Soccer Star Martyn Returns To First Love, Cricket

Whoever coined the phrase you can’t teach an old dog new tricks never met Nigel Martyn. Best known for his time as a prominent soccer goalkeeper for England and in the English Premier League, at the age of 58, Martyn made the move into an entirely different sporting racket, one that involves wickets.

The former soccer star is today a wicket keeper for Knaresborough Cricket Club in the North Yorkshire (England) Premier League. 

In some ways, Martyn is actually returning to his first sporting love. 

"I always preferred cricket, but I was slightly better at (soccer),” Martyn told the BBC. "But I had to play outfield - though I was allowed to keep wicket for the school cricket team.

"Once I turned professional (in soccer) the cricket had to stop. I couldn't risk breaking a finger. I would get into a bit of trouble if I did that.”

Martyn earned 23 caps for England on the soccer pitch. The goalkeeper was part of the England side at the 2000 UEFA Euro and the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups.

He turned pro with Bristol Rovers, becoming the first goalkeeper in British soccer to earn a £1 million transfer fee when he signed for Crystal Palace in 1989. He played in the FA Cup final with Crystal Palace and the UEFA Champions League with Leeds United, the club with which he gained most of his fame. 

Martyn was named to the all-time team at Leeds. He finished his soccer career at Everton. He could’ve been done as a sportsperson after leaving the soccer pitch, until another former England goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, convinced Martyn to come back to the cricket oval.

His passion for cricket was fashioned among many sports Martyn played as a youth, all part of his multi-sport upbringing.

'It started at school,” Martyn explained. “It was rugby in the winter, then (soccer) and cricket. I really enjoyed playing. At 14, I joined my local club and went from there.”

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