups. When it comes to the England squads we select on talent alone, not on favouritism.”
Bradley also shares a recent anecdote,
“Martyn drove up to Seaton Carew a couple of days ago to have a look at the pitch where he will make his Lions debut. He wasn’t there just to have a Mr Whippy on the seafront, was he?”Once a professional athlete, always a professional.
