James Atama
The Association extends warm birthday wishes to former Sky Blues goalkeeper Martin Clamp, who celebrates his 77th birthday today, January 31, 2023. Born in Coventry in 1948, Martin has been a member of CCFPA since 2013 and currently resides in Canada, where he keeps in touch with the Association on occasion.
A talented keeper, Martin began his journey with the club as a schoolboy and joined the groundstaff in November 1964. Although he turned professional in January 1966, opportunities in the first team were limited due to the presence of goalkeeping legends Bob Wesson and Bill Glazier, both of whom are also CCFPA members. However, he did make a notable first-team appearance in March 1967 during the prestigious Winston Churchill Memorial Cup against First Division West Ham United. That memorable match took place at Highfield Road and ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw, with Martin competing against stars like Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, and Alan Dickie, another fellow CCFPA member. City’s goals were netted by current CCFPA member Dietmar Bruck, Ernie Machin, and Ian Gibson, though the team ultimately lost the penalty shootout 9-7.
After leaving the Sky Blues in 1968, Martin joined Plymouth Argyle, where he made nine appearances in league and cup competitions. He later played for several teams, including Nuneaton Borough, Kettering Town, and Bedworth Town, before relocating to Canada. In Canada, Martin continued his football career with various teams until retiring in 1985 at the age of 37. After his football career, he worked in the postal services industry in Ontario, where he has lived for over 30 years.
Former CCFPA Chairman Jim Brown has maintained a friendship with Martin over the years, and in April 2019, he welcomed him back to the Ricoh Arena during a visit from Canada, where Martin attended a Sky Blues match against Bradford City with his grandson, Denilson, who was trialing with Coventry’s Academy. The Sky Blues won the match 2-0, making it a special reunion for Martin.
