Alvin Martin

Alvin started out with Merseyside club Everton as a schoolboy, but left in 1973 after the Goodison Park club only offered him an apprenticeship on a part-time basis, stating at the time that he “would never kick a ball for them again”. An unsuccessful trial later that summer with Queens Park Rangers was followed the very next day by one for West Ham United, where he was awarded a contract.

Alvin went on to amass 586 first-team appearances for the Hammers in a successful 19-year career at Upton Park, in which he became one of only two players, along with Billy Bonds, to be awarded two testimonials.

Alvin was given his first England cap by Ron Greenwood, who brought him to West Ham as a 14-year-old, against Brazil at Wembley in May 1981. Injury ruled him out of the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain, but he was playing some of the finest football of his career when the next England manager, Bobby Robson, included him in his squad for the 1986 edition in Mexico. Alvin played in the victory over Paraguay, but was surprisingly dropped for the next game, the quarter-final defeat by Argentina’s infamous ’Hand of God’. In total, he made 17 appearances for England.

After leaving West Ham, Alvin had a brief spell with east London neighbours Leyton Orient, before managing Southend United for two years during which they were relegated to the Third Division.

After retiring from management, he joined national radio station talkSPORT, while also being a regular pundit on Sky Sports TV football talk shows.

To hire Alvin ex West Ham professional footballer and England International as the football speaker or top table guest for your next event please “enquire now” or call us on 01522 508355

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