Stephen Martin (field hockey)

Stephen Alexander Martin MBE (born 13 April 1959) is a former field hockey player from Northern Ireland who represented both Ireland and Great Britain at international level. Between 1980 and 1991 he made 135 senior appearances for Ireland. He also captained the Ireland team. He represented Ireland at the 1983, 1987 and 1991 EuroHockey Nations Championships and at the 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup. Between 1983 and 1992 Martin also made 94 senior appearances for Great Britain. He represented Great Britain at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in 1984 and a gold medal in 1988. In 1994 he was awarded an MBE. In 2001 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Ulster University. In 2011 Martin was inducted into the Irish Hockey Association Hall of Fame. After retiring as a field hockey player, Martin became a sports administrator. Between 1998 and 2005 he served as Deputy Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association and between 2006 and 2018 he served as Chief Executive of the Olympic Council of Ireland. [1][2][3][4] He now runs his own leadership and management consultancy business and is an associate consultant at Lane 4. [3]

Stephen Martin
Personal information
Full name Stephen Alexander Martin
Born (1959-04-13) 13 April 1959
Bangor, County Down
Northern Ireland
Height 182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 76 kg (168 lb)
Playing position Defender
Youth career
197x–197x Bangor Grammar School
1976–1978 → Ulster Schools
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
197x–198x Bangor
1980–1991 → Ulster
1983–1985 → Ulster Elks
19xx–198x Belfast YMCA
198x–198x Holywood 87
198x–198x Newry Olympic
198x–198x Annadale
2008–2009 Lisnagarvey
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1991 Ireland 135 (10)
1983–1992 Great Britain 94 (4)
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
1988 SeoulTeam
1984 Los AngelesTeam
Champions Trophy
1985 PerthTeam
1984 KarachiTeam
Representing  Ireland
EuroHockey Junior Championship
1978 DublinTeam

Early years, family and education

Martin is the son of Jim and Mamie Martin. His father was originally from Portadown while his mother was originally from Lisbellaw. They both moved to Donaghadee in the early 1950s and when Stephen was born on 13 April 1959, they were living in Bangor, County Down. The Martins ran a local garage and a car repair shop in Bangor. Martin was educated at Bangor Central Primary School, Bloomfield Road Primary School, Bangor Grammar School and Ulster University. He graduated from Ulster University in 1985 with a BA Honours Degree in Sport and Leisure Studies. In his youth he played both association football and rugby union before his older brother, Phillip, introduced him to field hockey. He was also a notable golfer. He was a member of the Bangor Grammar School team that won the Ulster and Irish schools golf championship in 1976 and 1977. Other members of the team included his older brother Philip Martin, David Feherty and Mark Robson, the Sky Sports rugby union commentator. [1][5][2][3][6][7]

Domestic teams

As a schoolboy Martin played field hockey for Bangor Grammar School and Ulster Schools. At senior club level he has played for several clubs including Bangor, Belfast YMCA, Holywood 87, Newry Olympic and Annadale. Martin also represented Ulster University at intervarsity level, helping Ulster Elks win the 1985 Mauritius Cup. He also represented Ulster at interprovincial level. In 2008 and 2009 he played alongside his son, Patrick, in the second team at Lisnagarvey. [2][3][4][8]

International

Ireland

Martin was a member of the Ireland team that were silver medallists at the 1978 EuroHockey Junior Championship. Other members of the team included Martin Sloan, Jimmy Kirkwood and Billy McConnell. [7] He made his senior Ireland debut aged 19. [5][7] Between 1980 and 1991 he made 135 senior appearances for Ireland. He also captained the Ireland team. He represented Ireland at the 1983, 1987 and 1991 EuroHockey Nations Championships and at the 1990 Men's Hockey World Cup. [2][4][9][10] In 2011 Martin was inducted into the Irish Hockey Association Hall of Fame. [11][12]

Great Britain

Between 1983 and 1992 Martin made 94 senior appearances for Great Britain. [4] He made his debut for Great Britain against the United States. [7] He subsequently represented Great Britain at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in 1984 and a gold medal in 1988. [13][14][15][16] Martin also represented Great Britain in Champions Trophy tournaments, winning a bronze medal in 1984 and a silver in 1985. [2][4]

Tournaments Place Team
1978 EuroHockey Junior Championship [7] Ireland
1983 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship [7]10th Ireland
1984 Summer Olympics [14] Great Britain
1984 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy [17] Great Britain
1985 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy [18] Great Britain
1986 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy [19]4th Great Britain
1987 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship6th Ireland
1987 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy [20]4th Great Britain
1988 Summer Olympics [14] Great Britain
1988 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy6th Great Britain
1989 Men's Intercontinental Cup [21]5th Ireland
1990 Men's Hockey World Cup [9][10]12th Ireland
1990 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy [20]6th Great Britain
1991 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship7th Ireland
1991 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy [22]5th Great Britain
1992 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy [23]5th Great Britain
1992 Summer Olympics [14]9th Great Britain

Sports administrator

While still an active field hockey player, Martin worked for the Ulster Hockey Union as a Sports Development Manager. Between 1992 and 1998 he worked for Sport Northern Ireland as a Performance Manager. Between 1998 and 2005 he served as Deputy Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association. [3] He also served as Chef de Mission for Great Britain at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics and at the 2002 Winter Olympics. [15][24] Between 2006 and 2018 he served as Chief Executive of the Olympic Council of Ireland. He served as Deputy Chef de Mission for Ireland at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. He was also Chef de Mission for Ireland at the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics. [25][26][27][28][29] During the 2016 Summer Olympics ticket scandal, Martin was one of three Olympic Council of Ireland officials who were detained by police and had their passports, phones and laptops seized after a fourth official, Pat Hickey, was accused of illegal ticket selling. However all three were subsequently released without charge. [26][27][30][31][32]

Position Employer Years
Sports Development ManagerUlster Hockey Union1985–1991
Performance ManagerSport Northern Ireland1992–1998
Deputy Chief ExecutiveBritish Olympic Association1998–2005
→ Chef de MissionGreat Britain at the 2000 Summer Olympics [15]
→ Chef de MissionGreat Britain at the 2002 Winter Olympics [24]
→ Chef de MissionGreat Britain at the 2004 Summer Olympics [15]
Chief ExecutiveOlympic Council of Ireland [33][34][35][25][26]2006–2018
→ Deputy Chef de MissionIreland at the 2012 Summer Olympics [27][28]
→ Chef de MissionIreland at the 2014 Winter Olympics [27][28][36]
→ Deputy Chef de MissionIreland at the 2015 European Games [37]
→ Deputy Chef de MissionIreland at the 2016 Summer Olympics [27][28][38]
→ Chef de MissionIreland at the 2018 Winter Olympics [26][28][29]

Source:[3]

Personal life

Martin is married to Dorothy Armstrong. They have two children, Patrick and Hannah. The Martin family home is in Holywood, County Down. Martin's wife and children have all played field hockey at a senior level. Dorothy played in the Ulster Senior League for Knock and Grosvenor. She later worked as a PE teacher at Priory Integrated College. [1][2] Patrick Martin has played for Lisnagarvey in the Men's Irish Hockey League [39][40] while Hannah Martin, a graduate of Ulster University, has played for Ards in the Women's Irish Hockey League. Her coaches have included her father. [1][41][42]

Honours
Great Britain
Ireland
Ulster Elks
  • Mauritius Cup
    • Winners: 1985: 1

References
  1. "Northern Ireland Olympic legend Stephen Martin takes on Half Marathon in memory of mum". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  2. "Interviews – Sporting Legends of Ireland – Stephen Martin". www.turtlebunbury.com. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  3. "Stephen Martin". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  4. "Stephen Alexander Martin". www.debretts.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  5. "Course dropout takes honours". www.irishtimes.com. 9 April 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  6. "Bangor Grammar School launches its Sporting Wall of Fame". grammarians.co.uk. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  7. "Oral History Interview: Stephen (Sam) Martin". www.hockeymuseum.net. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  8. "Testing times in history of Newry". www.newsletter.co.uk. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  9. "Flying with drunken angels, riot police, dodgy curry, potent 7-Up and spotless trainers as Irish play a lament in Lahore". www.hookhockey.com. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  10. "Martin: Funding the key question to keep hockey's momentum going". www.hookhockey.com. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  11. "Lisnagarvey take top IHA Awards honours". www.hookhockey.com. 22 May 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  12. "Hockey Hall of Fame". www.olympics.ie. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  13. "Martin and Kirkwood raise toast to Seoul Olympics joy". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 9 October 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  14. "Sam Martin". www.sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  15. "Stephen Martin: Leaving the comfort zone". www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  16. "Martin and Kirkwood - NI's Olympic golden boys". www.bbc.co.uk. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  17. "Netherlands v Great Britain". tms.fih.ch. 14 December 1984. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  18. "Great Britain v India". tms.fih.ch. 24 November 1985. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  19. "India v Great Britain". tms.fih.ch. 10 April 1986. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  20. "Champions Trophy". www.sikhsinhockey.com. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  21. "Men's Hockey road to Rio outlined". olympics.ie. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  22. "Great Britain v Pakistan". tms.fih.ch. 21 September 1991. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  23. "Netherlands v Great Britain". tms.fih.ch. 26 February 1992. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  24. "Stephen Martin gives talk to DIT students on Olympic Glory and the Road to Rio". www.dit.ie. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  25. "Stephen Martin quits as CEO of Olympic Council of Ireland". www.bbc.co.uk. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  26. "Stephen Martin resigns as chief executive of the Olympic Council of Ireland". www.irishnews.com. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  27. "Stephen Martin steps down as Olympic Council of Ireland CEO". www.irishtimes.com. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  28. "Stephen Martin steps down as Chief Executive Officer of OCI". www.olympics.ie. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  29. "Winter Olympics 2018 - Day 10 Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  30. "Rio police seize passport of Northern Ireland gold medal winner Stephen Martin as part of probe into Olympic tickets". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  31. "Bangor Olympic official Martin to fly home from Rio". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  32. "Three OCI officials return to Ireland after Rio police hand back their passports". www.thejournal.ie. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  33. "European Olympic Committee General Assemble Friday". www.sportsfile.com. 2 December 2005. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  34. "2012 London Olympics Preview - Tuesday 6th December Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  35. "Olympic Council of Ireland EGM Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  36. "Winter Olympics: Stephen Martin appointed Ireland's Chef de Mission for Sochi 2014". www.sportsnewsireland.com. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  37. "Baku 2015 European Games - Day 8". www.sportsfile.com. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  38. "How Stephen will spearhead Olympic mission of a lifetime". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  39. "Sothern triple brings back-to-back glory". www.hookhockey.com. 16 May 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  40. "Banbridge take IHL title, Pembroke ousted by 'Garvey in semi's". www.pembrokewanderers.ie. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  41. "Hannah has skill that made father Stephen a golden hero". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  42. "Ards – Women's EY Hockey League". www.hookhockey.com. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2019.


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