Former England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn is on the brink of joining an exclusive club of English sportsmen who have represented their country in both football and cricket. The 57-year-old, who earned 23 caps for the Three Lions between 1992 and 2002, is now in contention for the England Over-60s cricket team—a feat that would place him among just 12 dual internationals in history.
Names like Denis Compton, CB Fry, and Tip Foster immediately come to mind when you think of those who've pulled on the jersey for both sports. These are legends from a golden era of English sport, complete with cigarette cards and Brylcreem smiles. Arthur Milton was the last to achieve the double, playing his first Test in 1958, seven years after his sole football cap against Austria. Now, Martyn is looking to add his name to that prestigious list.
"It's pretty special," Martyn told BBC Sport. "Obviously as a professional goalkeeper I wasn't allowed to play cricket in the summer, as it would threaten breaking fingers and things like that. I retired with a stress factor on my ankle so I didn't think I was able to play cricket again. But I got the all-clear to do it in about 2011 so I started playing again."
Martyn's football journey began in 1987 with Bristol Rovers, thanks to a recommendation from the club's tea lady, Vi Harris. The Cornishman went on to make 666 league appearances for Crystal Palace, Leeds United, and Everton before hanging up his gloves in 2006. Now, he's trading his goalkeeper gloves for cricket pads, playing club cricket for Scarcroft CC near Leeds. A few years back, he even helped Knaresborough CC reach the North Yorkshire Premier Division alongside fellow ex-England goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
The road to international cricket hasn't been easy for Martyn. He's been playing county age-group matches for Cornwall, which involves an 800-mile round trip from his Yorkshire home. But the chance to become a dual international this summer has reignited a passion that was always there, just waiting for the right moment.
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