Full name Alan Andrew Martin Years Team Position Goalkeeper Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland Name Alan Martin | Playing position Role Footballer Date joined 2014 000?–2006 Motherwell Height 1.85 m | |
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Date of birth (1989-01-01) 1 January 1989 (age 26) | ||
Current team Hamilton Academical F.C. | ||
Alan Martin (born 1 January 1989) is a Scottish footballer who plays a goalkeeper for Queen of the South. Martin was a Scotland under-21 international. Martin has previously played for Motherwell, Leeds United, Barrow, Accrington Stanley, Ayr United, Crewe Alexandra, Aldershot Town, Clyde, Hamilton Academical and Dumbarton.
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Club career
Martin began his career with the youth system of Scottish Premier League club Motherwell, making the first team for the 2005–06 season. Martin was a often used as a substitute for Motherwell and failed to make a League appearance for them before moving on.
Rangers made enquiries about signing Martin in 2007, before he joined League One side Leeds United on an initial two-year contract on 31 August 2007, taking the opportunity to be more involved in a first team squad. Despite not appearing for Leeds he was offered a new contract in September 2008, and moved to Barrow of the Conference National on loan to get more first team experience. Martin's time at Barrow was extended to a season-long loan and he became a fans' favourite. Martin was declared man-of-the-match in Barrow's FA Cup third round game versus Premier League club Middlesbrough, receiving praise from the club's co-manager Dave Bayliss. Injuries reduced Martin's appearances for Barrow towards the end of that season.
Despite suggestions that Martin could be involved in the Leeds first team for the 2009–10 season, he was loaned out again and joined Accrington Stanley of League Two until January 2010. Martin had his Football League debut with Stanley in the opening game of the season in a 1–0 defeat to Rotherham United and fought for the number one jersey with fellow goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin. In total, Martin played ten matches for Accrington Stanley. On 27 October 2009, Leeds recalled him, with current number one goalkeeper Shane Higgs out with a thigh injury and loanee goalkeeper Frank Fielding having returned to his parent club. Martin expected to be the back-up keeper for Casper Ankergren. Martin was regularly on the bench whilst Higgs was out injured, but he was displaced versus Oldham Athletic with David Martin having arrived on loan from Liverpool. However, Martin returned as a Leeds substitute versus Huddersfield Town, as Leeds already had five loan players in the squad and David Martin was therefore unable to be included.
Martin was part of the Leeds squad that gained promotion to the Championship, although he was confined to being third choice keeper behind Shane Higgs and Casper Ankergren. During the summer of 2010 Ankergren left the club and was replaced by Kasper Schmeichel, which meant that Martin continued to be only the third choice goalkeeper.
On 4 August 2010, Martin re-joined Barrow on loan until January 2011. On 14 August 2010, Martin made his second debut for Barrow versus Histon and conceded three goals in a 3–1 defeat. In October, after injuries to Kasper Schmeichel and Shane Higgs, Leeds contemplated recalling Martin to act as cover but decided to let him stay at Barrow to help his development. On 4 January 2011, Martin returned to Leeds after Barrow decided they couldn't afford to keep him. On 31 January 2011, Martin's contract was cancelled by mutual consent, allowing him to find a new club, after the loan signing of Manchester City goalkeeper David González Giraldo.
After his release from Leeds, Martin moved back to Scotland to sign for part-time club Ayr United in South Ayrshire. Martin was the regular first choice keeper after signing and helped the Somerset Park club to win promotion to the Scottish Football League First Division via the play-offs in May 2011. Although being offered a contract at the Honest Men for the 2011-12, Martin declined the offer when he stated he wanted to go back to full-time football.
Martin signed an initial one-year deal with Crewe Alexandra in July 2011, after impressive performances for the club during their pre-season, finally making his first-team debut on 11 August 2012, keeping a clean sheet in a 5–0 home win over Hartlepool in a Capital One League Cup first round tie. Martin had his League One debut a week later, letting in two goals as Notts County won 2–1 at Gresty Road.
On 27 January 2014, Martin departed Crewe by mutual consent. Martin moved to Aldershot Town and had three league appearances for the club. Martin was released by Aldershot at the end of the 2013–14 season. During July 2014, Martin went on trial with East Ayrshire club Kilmarnock.
On 23 September 2014, Martin signed for Scottish League Two club Clyde. Martin had his debut the very same day, as Clyde defeated Montrose 2-1. Martin then signed for Hamilton Academical in June 2015. After one year with the club, Martin moved onto Scottish Championship club Dumbarton in Dunbartonshire during August 2016, signing a one-year contract with the Sons. Following an impressive season, in which Martin started 39 matches, Martin won five awards at the club's Player of the Year night, including the Sons Trust Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year.
During the middle of May 2017, Martin's future with the Sons was in doubt, with the keeper allegedly looking for a new club after admitting that the Sons latest contract offer to be unacceptable.
On 25 May 2017, Martin signed a two-year contract with rival Scottish Championship club Queen of the South. After the departure of Lee Robinson from the Doonhamers on 9 September 2017, Martin has also taken over as the Dumfries club's goalkeeping coach.
International career
Martin has played for Scotland at youth levels, up to and including the under-21 team. Martin had his under-21 debut versus Northern Ireland in November 2008 and despite playing only nineteen minutes due to an injury, he retained his place as the team's first-choice goalkeeper for some future matches. Martin then played for Scotland in the European Championship Qualifying Play-Offs.