1. Con Martin, nicknamed Mr Versatility, played in nearly every position during his soccer career.
22 Facts About Con Martin
1. 2.
Con Martin 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.
3.
Con Martin played Gaelic football in his youth for St Maurs GAA club in Rush, County Dublin, and was called into the senior Dublin county panel aged just 18.
4.
When this was discovered, the Gaelic Athletic Association, which maintained a ban on foreign sports, expelled Con Martin and withheld his winners medal.
5.
Con Martin eventually received the medal in 1971, after the ban was lifted.
6.
Con Martin is one of several notable Dublin footballers to have successfully switched codes.
7.
Con Martin subsequently made 22 appearances and scored 1 goal for the Glens.
8.
Con Martin played a further two games in the FA Cup.
9.
At Leeds, Con Martin played as a left-back, centre-half, left-half and inside-forward.
10.
Con Martin scored his only goal for the club on 6 December 1947 at Elland Road in a league game against West Ham United.
11.
Con Martin was immediately installed in the centre-half position but during his first season played a few games at right-back.
12.
Con Martin made 26 league appearances and 1 FA Cup appearance as a goalkeeper for Villa before reverting to the centre-half position.
13.
Between 1948 and 1956 Con Martin made 213 appearances for Villa, 194 in the league and 19 in cup games.
14.
In July 1956 Con Martin left Villa to sign for Waterford United [1].
15.
When Con Martin began his international career in 1946 there were, in effect, two Ireland teams, chosen by two rival associations.
16.
Between 1946 and 1956 Con Martin made 30 appearances and scored 6 goals for the FAI XI.
17.
Con Martin made his debut during a tour of Iberia in June 1946.
18.
Con Martin won his third cap on 30 September 1946 when he was a member of the first ever FAI XI to play against England.
19.
Con Martin scored the opener, from the penalty spot, after Peter Desmond was brought down in the box.
20.
Con Martin made 6 appearances for the IFA XI between 1946 and 1950.
21.
Con Martin, together with Davy Walsh, Reg Ryan and Tom Aherne, was one of four players Free State-born players, included in the IFA XI that day and as a result he played for two different associations in the same FIFA World Cup tournament.
22.
Con Martin was the founding member of a notable Irish footballing family.