Breaking news: sad news has just been announced for Leeds united fans this evening BREAKING
Disgraced TV presenter rearrested
BBC star dies aged 40
Sacked BBC host’s wife breaks silence
Comedian axes tour amid cancer battle
Actress heartbroken by brother’s death
Soap star dies after short illness
Disgraced TV presenter rearrested
BBC star dies aged 40
Sacked BBC host’s wife breaks silence
Comedian axes tour amid cancer battle
Actress heartbroken by brother’s death
Soap star dies after short illness
Football
Leeds United favourite explains how dispute with manager led to Everton move as he makes ‘not great’ admission
Tom Coates
By Tom Coates
Search, Trends and Live Sport Specialist
Published 18th Sep 2024, 14:58 BST
Former Leeds United goalkeeper Nigel Martyn has lifted the lid on the dispute that led to his eventual move from Elland Road to Everton.
Martyn spent seven years at Leeds and is still considered among the club’s greats. He amassed 265 appearances between the sticks for the Whites but lost the number one spot in his final campaign.
He left for Everton in 2003, although a disagreement with former Leeds boss Terry Venables had set the wheels in motion for an exit in 2002.
Advertisement
Hide Ad
Sign up to our Sports Editor’s Team Talk newsletter to get the latest sporting news.
Enter your email
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Notice and Terms of Service apply.
Having been away with England for the 2002 World Cup, Martyn was not afforded the same break many of his international teammates were.
Speaking on popular podcast Undr The Cosh, Martyn explained: “It wasn’t great. My situation was I’d played every game that season for Leeds, got lucky enough to get picked in the World Cup squad, got to Japan and [South] Korea, got to the quarter-finals.
Start the conversation
Have your say.
Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.
Be the First to Comment
“[I] came back after that tournament, had 12 days off and had to report for pre-season training. It’s not long enough. The Arsenal players, the Man U players, get one month from the day you’re knocked out. See you in a month.
Nigel Martyn is still considered among Leeds United’s greats.
Nigel Martyn is still considered among Leeds United’s greats. | Gary Oakley/Getty Images
“Terry was the manager but Terry wasn’t in at the club at the time. Eddie Gray was taking training. I’ve come in, training with Steve Sutton [goalkeeping coach], Robbo [Paul Robinson], had a couple of days training.
Advertisement
Hide Ad
“Eddie said ‘we’re going on a trip to Australia, China and Thailand’. I’d literally just come from there – I need a break. I said to Ed ‘can I not go on that trip? I’ve just come from that part of the world, I’m knackered, I want to get home, I want to have a bit of time with my family, and for getting the best out of me, for you, it’s best if you leave me here’. He said ‘I don’t think the new manager’s going to like that’.”
Gray’s prediction came true, as Martyn and Venables clashed regarding the former’s request for time off.
Martyn said: “The next day, at training, it was wet, I was covered in mud, me and Robbo were working hard with Steve Sutton, pre-season, going through it again. Eddie comes jogging over – ‘get yourself in, the manager’s ringing you in 15 minutes’.
“He said ‘what’s this, you’re not coming on the trip?’. I said ‘you’ve been England manager, I’ve played every game last season, not missed a session, training, gone straight to a World Cup, I’m knackered. I need a break. If you want me at your best, just let me do that’.
Advertisement
Hide Ad
“[He said] ‘I can’t have a senior player dipping out of this. If you don’t come on this trip, you’re never going to play for Leeds United again’, and put the phone down.”
Martyn left for Everton a year later, endearing himself to the Goodison Park faithful before hanging up his gloves in 2006.
His spot at Leeds was taken by Robinson, who also went on to become a senior England international.
Related topics:Everton
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.
This website and its associated newspaper are members of Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)
Follow us on
Explore
News
Sport
What’s On
Lifestyle
Food and Drink
Yorkshire Heritage
Country and Farming
More from The Yorkshire Post
Announcements
Celebrations
Jobs
Public Notices
Must Read
Photo Sales
Newspaper Archive
Useful Links
Contact Us
Advertise My Business
Ad Manager
Place your Ad
Advertise a Job
Subscribe
Events
Newsletter
Archive
Publisher Guidelines
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights rese
- rved.
Cookie Settings
Terms and Conditions
Privacy notice
AI Policy
Modern Slavery Statement
notification icon
Be the first to comment