Date / Year of birth: 19th June 1968

Position: Striker

Season of first appearance: 1990/91

Season of last appearance: 1997/98

Also played for: Enfield, Walthamstow Avenue, Boreham Wood, Dagenham, Welling United, Tonbridge, Alma Swanley, St.Johnstone (Scotland) (12+7,6), Sittingbourne, Hayes, Gravesend & Northfleet, Hampton, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Deal Town, Ashford Town, Purfleet, Dartford, Maidstone United, Erith & Belvedere and Great Wakering Rovers

Gifted London-born left-footed striker widely known as 'Bugsy' who brought new meaning to the phrase 'much-travelled'. Martin started his career with Enfield and made his first team debut as a substitute during 1984/85 aged 16, it was his only senior appearance of the season. During 1985/86 he was a regular marksman for Enfield's reserves, scoring over 15 goals, and also had a loan spell with Walthamstow. After returning to Enfield he played once more for the first team, scoring in a 2-0 win at Bath at the end of a season in which Enfield won the Conference title.

In December 1986 Martin made the first permanent move of his career when he joined Boreham Wood and he scored on his debut for them. He then had a spell with Dagenham and towards the end of the 1987/88 campaign Martin rejoined Walthamstow.

On 12.4.88 he scored twice from the penalty spot as Walthamstow drew 3-3 with Basildon in the club's last ever home game before going out of existence at the end of the season.

Martin linked up with Welling during 1988/89 and he had a loan spell at Tonbridge during his time with the Wings. He stayed with Welling until halfway through the 1989/90 season when he signed for Kent League outfit Alma Swanley.

In the summer of 1990 Martin joined Margate and turned in some impressive performances during the club's pre-season friendlies. On 7.8.90 he scored a superb goal in a 4-2 defeat against Gillingham, beating three players before chipping the Gills' keeper. Martin then scored twice against a Charlton side on 14.8.90 and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he looked "razor-sharp".

He made his full debut on the opening day of the 1990/91 campaign, playing on the left wing in a 2-2 draw at Witney on 18.8.90. In September 1990 Martin suffered a knee injury and had to have a cartilage operation that kept him out for five games but once he had recovered he was a regular in Margate's side, nearly always playing on the wing rather than as a striker. On 6.10.90 Martin had a good game in a 3-0 win at Sudbury and the Thanet Times praised him for his "many penetrating runs down the flank". On 20.10.90 Martin scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win over Bromley at Hartsdown Park. It was an FA Trophy tie and Martin's uncharacteristic header was described as "tremendous" by the Thanet Times who called him "enigmatic". His performance in a 2-1 home win over Andover on 8.12.90 also impressed the paper. Martin was described as turning in a "devastating display" and the report went on to say "the speedy winger, who so often has failed to live up to his ability, finally came good". He was said to have "terrorised the visitors defence with his pace and close control and twice hit thunderous 25-yard drives against the woodwork". Three days later Martin scored twice in a 2-2 draw over Dover at Hartsdown and his first goal was a brilliant solo effort as he cut in from the left and beat three defenders before firing into the corner of the net. His second goal was a superb lob from fully 30 yards that left Dover keeper Maurice Munden stranded. The Isle of Thanet Gazette's report said Martin was "tenacious" and that he had "taken on a new lease of life in recent weeks".

On 19.1.91 Martin scored direct from a corner in a 2-1 defeat at Ashford and the Thanet Times said that he was "always a threat". On 1.4.91 he scored the only goal of the game at Hastings with what the Gazette called "a fearsome drive" and it was Martin's last goal of the season. Later in April he suffered an injury at work - he was a scaffolder - and missed the last five matches of the season. He ended the campaign with a record of six goals from 42 appearances (two as sub). He also scored twice in three games for the reserves.

A few weeks into the 1991/92 season Martin began to play regularly as a striker and on 21.9.91 he scored his first goal of the campaign in a 1-1 draw with Abingdon in an FA Trophy tie at Hartsdown. The Isle of Thanet Gazette accused him of "weak finishing" during a 4-4 home draw with Witney on 26.10.91 but on 2.11.91 he capped a great display by scoring in a 3-1 win at Erith & Belvedere. The Thanet Times said that Martin's "pace repeatedly troubled the home defence" and that he "could have had four goals instead of just one". The same paper said that he was "a constant threat with his teasing runs" and scored "a gem of a strike" in a 2-0 win at Buckingham on 16.11.91. Martin deftly lobbed the home keeper from 25 yards out and the Gazette said he "repeatedly tore holes in the tightest defence in the league". On 23.11.91 Martin scored with a clever chip from well outside the penalty area to secure a 1-0 win over Salisbury at Hartsdown and the Times said it was "one moment of magic". In December 1991 the Gazette described Martin as being "talented but frustrating" and after missing a training session soon after having arrived late for a match he was dropped to the bench for a game at Weymouth on 14.12.91. Manager Lee Smelt confirmed it was purely a disciplinary measure.

At the start of 1992 Martin began to hit top form and the Times said he "beavered diligently throughout" a 2-2 home draw with Fareham on 18.1.92. On 1.2.92 he scored with a superb left-footed shot on the turn in a 1-1 draw with Baldock at Hartsdown and Smelt told the Gazette "it was a great goal but it was high time that he did score". Martin was on target again in Margate's next game, a 1-1 home draw with Buckingham on 8.2.92, and it was another quality finish - a flick with the outside of his left boot after running onto a huge Kevin Hudson drop-kick. He carried on his scoring spree with Margate's consolation in a 5-1 defeat at Salisbury on 15.2.92 and then got four goals for the reserves in an 8-0 win over Sittingbourne Reserves on 19.2.92. On 22.2.92 Martin found the net in a 3-1 win at Andover and also hit the post with a penalty before taking his goalscoring run to five consecutive first team matches by bagging a brace in a 5-0 win over Erith & Belvedere at Hartsdown on 29.2.92. The Thanet Times said he'd had "another inspired game".

After Martin scored the only goal of the game against Bury at Hartsdown on 21.3.92 the Gazette wrote "(he) can make a boo-boo of a sitter and then produce a goal out of nothing". Smelt told the paper "his attitude in recent matches has been absolutely superb but there are just one or two little things on the pitch I still want him to do which will improve his game even more".

On 7.4.92 Martin beat three defenders before firing a low shot into the net from 25 yards in a 1-1 draw at Braintree and the Gazette said it was a "typical opportunist effort" and a "moment of pure magic". He was on target again in a 2-1 win over Hythe at Hartsdown on 18.4.92 and the Thanet Times said Martin "again demonstrated his exceptional finishing powers" by firing past keeper Joe Radford who'd recently joined Hythe from Margate. Martin scored once more before the end of the season to take his tally to 18 from 49 appearances (four as sub) which comfortably made him Margate's top scorer for 1991/92 as no other player managed a double figure total.

In the summer of 1992 there were doubts as to whether Martin would stay at Margate for the 1992/93 campaign as he was finding the travelling from his London home excessive. The Thanet Times wrote "there is, unhappily, a query about leading scorer and genuine flair player Martin Buglione. He has been offered terms but is still considering them and may well move to pastures new". After Martin had scored in a 3-2 friendly defeat against Leyton Orient Smelt told the Thanet Times "I was very pleased that he came down for the Leyton match and, if he decides to stay with us, he will continue to be a big asset". Shortly afterwards Margate's chairman Gordon Wallis persuaded Martin to re-sign for the club and promised that if a higher graded team came in for him Margate wouldn't stand in his way.

Martin started the new season in sensational style, scoring twice in a 4-1 win at Watford against Wealdstone on 22.8.92, the opening day of the campaign. He scored in Margate's next match too and then embarked on a genuinely remarkable run of goalscoring.

On 29.8.92 Martin bagged a hat-trick in a 4-0 win at Tunbridge Wells in the FA Cup and the Times said he turned in a "scintillating display". The paper added "he could have claimed a double hat-trick". In Margate's next game at Bury on 5.9.92 Martin again scored three, this time in a 5-0 win and he told the Thanet Extra "I don't think I played too well but everything is going for me at the moment". Two days later, on 7.9.92, Martin completed an amazing run of three consecutive hat-tricks when his treble helped Margate to a 5-0 win against Fisher at Bromley's Hayes Lane ground. By then he'd scored 12 goals in his first five appearances and the Times ran a story about Martin headlined "He's Margate's Own Roy of the Rovers" a few days later. The article called him "a soccer sensation" and when asked about the possibility of joining a professional club Martin replied "it's been my ambition all my life...everybody sets their heart on playing for a league side". Margate's manager Mark Weatherly told the paper "he's got a natural gift for goals and a good eye for a shot, he's quick and causes defences a lot of problems because he's willing to run at them".

Martin's great form continued with both goals in a 2-2 draw at Fareham on 19.9.92 and when he got another in a 4-0 win over Corinthian on 21.9.92 he'd scored 16 goals in Margate's first nine games, finding the net in eight of them. The Isle of Thanet Gazette described Martin as "a master finisher" after he got a late winner in a Southern League Cup tie against Dover at Hartsdown on 6.10.92 and the Times said he was "in fine fettle" when scoring in a 3-0 win at Baldock on 21.11.92.

The Thanet Times reported that Martin "rose majestically" to head home in a 2-2 home draw with Dunstable on 28.11.92 and when he got two goals in a 3-2 win at Sudbury on 5.12.82 it was the fourth consecutive match Martin had scored in. He then endured a slightly barren run of only one goal in eight games but on 16.1.93 Martin was on target in a 3-1 win at Burnham when he beat two defenders and lashed home a rising drive from outside the penalty area. The Times said he'd put on "a great display". Martin also found the net in Margate's next two matches and took his latest goalscoring run to four games with a double in a 5-3 defeat against Salisbury at Hartsdown on 2.2.93. The Isle of Thanet Gazette wrote they were "two stunning goals" and that the second was "a gem" - a left-footed 20 yard effort through a crowd of players. The paper said it was "a classic strike from a classy striker".

Martin scored twice more in a 3-1 win over Fareham at Hartsdown on 13.2.93 and then notched his fourth hat-trick of the season as Margate thrashed Burnham 4-0 at home on 6.3.93. The Thanet Times said he "led the Burnham defence a merry dance with his darting runs and deadly finishing" and Martin's second goal was a brilliant solo effort as he weaved past three defenders before firing home from the edge of the box. Margate's new joint-manager Andy Woolford told the Thanet Extra "Buglione's finishing was once again excellent. He is absolutely priceless to us".

Margate's next game was against Gravesend & Northfleet whose striker Steve Portway had scored over 50 goals before the trip to Hartsdown Park on 13.3.93. The Gazette preview compared Portway with Martin under the headline "Buglione Meets His Wyatt Earp". Martin won the shoot-out by getting one of the goals in a 2-0 win whilst Portway was kept quiet by Mark Weatherly.

Martin spent the week following the Gravesend game on trial with Scottish Premier League side St.Johnstone at a time when Airdrie, also in the SPL, were also showing an interest in him. He scored in a reserve team match for St.Johnstone and Mark Weatherly told the Gazette "we would all like to see him make the grade...he is a proven goalscorer and keen to get on in the game". Martin returned to score both goals in a 2-1 win at Witney on 20.3.93 and then went back to Scotland for a further week where he again played for St.Johnstone's reserves. On 27.3.93 he was in the Margate side that lost 2-0 at home to Baldock and it was Martin's 45th and final appearance of the season. He'd scored 38 senior goals, becoming the first player to get more than 30 since Brian Gregory during 1975/76, and another 14 for the reserves when his transfer to St.Johnstone was confirmed.

Martin signed a two-year contract and the fee Margate received was undisclosed but confirmed as a club record. His move was immediate although the club tried to persuade St.Johnstone to allow Martin to stay on at Margate until the end of the season. Gordon Wallis told the Gazette "I am happy with the terms of the transfer. We have struck a good deal with St.Johnstone and we all wish Martin well."

Martin was one of several English players signed by St.Johnstone manager John McClelland and his first appearance, just days after his transfer, was in a friendly against Glenavon in Northern Ireland on 1.4.93. On 6.4.93 Martin scored after only 12 mins of his Scottish Premier League debut as St.Johnstone drew 2-2 with Hibernian at home. He then played regularly for the remainder of 1992/93 and finished the season having scored twice in nine SPL appearances (one as sub), Martin's second goal was in a 3-1 win at Hearts on 15.5.93. He also scored four goals in the Forfarshire Cup including a hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Dundee on 5.5.93.

A few weeks into his spell in Scotland the Thanet Times interviewed Martin who said "to come up to this type of football is a dream come true." He added "it's as good as playing in the (English) Premier League, especially when you have the likes of Rangers and Celtic." Asked about becoming a professional footballer having been a roofer Martin said "I must admit I was a bit overawed by it all".

In July 1993 Martin scored in a 7-0 friendly win at Whitley Bay and it turned out to be his final goal for the first team. He played in St.Johnstone's first few SPL games of the 1993/94 campaign before falling out of favour. His made his last start on 30.10.93 in a 2-0 defeat at Dundee United but when Paul Sturrock took over as manager in November 1993 Martin didn't feature in his plans. He rarely played although we was often in the matchday squad as a substitute. When Martin came on as a sub in a 2-0 home win over Hearts on 11.12.93 it was his last appearance for St.Johnstone's first team. He'd scored a total of six goals in 19 games (seven as sub - including sub appearances at Celtic and Rangers) for the club when he was sold to Sittingbourne for £10,000 in January 1994, shortly before an appearance-related fee would have been due to Margate.

Martin scored on his debut as Sittingbourne won 2-1 at Gresley in the Southern Premier League on 11.1.94 and he was part of the Southern League's squad for a centenary challenge match against Millwall at Ashford on 8.3.94. He scored nine goals for Sittingbourne before the end of 1993/94 and also spent 1994/95 with the Brickies before leaving the club at the end of the season.

In the summer of 1995 Martin had a trial with Gillingham and came on as a substitute for them in a friendly at Margate on 22.7.95 that ended 0-0. When the trial came to nothing he rejoined Margate in August 1995. Martin made his first appearance in a 3-1 defeat at Trowbridge on 19.8.95, the opening day of the 1995/96 campaign, and scored the Margate goal. He also scored in his next outing - a 1-0 win at Erith & Belvedere on 22.8.95. On 9.9.95 he got two goals in a 5-2 win at Corinthian Casuals in the FA Cup and the Thanet Times said he "demonstrated his deadly finishing powers" by bagging another brace in a 3-1 win over Forest Green at Hartsdown Park on 30.9.95. In Margate's next game on 4.10.95 Martin made what the Isle of Thanet Gazette called "a triumphant return to Central Park" when he was on target twice in a 3-1 win at his old club Sittingbourne. One of his goals came from a penalty and Martin had another spot kick saved to deny him a hat-trick. On 7.10.95 he found the net with an overhead kick in a 4-3 defeat at Weston-Super-Mare and volleyed home what the Times called "a superb effort" in a 2-1 home win over Weymouth on 21.10.95. On 24.10.95 he got both Margate's goals in a 2-2 draw with visitors Fisher and again missed out on a hat-trick due to having a penalty saved. The Gazette said Martin was a "prince of finishers" and was "clearly delighted to find the target against his former colleagues" after he'd got the only goal in a 1-0 win over Sittingbourne at Hartsdown on 31.10.95 and on 7.11.95 he scored what the paper said was an "outstanding" goal in a 2-1 defeat at Gravesend & Northfleet. Martin beat three players before his deflected low drive found the net. On 25.11.95 he scored with a superb 30 yard lob in a 2-2 home draw with Newport IOW and on 9.12.95 Martin finally bagged his first hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Fleet at Hartsdown. He ended 1995 with 22 goals to his credit.

Martin started the new year by scoring in three consecutive matches including doubles in a 6-0 win over visitors Poole on 6.1.96 and a 4-0 win at Waterlooville on 13.1.96. He got two more goals in a 2-1 win home win over Bashley on 23.3.96 but the Gazette reported he was "barracked throughout the game by the Central Park spectators" in a 3-1 defeat at Sittingbourne on 8.4.96. On 21.4.96 Martin scored twice in a 2-0 win over Fareham at Hartsdown and struck two more in Margate's next game - a 3-2 home win over Havant on 27.4.96. In the last game of the campaign at Fareham on 4.5.96 Martin got the Margate goal in a 2-1 defeat that took his career total for the club to exactly 100, making him only the fourth player ever to reach the landmark and the first since Phil Amato during 68 /69. Martin finished the season with 38 goals which made him the Southern League's leading scorer and played in all of Margate's 51 matches.

Martin started the 1996/97 campaign in spectacular fashion, scoring a hat-trick on the opening day of the season as Margate beat Yate 4-1 at Hartsdown Park in Chris Kinnear's first game in charge of the club. It was also the first match where Martin played alongside Paul Sykes and the duo quickly struck up an excellent understanding.

After his opening day treble Martin struggled for goals over the next few weeks and only scored once in Margate's next nine games. In its report for a 2-1 defeat at Forest Green on 7.9.96 the Thanet Times cheekily noted that "travelling supporters were treated to the rare sight of a Martin Buglione header". On 5.10.96 Martin resumed normal service when he scored twice in a 3-0 win at Cinderford and on 8.10.96 he found the net with a stunning swerving drive as Margate won 2-1 at Erith & Belvedere. He scored four more goals during October including another brace in a 3-0 win at Fareham on 26.10.96 and then netted three in November before embarking on an unusually barren run.

Martin had a penalty saved in a 1-0 win at Bashley on 14.12.96 and ended up going nine games without a goal before breaking the hoodoo in a 2-1 win at Buckingham on 25.1.97. It was a terrific strike as Martin cut in from the right and beat two defenders before curling a shot into the top corner of the net. He hit top form in the closing weeks of the season and his second goal in a 2-2 draw at St.Leonards Stamcroft on 31.3.97 was his 20th of the campaign.

On 15.4.97 Martin scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 win at Fleet and his second goal was especially significant as it was his 122nd for Margate which made him the club's all-time leading goalscorer, taking him above Alan Blackburn. Sykes also bagged three in the match to confirm the quality of his partnership with Martin.

Martin then scored four more goals in Margate's last four games of the season including another brace in a 3-0 win away to Dartford on 23.4.97 and a 20-yard volley in a 2-0 home win over Trowbridge on 26.4.97.

He ended up with 27 goals from 47 appearances having only missed one match all season. That tally made him joint leading scorer in the Southern League Southern Division but at the end of April the Isle of Thanet Gazette wrote that Martin had had "an indifferent season". However in May the same paper ran a headline of "Sharpshooter Buglione has vintage year" in an article that also said Martin was "clearly worth his weight in gold".

In the first match of the 1997/98 campaign on 29.7.97 he scored twice as Margate beat Ramsgate 3-1 to win the Link Music Cup. Both goals came in the last half hour of the game and the Isle of Thanet Gazette wrote "some things never change - like Martin Buglione being able to conjure up goals out of nothing". He got off the mark in terms of league goals when he scored in a 3-0 win at Baldock on 20.8.97 and the Gazette said Martin was "a constant threat...with his darting runs down the flanks". On 23.8.97 he scored twice in a 3-0 home win over Witney and the Thanet Times said Martin's second goal was "a typical Buglione strike...he cottoned on to a diagonal ball and ran 20 yards before leaving Timberlake helpless with the crispest of shots". That took his tally to five goals from his first four appearances of the season but Martin then missed a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Dartford at Hartsdown Park on 25.8.97. The Gazette said he also "squandered four reasonable chances" and noted that "when Martin Buglione leaves his shooting-boots in the dressing room Margate's scoring potential is reduced by at least 75 percent".

After three games without a goal Martin bounced back in typical fashion when Margate entertained Bracknell in an FA Cup tie at Hartsdown Park on 13.9.97. He scored what the Thanet Times called a "fabulous foursome" in an emphatic 5-0 win and had another goal disallowed in a scintillating display that included a hat-trick in the space of 16 second half minutes. The Times referred to him as "the one and only Martin Buglione" and described him as a "master marksman".

After another barren run of six games without scoring Martin again returned to the goal trail with a vengeance when he bagged a hat-trick in a 5-1 win at Whyteleafe on 18.10.97. The second of his treble was a 30-yard lob. He started November in good form too and scored twice in a 3-1 home win over Erith & Belvedere on 4.11.97. In Margate's next game Martin again bagged a brace as Waterlooville were beaten 3-2 at Hartsdown Park. His second effort was the last-minute winner and the Thanet Times dubbed him "the crown prince of predatory poachers".

On 16.11.97 Martin won the early penalty from which Mark Munday gave Margate the lead in the FA Cup 1st Round tie against Fulham at Hartsdown Park. Martin was chopped down and suffered a knee injury in the process. He struggled on through the remainder of the first half but had to be substituted at half-time. The Thanet Times said that was "a body blow" for Margate and Fulham recovered to win 2-1 in a match shown live on Sky Sports. Chris Kinnear told the paper "the injury to Martin Buglione certainly limited our attacking options...he never normally gets hurt" and Martin himself said "it was a terrible disappointment to have to come off". He told the Daily Mail "I don't mind saying I shed some tears when I got inside...I was in the shop window. It was my Cup Final" and Fulham manager Ray Wilkins said "all knew he was Margate's dangerman up front". In the build-up to the match a cd had been produced called 'Down To Margate' and one of the tracks was entitled 'Hurry Up Bugsy', a version of the 1970's Sham 69 song 'Hurry Up Harry' with new lyrics inspired by Martin's performances.

He initially missed four games due to the knock picked up against Fulham but Martin returned to the side on 8.12.97 and scored twice in a 5-1 win over Corby. His first goal was his 20th of the season. He played once more before suffering a recurrence of his injury. Martin then underwent an operation to remove a piece of floating bone from his knee and missed ten games in December 1997 and January 1998.

On 31.1.98 Martin made his first appearance since 13.12.97 when he came off the bench to score in a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Bashley and from then on he was a fixture in the side once again. He scored twice in a 4-0 win at Cinderford on 28.3.98 and on 7.4.98 Martin was in the side that beat Redditch 2-0 in the 1st Leg of the Southern League Cup Final at Hartsdown Park. On 18.4.98 he scored twice in a 3-0 win at Fareham and Martin's second goal was a "first-time cannonball from 25 yards" according to the Thanet Times. He then played in the 2nd Leg of the Southern League Cup Final at Redditch on 21.4.98 which the home side won 1-0. That result meant that Margate claimed the trophy with a 2-1 aggregate victory.

On 26.4.98 Martin scored twice in a 4-0 home win over Cinderford and The Thanet Times described his first effort as "a rare right-footed goal from well outside the box". Martin's second goal that day took his tally for the season to 30 and on 29.4.98 he got his 158th goal for Margate when he scored in a 3-1 defeat at Bashley. It turned out to be Martin's final one for the club. On 4.5.98 he wore the number ten shirt one last time in a 1-0 win at Gravesend & Northfleet that secured the Kent Senior Cup and it was Martin's 53rd appearance of the season (three as sub). He'd scored 31 goals in all, one less than leading marksman Paul Sykes. The pair of them had scored a remarkable 110 goals between them during 1996/97 and 1997/98. Martin left Margate in the summer of 1998 having firmly established himself as a genuine legend at Hartsdown Park.

Martin joined Hayes for the start of 1998/99 and in December 1998 they loaned him to Gravesend & Northfleet where he scored twice in five appearances (one as sub) before returning to Hayes in January 1999. Martin had scored once in six Conference starts for Hayes when he moved on to Hampton for a four figure fee towards the end of the 1998/99 campaign.

He scored three goals in eight league appearances (one as sub) for Hampton before the 1998/99 season finished and Martin then scored six goals during the early part of 1999/00 before rejoining Boreham Wood at the start of 2000. It was over 13 years since his initial spell with the club had started.

Martin scored twice in ten league appearances (six as sub) for Boreham Wood and also bagged a hat-trick in a Hertfordshire Senior Cup tie against Watford on 17.1.00 before linking up with Deal in March 2000.

He scored three goals in seven appearances (two as sub) for Deal and Martin travelled as part of the club's squad for the FA Vase Final at Wembley although he wasn't eligible to play.

He started the 2000/01 campaign back at Welling, over ten years since his previous spell with the club, but despite signing a two-year contract Martin only made four appearances (one as sub) without scoring before moving on to Ashford a few weeks into the season. One of his Welling outings came in a 1-0 home win over Margate on 22.8.00 and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he was man-of-the-match, almost scoring with an acrobatic bicycle kick.

He was soon on the move again, leaving Ashford to sign for Purfleet in October 2000, and Martin scored five goals in 26 league appearances (12 as sub) there before the end of 2000/01. During the 2001/02 campaign he scored four goals in 31 league appearances (13 as sub) for Purfleet and Martin became player-manager of the club's reserve side for the start of the 2002/03 season. He also made two substitute appearances in the league for the first team but in November 2002 Martin joined Dartford.

He stayed with the Darts until October 2003 when he was released and after a few months out of football Martin joined Maidstone in March 2004.

He made his debut for Maidstone on 2.3.04 when he came on as a substitute in a 2-1 home win over VCD and Martin played for the Stones until November 2004 when he decided to take a break from football because of work commitments. At the time he was uncertain whether he would play again but in January 2005 Martin signed for Erith & Belvedere.

He made his debut for the Deres on 22.1.05 when he came on as a substitute for former Margate player Ian Pulman in a 5-1 home defeat to East Thurrock but it was Martin's only appearance and he left the club shortly afterwards.

In August 2005 Martin was tempted out of semi-retirement by his old Margate team-mate Iain O'Connell who persuaded him to join Great Wakering Rovers. O'Connell was the club's player-manager and Martin scored five goals in nine appearances in the opening months of the 2005/06 season before deciding to retire in October 2005. He told Great Wakering's website "the knocks I am getting are taking a lot longer to clear up now, so I think now is the best time I can stop playing altogether." Martin's last ever game had been a 2-1 home win over Arlesey in the Southern League on 1.10.05 and he'd previously scored what turned out to be his last ever senior goal in 5-2 home win over Concord Rangers on 13.9.05. He struck twice after coming on as a sub in an Essex Thames-Side Trophy tie.

On 30.4.06 Martin returned to Hartsdown Park when he took part in the 'Syko Challenge' - a charity game to raise funds for the late Paul Sykes' family.

In the summer of 2006 Martin became coach of Broxbourne Borough V&E of the Molten Spartan South Midlands League and he then took over as manager of their reserves for the 2007/08 campaign.

Martin left Broxbourne at the end of 2007/08 and wasn't involved in football during the 2008/09 season, apart from watching his son Danny play for Ebbsfleet's PASE side. At the time Martin said "he is doing great, he is a very good goalscorer too although he passes the ball, unlike his old man !"

In November 2009 Martin returned to football when he was appointed as assistant manager of Isthmian League outfit Ware. He also started playing for Great Wakering Rovers Veterans and scored six goals in his first three matches for them. In April 2010 Martin was part of the Wakering side that won the Essex Sunday Veterans Cup Final and ex-Margate defender Gary Blackford was also in the squad.

Martin's son Dan was in Ware's first team by early 2010 and scored his first senior goal for the club in February 2010.