[2] He played football for Tyne Dock N.E.R., from which he joined Wearside League club Kingston Villa ahead of the 1902–03 season.
In the following season, Martin was the club's leading scorer, with 20 goals from League and FA Cup games.
In his first season, he was Blackburn's leading scorer with 17 League goals from 36 games: at 5 ft 11+1⁄2 in (1.82 m) in height and not lightly built, he used his physical strengths well.
In his second, he faced competition for the centre-forward position, and a poorer goal return left the player reportedly unhappy with both himself and the club.
[1][7] He spent the 1908–09 season with Brighton & Hove Albion, where he scored 18 goals from 37 Southern League appearances.