Con Martin
A dual-code Irish sports star who excelled at Gaelic football before becoming a rock-solid defender for Aston Villa and Ireland.
1923–2013 (age 90)·Irish footballer·Birthday: March 20·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Con Martin's story is a classic chapter in Irish sporting history, embodying the era when athletes often navigated between Gaelic games and association football. He first made his name as a Gaelic footballer for Dublin, winning a Leinster championship medal. His powerful physique and natural athleticism caught the eye of soccer scouts, and he made the switch, a move that required deft navigation of the often-contentious rules of the time. At Aston Villa, he transformed into a formidable and versatile defender, a cornerstone of their 1957 FA Cup final team. For Ireland, he was equally vital, playing in goal in the nation's first-ever World Cup qualifier in 1937 before settling into a defensive role. Martin's career spanned a transformative period for Irish soccer, and his ability to master two very different football codes spoke of a rare and adaptable talent.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Con was born in 1923, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Con Was Born
The biggest hits of 1923
#1 Movie
The Covered Wagon
Con's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1923Born
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1928Started school
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1936Became a teenager
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Could drive
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1941Could vote
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Turned 21
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1953Turned 30
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 40
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 50
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 60
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 70
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 80
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Died at 90
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Won an FA Cup runners-up medal with Aston Villa in 1957, playing as a central defender.
- Earned 30 caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team, playing in multiple positions.
- Played in the Republic of Ireland's first-ever FIFA World Cup qualifying match in 1937.
- Won a Leinster Senior Football Championship medal playing Gaelic football for Dublin in 1942.
Did You Know?
In his first international soccer match for Ireland, he played as goalkeeper.
His son, Mick Martin, also played professional football for Manchester United and Ireland.
He played for both Dublin clubs Drumcondra and Shelbourne in the League of Ireland.
After retiring, he ran a pub in Dublin called 'The Hideout'.
“I played for the jersey, no matter which code it was.”
