Joe Martin Signs

Joe had spent time on loan at Bloomfeild Road earlier in the season from Spurs and featured in the last game of the campaign on the right-wing in place of Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

That 75 minuets and a couple of months of training with the first squad seems to have impressed manager Simon Grayson hence the two year deal with the standard option of a further one year deal.

His signing makes him the 22nd senior player at the club after Alex Baptiste signed from Mansfield this week.


It was exactly one year ago that Martin signed a professional contract with Tottenham Hotspur. With little chance of a first team football at Spurs the 18 year old signed on loan at Blackpool on the transfer deadline day in March. After signing a calf injury kept him out of the squad until the end of the season, he was unused substitute in game at Plymouth Argyle and started the last game of the season against Watford.

It was a bold move for Simon Grayson considering Pool were yet to secure a place in the Championship and it would be Martin`s professional debut. After the game he raved about the experience and hinted at a return to Bloomfield Road.

"That last game against Watford was brilliant and something I'll remember for the rest of my life. To make your debut in a match like that, when there was a sell-out crowd and so much riding on the outcome, was terrific. The manager seemed pretty pleased with how I did and hopefully I can come back here next year and help the club stay up, if not better. It's up to Tottenham whether I come back. They hold all the cards. But if there is a possibility of it happening then I would love to return to Blackpool. I am really glad that Blackpool stayed up because they are a brilliant club."

Martin, the son of former West Ham United player Alvin Martin, played for England at Under-16 and Under-17 levels and there was speculation that his brother, David would join on loan from Liverpool for a season loan. His brother, older by 4 years is a keeper and with the arrival of Matthew Gilks from Norwich a move looks unlikely for the other Martin.

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