John Martis
Encyclopedia
John Martis is a Scottish
former professional footballer who made nearly 500 appearances in the Scottish Football League
and was capped once for the Scotland
national side.
in 1957 from local Junior
side Royal Albert
and became known as one of the "Ancell Babes" under the tutelage of then manager Bobby Ancell
, alongside players such as Pat Quinn
and Ian St. John
. A solid and uncompromising centre half, he remained at Fir Park for twelve seasons before departing for a brief spell in South Africa
with Hellenic FC
. On his return to Scotland, he joined East Fife
, for whom he played for six years before retiring in 1975.
A youth international, he won his only full cap for Scotland against Wales
in a British Home Championship
fixture in 1960.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former professional footballer who made nearly 500 appearances in the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
and was capped once for the Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
national side.
Playing career
Martis signed for MotherwellMotherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
in 1957 from local Junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
side Royal Albert
Royal Albert F.C.
Royal Albert Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in the town of Larkhall, South Lanarkshire. Nicknamed the Albert, they were formed in 1878....
and became known as one of the "Ancell Babes" under the tutelage of then manager Bobby Ancell
Bobby Ancell
Robert Francis Dudgeon Ancell was a Scottish football player and manager. He played as a left back and was capped twice by the Scottish national side.-Player:...
, alongside players such as Pat Quinn
Pat Quinn (footballer)
Pat Quinn is a Scottish former professional association football player and manager.Quinn began his career in League football at Motherwell under the management of Bobby Ancell where he would play alongside other "Ancell's Babes" such as Ian St. John. Quinn would establish himself as a scheming...
and Ian St. John
Ian St. John
Ian St. John is a former Scottish footballer, who played for Scotland 21 times. He later became a manager and pundit...
. A solid and uncompromising centre half, he remained at Fir Park for twelve seasons before departing for a brief spell in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with Hellenic FC
Hellenic FC
Hellenic FC was a South African association football club based in Cape Town. They were nicknamed The Greek Gods.Established in 1958 by Greek South Africans, Hellenic campaigned in the lower amateur leagues of Cape Town...
. On his return to Scotland, he joined East Fife
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
, for whom he played for six years before retiring in 1975.
A youth international, he won his only full cap for Scotland against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in a British Home Championship
British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
fixture in 1960.