Martin Frank Image 1 Grimsby Town 1920

Description

Gateshead, County Durham born left half Frank Martin began his football career with Gateshead Rodsley from where he joined Second Division Hull City in the 1904 close season, making his Football League debut against Burnley in September 1907. After a run of 22 matches during his breakthrough season, during which he scored his only goal for The Tigers in a defeat at Barnsley in January 1908, he remained on the fringes at Anlaby Road making only 10 further appearances over the next three seasons.

He joined Grimsby Town for £85 in August 1911 and found regular football at Blundell Park, missing only three matches in his first two seasons. During the First World War he served in the Army and was wounded in 1916, but after the conflict he was fit enough to return to Blundell Park and was a regular in their 1919-20 team that suffered relegation from the Second Division.

He made only 3 more appearances in the autumn for The Mariners during 1920-21 before joining Welsh League club Aberdare Athletic mid season after a single goal in 164 appearances for Grimsby. When Aberdare joined The Football League the following season Martin played in their inaugural League fixture against Portsmouth, one of 10 appearances for Aberdare before the end of the 1921-22 season, after which he returned to Humberside to join non league Cleethorpes Town, later playing for Charlton’s of Grimsby in 1923 before his retirement.