Alvin Martin
Former West Ham and England defender.
Alvin began his football journey with Everton, joining the Merseyside club as a schoolboy. However, in 1973, he left Goodison Park after being offered only a part-time apprenticeship, famously declaring he would “never kick a ball for them again.” Later that summer, he underwent an unsuccessful trial at Queens Park Rangers, followed swiftly by one at West Ham United, where he was awarded a professional contract.
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Alvin Martin
Over the course of a remarkable 19-year career at Upton Park, Alvin made an impressive 586 first-team appearances for the Hammers. His loyalty and dedication earned him the rare honour of being awarded two testimonials, a distinction shared only with club legend Billy Bonds.
In May 1981, Alvin received his first England cap from Ron Greenwood, the manager who brought him to West Ham at the age of 14. The match, played against Brazil at Wembley, marked the beginning of his international career. Unfortunately, injury sidelined him for the 1982 World Cup in Spain. However, Alvin was in top form during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where he featured in England’s victory over Paraguay. Despite his strong performances, he was controversially dropped for the infamous quarter-final match against Argentina, remembered for Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’. Alvin earned 17 caps for England in total.
One of Alvin’s most memorable achievements was scoring a hat-trick against Newcastle United in April 1986. In an extraordinary 8–1 victory, he managed this feat against three different goalkeepers, a testament to his skill and adaptability.
Alvin’s loyalty to West Ham was unwavering, even during challenging times. Following the club’s relegation from the top flight in 1989, he played a key role in their promotion two years later. Although relegation followed again, the Hammers quickly bounced back, and Alvin remained a cornerstone of the team for three more seasons in the Premier League. After nearly two decades of service, he bid farewell to Upton Park at the end of the 1995–96 season.
Post-West Ham, Alvin had a short stint with Leyton Orient before transitioning into management with Southend United. During his two years at the helm, the club was relegated to the Third Division.
After retiring from management, Alvin turned his talents to the media. He became a prominent voice on national radio station talkSPORT and a regular pundit on Sky Sports football talk shows, sharing his vast knowledge and insights with fans across the nation.
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