Blakey Martin (1891 - 1940)

Biography

Blakey was born in 1891^[1][2][3] in Rastrick, Yorkshire, England. His father Joseph had died by 1901, when the family lived at 39 Ingleby Street, Bradford; Priscilla was working as a charwoman and had taken in three boarders.^[4] Ten years later they were still at the same house, which had three habitable rooms. Blakey worked as a dyer's labourer.^[5]

In 1913 he was fined 5s. and 7s. costs for not paying his railway fare: "Martin said that, being on strike, he had no money, and had been tempted to do what he did."^[6]

Blakey's football career took off in 1913 when he began to play for Castleford Town^[7] before signing for Glossop in June the following year,^[8] when he was described as "a left half-back, of Castleford Town, who stands 5ft 8in, and is said to be a fast and clever player."^[9]

In 1914 Blakey married Florence Coggrave.^[10] Banns were read at St Philip’s Church, Girlington, on 12, 19 and 26 July 1914; both were resident in the parish.^[11]

Football was suspended for the duration of World War I after the end of the 1914/15 season,^[12] when Blakey enlisted.^[3] He saw service in France and at Gallipoli, sustaining an injury to his arm, and was awarded the Military Medal and bar in 1918 after serving as a machine gunner in the Royal Naval Division.^[12][13]

He was able to resume his football career after the war, rejoining Castleford Town in 1918 before moving to Derby County in 1919, but only made six appearances before transferring to new League club Southend United in 1920: "At Roots Hall he played in their inaugural League fixture, a 2-0 win over Brighton in August 1920, and missed only nine games over the next two seasons, scoring once in September 1921 at Newport County in 80 Shrimpers appearances." He played for Llanelly in 1922^[7] and 1923,^[14] when he became the licensee of the Railway Hotel in Hebden Bridge.^[15]

By 1924 he was playing for his local team:"Confidence was given to the [Hebden Bridge] half-back line by the presence of Blakey Martin, who was ever on the alert, and a source of trouble to his opponents, his goal being a typical example of his quickness on the ball."^[16] Later that year he appeared in court for "supplying intoxicating liquor during non-permitted hours", pleaded guilty and was fined £3.^[17]

In 1934 Blakey and Florence lived at the Railway Hotel with his mother Priscilla and stepfather, John GREENWOOD.^[18] In 1939 they lived at 244 Thornton Road, Bradford, and Blakey was a licensed victualler.^[2]

Blakey died in 1940.^[19][20]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Certificate of Blakey Martin. Vol 9a p 359. December quarter 1891. Registration district Halifax. FreeBMD.org.uk
   GRO index search gives mother's maiden name Green
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} 1939 England and Wales Register. Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2018. Lehi, UT, USA
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Ancestry.com. Web: UK, Royal Marines Registers of Service Index, 1842-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
4. ↑ 1901 England Census. Ancestry.com. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.Original data - Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901.
5. ↑ 1911 England Census. Ancestry.com. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911.
6. ↑ BRADFORD. A Striker’s Temptation. – At the City Police-court yesterday, Blakey Martin, a dyer’s labourer, of Ingleby-street, was summoned for riding on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway without paying his fare. He travelled on a Manchester to Bradford express, and at Low Moor tendered the return half of a Halifax excursion ticket. It was found that Martin and three other men had ridden from Hebden Bridge. Martin said that, being on strike, he had no money, and had been tempted to do what he did. The Stipendiary Magistrate reprimanded him severely, and ordered him to pay 5s. and 7s. British Newspaper Archive. Accessed 2 June 2018
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Bradford born wing half Blakey Martin joined Castleford Town in 1913 and from there he joined Second Division Glossop in July 1914, making his Football League debut on Christmas Day against Leeds City. He scored the following April against Stockport County in a 1-1 draw, playing in total 10 matches during the remainder of the final peacetime season before World War One forced the suspension of The Football League. With Glossop having lost their League status, Martin re-joined Castleford Town in 1918 before joining First Division Derby County in May 1919. He made his Derby debut that August at home to Manchester United but made only 6 appearances all season and joined new League club Southend United in June 1920. At Roots Hall he played in their inaugural League fixture, a 2-0 win over Brighton in August 1920, and missed only 9 games over the next 2 seasons, scoring once in September 1921 at Newport County in 80 Shrimpers appearances. He then joined Welsh League Llanelly in 1922.
   Blakey Martin. vintagefootballers.com. Accessed 2 June 2018
8. ↑ FOOTBALL. ASSOCIATION. Glossop Football Club have secured the signature of Blakey Martin, a left half-back, of Castleford Town. Martin is 21 years of age.
   British Newspaper Archive. Manchester Evening News - Saturday 27 June 1914. Accessed 2 June 2018
9. ↑ Glossop F.C. have secured the signature of Blakey Martin, a left half-back, of Castleford Town, who stands 5ft 8in, and is said to be a fast and clever player.
   Hull Daily Mail - Saturday 27 June 1914. British Newspaper Archive. Accessed 2 June 2018
10. ↑ Marriage Certificate of Blakey Martin and Florence Coggrave. Vol 9b p 320. September quarter 1914. Registration district Bradford. FreeBMD.org.uk
11. ↑ West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935. Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2011. Lehi, UT, USA
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} derbytelegraph.co.uk. The day that football was suspended at Derby County. 11 Nov 2017. Accessed 2 June 2018
13. ↑ BAR TO M.M. Private Blakey Martin, M.M., a former Hebden Bridge footballer, has had a bar added to his medal. He is a machine gunner with the R.N.D.
    Todmorden Advertiser and Hebden Bridge Newsletter - Friday 19 April 1918. British Newspaper Archive. Accessed 2 June 2018
14. ↑ Blakey Martin, the ex-Derby County and Southend footballer, who hails from the Bradford district, is to become the licensee of the Railway Hotel, Hebden Bridge. For the coming season he will play for Llanelly.
    Yorkshire Evening Post - Saturday 11 August 1923. British Newspaper Archive. Accessed 2 June 2018
15. ↑ TODMORDEN PETTY SESSIONS. PERMANENT TRANSFERS. The following transfers previously granted temporarily were confirmed… Railway Hotel, Hebden Bridge, to Blakey Martin from John Geo. Broadbent.
    Todmorden & District News - Friday 07 December 1923. British Newspaper Archive. Accessed 2 June 2018
16. ↑ British Newspaper Archive. Todmorden Advertiser and Hebden Bridge Newsletter - Friday 19 September 1924. Accessed 2 June 2018
17. ↑ TODMORDEN PETTY SESSIONS. DRINKING IN NON-PERMITTED HOURS. Blakey Martin, landlord of the Railway Hotel, Hebden Bridge, was summoned for supplying intoxicating liquor during non-permitted hours, and Albert Lomas, weaver, Eastwood, was summoned for consuming… he said it was carnival day, and had been in the streets. When he got to the Railway Hotel he saw it was too late for a drink, and went into the smoke room for a rest. The landlord, who was a friend of his, came in, and he (Lomas) asked him if he could have a bottle of stout. Being particular friend the landlord stretched a point on that account. He pleaded guilty to the charge… Supt. Hoyle said there had been no complaint against Martin previously. Martin was fined £3 or one month, and Lomas was fined £1 or 14 days.
    Todmorden Advertiser and Hebden Bridge Newsletter - Friday 03 October 1924. British Newspaper Archive. Accessed 2 June 2018
18. ↑ West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962. Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2013. Provo, UT, USA
19. ↑ MARTIN Blakey of 49 Woodlands-street Bradford died 21 October 1940 at St. Lukes Hospital Bradford Administration Wakefield 30 June to Charles Stewart Martin wool comber and Frances Turner (wife of Ernest Turner). Effects £240 17s. 2d.
    England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1861-1941. Ancestry.com. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
20. ↑ Death Certificate of Blakey Martin. Vol 9b p 81. December quarter 1940. Registration district Bradford. FreeBMD.org.uk. Age 48