Focus On……Martin Sockett

A series on players who have spent some of their careers as a player or manager in the Southern League.

Martin Sockett is one who can be correctly described as being `well-travelled` as both a player and in management and coaching!

He is also currently involved in the Southern Football League as assistant-manager to one of his former players, Guy Hadland, at Premier Division Central club Barwell.

Martin was appointed in December 2018 to help Hadland in his first managerial post.

As a teenager, Martin had trials with Bristol Rovers and Arsenal before moving into the non-League game.

Martin is well known for his sheer enthusiasm for football and his wide-spanning network and knowledge of the Southern League.

After a long, and much-travelled career as a player, he embarked on an equally long spell in coaching and management.

He had no less than four spells with Rugby, both as VS and as Rugby Town as a manager, assistant or coach.

In between his spells at Butlin Road, Martin had management experience with the likes of Coleshill Town, Kenilworth Town, Bedworth United, Stratford Town, Brackley Town, Racing Club Warwick, Rushall Olympic, Bromsgrove Sporting, Daventry Town and Leicester Nirvana.

Clubs Played For:

Hayes, Bedworth United, Coventry Sporting, Racing Club Warwick, Stratford Town, Hinckley Athletic, Daventry Town, Hinckley Town.

Managed/assistant-manager or coached at: Daventry, Racing Club Warwick, Bedworth United, Hinckley Town, Coleshill Town, VS Rugby, Stratford Town, Brackley Town, Atherstone United, Leicester Nirvana, Rushall Olympic, Rugby Town and Redditch United. Bromsgrove Sporting. Barwell.

Best 11 Played With?

1. Mick Martin (Bedworth)

2. John McGinty (Bedworth)

3. Terry Angus (Coventry Sporting) (pictured)

4. Steve Jackson. (Bedworth)

5. Chris Tonge (Hinckley)

6. Dave Crowley (Bedworth)

7. Morton Titterton (Bedworth/Stratford)

8. O`Neill Donaldson (Hinckley)

9. Gary Hardwick (Bedworth/Stratford)

10. Peter McBean (Coventry Sporting)

11 Martin Smith (Bedworth)

12. Steve Ross (Bedworth)

14. Philmore George (Bedworth)

15. Tony Donnelly (Bedworth)

16. Ian Pearce (Daventry)

17. Richard Landon (Stratford/Bedworth)

Best Captain?

Kieran Sullivan (left) VS Rugby

Funniest Team-Mate?

Nicky Anderson (Hinckley)

Best Manager?

John Brady (not the current Northampton Town u18 manager) because he gave me a chance and Frank Upton who was miles ahead of his time.

Best Mate in Football?

Too many good football mates to name one or two.

Words of Advice?

In addition to all of the givens, I would say do as your manager asks, do not doubt or question it and if you do as you were asked you cannot be left out for the next game and always be honest about your performance.