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Hammers career : 1984-1990
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MARTIN GOODWIN, for many years a man who was synonymous with the Hammers, started his career here at Arena-Essex when the club opened back in 1984. He broke into that first-season side and impressed many with his never-say-die attitude and natural ability, which was adapted from his grasstrack upbringing.
In only his second season with the club, Martin won the inaugural two-day grand slam event at Peterborough - a truly outstanding achievement. The following year in 1986 Martin formed a potent heat leader trio with Andrew Silver and Neil Middleditch and led Arena to what was at the time their highest league placing at the time - fourth in the National League.
1987 saw Martin back with the Hammers but this time as skipper, a season in which he was dogged by constant machine trouble. But despite those problems, Martin worked hard and was rewarded with the captaincy in 1988, a season which saw Silver move on the British League and the Hammers' powerful spearhead weaken. Martin was left on many occasions to fight a one man battle against the Hammers' opponents but he rose to the challenge, achieving what was quite possibly the peak of his career form - a near ten point average, many track records and holder of the silver helmet for a substantial period of time.
Martin's form dipped slightly in '89 but that was nothing compared to 1990 when he suffered serious neck and back injuries in a crash at the British semi-final at Cradley Heath. He spent many months on the sidelines but returned in the summer - scoring a maximum at Eastbourne on his comeback - to resume his natural position at the head of the team.
When a new regime took over in 1991 Martin bid farewell to the Hammers and moved to Rye House on loan, spearheading the Rockets' challenge for cup honours in 1992 and celebrating a 10-year career testimonial the following season - a year in which he qualified from the British Final to reach the Commonwealth stage of the World Championship. Following the temporary demise of the Rockets during that winter, Martin moved on to link up with Oxford where he was the match winner in the four team championship finals, leading the Cheetahs to victory with a stunning display from reserve.
He stayed with the Cheetahs when the all-embracing Premier League was formed, but suffered a series of niggling injuries and announced his retirement at the end of 1996. Despite several attempts to entice him back into the saddle, Martin remained on the sidelines but did have a few brief spells with both the Cheetahs and the Hammers as team manager.
Year |
Matches |
Rides |
Points |
Bonus |
Total |
Average |
Full Max |
Paid Max |
1984 |
33 |
134 |
222 |
16 |
238 |
7.10 |
1 |
0 |
1985 |
40 |
172 |
287 |
32 |
319 |
7.42 |
2 |
1 |
1986 |
43 |
190 |
395.5 |
26 |
421.5 |
8.87 |
5 |
2 |
1987 |
32 |
145 |
312 |
11 |
323 |
8.91 |
4 |
1 |
1988 |
31 |
169 |
402 |
7 |
409 |
9.68 |
6 |
1 |
1989 |
34 |
180 |
371 |
10 |
381 |
8.47 |
3 |
0 |
1990 |
22 |
123 |
260 |
12 |
272 |
8.85 |
0 |
1 |
TOTAL |
235 |
1113 |
2249.5 |
114 |
2363.5 |
8.49 |
21 |
6 |
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