Martin Isaac “Pompey” Image 2 Norwich City 1913

Description

Gateshead, County Durham born centre half Isaac (sometimes known as George, his middle name) “Pompey” Martin began his football career with Gateshead Rodsley and played for Windy Nook in 1907 before joining First Division Sunderland in February 1909 making his Football League debut the following month in a 4-3 defeat at Leicester Fosse, and playing again 2 days later as Sunderland lost heavily 1-8 at Blackburn Rovers. He then played twice only in each of the next two seasons, before 10 more appearances in 1911-12.

He joined Southern League Portsmouth in the summer of 1912 after 16 appearances, where it’s probably fair to say he acquired his nickname, before joining Norwich City in July 1913, playing both sides of the First World War for The Canaries.

During the War he served with the Army, and within a year of resumption of peacetime football, Martin lined up in Norwich’s inaugural Football League fixture in a 1-1 draw at Plymouth Argyle in August 1920 as club captain, making 243 appearances during Norwich’s first seven League seasons, all in the Third Division (South) and scoring only once, in a 6-3 romp over Bournemouth in October 1924. He was already nearly 38 when he played his last game for Norwich in May 1927, and moved that summer to non league Bolton & Paul, before turning out for CEYMS (Norwich) in 1928.