Martin Worthington
Encyclopedia
Martin Paul Worthington is an English
rugby
player and former professional footballer. He currently plays in France
for Rugby Pro D2
side Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby
.
Worthington was born in Torquay
to Scottish parents and played junior rugby for Paignton Rugby Football Club
while attending Paignton Community College
. He is eligible to playe rugby for Scotland due to his parentage
, although continued to play rugby for Paignton. A midfielder, he made his Torquay debut whilst still a trainee, coming on as a late substitute for Kevin Hill
in a 4-0 win at home against Halifax Town
on March 6, 1999.
He turned professional in July 1999, but made just one further appearance, as a substitute for Chris Brandon in a 3-0 win away to Gillingham
in the Football League Trophy
on December 7, 1999, before being released by Torquay manager Wes Saunders
the following February. Later that month he signed for non-league Bideford, managed by former Torquay United player Sean Joyce
.
side Macon. On returning to the United Kingdom
he joined Coventry R.F.C.
and played for the Scottish Exiles representative side. He subsequently played for Manchester R.F.C. and New Zealand
side Star, before joining Cornish
side Penzance & Newlyn
. He was released, as part of a mass clearout, by the Pirates at the end of the 2003-04 season, shortly before playing in the victorious Devon
side which won the 2004 County Cup Final, Worthington scoring a late try and despite being named as the club's 'Sportsman of the Year'.
Worthington joined Mounts Bay R.F.C in 2004 before joining French side Montlucon in the 2004 close season. In July 2005 he moved to UA Gaillac
and helped the side to promotion to Pro D2 for the first time in their history. Gaillac were demoted from Pro D to Federale 3 for financial irregularies at the end of the 2006-07 season and Worthington left to join Blagnac in June 2007, Blagnac having just been promoted to Pro D2. Blagnac, captained by Worthington, were relegated at the end of the season (and then demoted a further level for financial irregularities).
In May 2008 Worthington joined another Pro D2 side, Tarbes
.
His younger brother David was also a trainee footballer with Torquay United
, but was released at the end of his traineeship at the end of the 2000-01 season. He subsequently played for a number of non-league sides in Devon.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
player and former professional footballer. He currently plays in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second level of domestic club rugby union in France, below the first division, Top 14. The competition was introduced in 2000. There is relegation and promotion between both the Top 14 and Fédérale 1, the third-level competition...
side Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby
Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby
Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby is a French rugby union team that currently takes part in Pro D2, the second level of the country's professional league system....
.
Worthington was born in Torquay
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
to Scottish parents and played junior rugby for Paignton Rugby Football Club
Paignton Rugby Football Club
Paignton Rugby Football ClubRugby Football has been played in Paignton since 1873, Paignton Rugby Football Club moved to its present home Queens Park in 1902 and has been played there ever since...
while attending Paignton Community College
Paignton Community College
Paignton Community and Sports College is a state secondary school and specialist Sports College in South Devon, England.The College has over 1926 pupils on roll, including 285 Sixth Form students, the majority coming from the Paignton area....
. He is eligible to playe rugby for Scotland due to his parentage
Professional football career
On leaving school he began a traineeship with Torquay United Football ClubTorquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, although continued to play rugby for Paignton. A midfielder, he made his Torquay debut whilst still a trainee, coming on as a late substitute for Kevin Hill
Kevin Hill (footballer)
Kevin Hill is a professional footballer, who plays for Tiverton Town. He primarily plays in midfield, but has also featured in defence and up front.-Career:...
in a 4-0 win at home against Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
on March 6, 1999.
He turned professional in July 1999, but made just one further appearance, as a substitute for Chris Brandon in a 3-0 win away to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
on December 7, 1999, before being released by Torquay manager Wes Saunders
Wes Saunders
Wes Saunders is an English former professional footballer and football club manager.Saunders was born in Sunderland and brought up in Boldon Colliery, attending Boldon Comprehensive school...
the following February. Later that month he signed for non-league Bideford, managed by former Torquay United player Sean Joyce
Sean Joyce
Sean William Joyce is an English former professional footballer who made 200 appearances in the Football League playing for Doncaster Rovers, Exeter City and Torquay United...
.
Professional rugby career
Soon after his release by Torquay, Worthington began playing rugby again and in June 2000 signed a contract to play, at scrum-half, for FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
side Macon. On returning to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
he joined Coventry R.F.C.
Coventry R.F.C.
Coventry Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the city of Coventry, England. The club enjoyed national success during the 1960s and the 1970s, with many of its players playing for their countries....
and played for the Scottish Exiles representative side. He subsequently played for Manchester R.F.C. and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
side Star, before joining Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
side Penzance & Newlyn
Cornish Pirates
The Cornish Pirates are an English professional rugby union team who play in the Championship, the second level of the English rugby union pyramid, and are the premier Cornish rugby club. Formerly known as Penzance & Newlyn Pirates, the Cornish Pirates play their home games and train at their...
. He was released, as part of a mass clearout, by the Pirates at the end of the 2003-04 season, shortly before playing in the victorious Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
side which won the 2004 County Cup Final, Worthington scoring a late try and despite being named as the club's 'Sportsman of the Year'.
Worthington joined Mounts Bay R.F.C in 2004 before joining French side Montlucon in the 2004 close season. In July 2005 he moved to UA Gaillac
UA Gaillac
Union Athlétique Gaillac is a French rugby union club currently competing in the Fédérale 3 league, the third level of the French amateur league system, after having been forcibly relegated from the second level of the French professional league due to serious financial problems...
and helped the side to promotion to Pro D2 for the first time in their history. Gaillac were demoted from Pro D to Federale 3 for financial irregularies at the end of the 2006-07 season and Worthington left to join Blagnac in June 2007, Blagnac having just been promoted to Pro D2. Blagnac, captained by Worthington, were relegated at the end of the season (and then demoted a further level for financial irregularities).
In May 2008 Worthington joined another Pro D2 side, Tarbes
Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby
Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby is a French rugby union team that currently takes part in Pro D2, the second level of the country's professional league system....
.
His younger brother David was also a trainee footballer with Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, but was released at the end of his traineeship at the end of the 2000-01 season. He subsequently played for a number of non-league sides in Devon.