George Martin (footballer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

George Martin was a Scottish footballer and manager. He was best known as manager of Luton Town (twice) and Newcastle United.

[edit] Playing career

Born in Glasgow, Martin started his career with Hamilton Academicals before moving south to join Hull City. From there he moved on to Everton, Middlesbrough and Luton Town before moving into management.

[edit] Management

Martin became a coach at Luton Town in August 1939, and was appointed manager on 4 December 1944. After guiding Luton through their first post-war season, he was appointed as Newcastle United's first manager since the end of World War II in May 1947. One of his decisions at the club was surprisingly to sell prolific goalscorer and fans' favourite Len Shackleton to Sunderland for £13,000. This concerned some supporters and Martin was at first criticised for making this move. However the protests were short-lived as Newcastle gained promotion without Shackleton and other popular players were introduced. These included the club's current second highest all-time goal-scorer, Jackie Milburn.

He resigned from Newcastle in 1950 after establishing them as a top six side in the First Division and took over at struggling Aston Villa. He later returned to Luton for a short-lived spell in 1965; he left a year later.

[edit] References

Collings, Timothy (1985). The Luton Town Story 1885-1985. Luton Town F.C.. p. 247. ISBN 1-951067-90-7.

Luton Town F.C. – Managers

Thompson (1925) · McCartney^s (1927–29) · Kay^s (1929–31) · Wightman^s (1931–35) · Liddell (1936–38) · McBain (1938–39) · Martin (1939–47) · Duncan (1947–58) · Owen (1959–60) · Bartram (1960–62) · Crompton (1962) · Harvey (1962–64) · Watkins^c (1964–65) · Martin (1965–66) · Brown (1966–68) · Stock (1968–72) · Haslam (1972–78) · Pleat (1978–86) · Moore (1986–1987) · R. Harford (1987–1990) · Mancini^c (1990) · Ryan (1990–91) · Pleat (1991–95) · Westley (1995) · Lawrence (1995–2000) · Hill (2000) · Fuccillo (2000–01) · Kinnear (2001–03) · Newell (2003–07) · Stein^c (2007) · Blackwell (2007–08) · M. Harford (2008–Present)

(s) secretary (c) caretaker

v • d • e Newcastle United F.C. – Managers

Selection committee (1892–1930) · Cunningham (1930–35) · Mather (1935–39) · Seymour (1939–47) · Martin (1947–50) · Livingstone (1954–56) · Mitten (1958–61) · N. Smith (1961–62) · Harvey (1962–75) · Lee (1975–77) · Dinnis (1977) · McGarry (1977–80) · Cox (1980–84) · Charlton (1984–85) · McFaul (1985–88) · J. Smith (1988–91) · Ardiles (1991–92) · Keegan (1992–97) · McDermott (1997^c) · Dalglish (1997–98) · Gullit (1998–99) · Clarke (1999^c) · Robson (1999–2004) · Carver (2004^c) · Souness (2004–06) · Roeder (2006–07) · Pearson (2007^c) · Allardyce (2007–08) · Pearson (2008^c) · Keegan (2008) · Hughton (2008^c) · Kinnear (2008–09) · Hughton & Calderwood (2009^a) · Shearer (2009) · Hughton (2009–)

(a) acting in regular manager's absence; (c) caretaker

Aston Villa F.C. – Managers

Ramsay (1884–1926) · Smith (1926–34) · McMullan (1934–35) · Hogan (1936–39) · Massie (1945–50) · Martin (1950–53) · Houghton (1953–58) · Mercer (1958–64) · D. Taylor (1964–67) · Cummings (1967–68) · Docherty (1968–70) · Crowe (1970–74) · Saunders (1974–82) · Barton (1982–84) · Turner (1984–86) · McNeill (1986–87) · G. Taylor (1987–90) · Venglos (1990–91) · Atkinson (1991–94) · Little (1994–98) · Gregory (1998–2002) · G. Taylor (2002–03) · O'Leary (2003–06) · O'Neill (2006–)