Former England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn set for dual-sport cricket call in 2026

Nigel Martyn, capped 23 times by England in football, is on the brink of becoming a dual international in cricket at age 59.

Era of dual-sport legends The list of athletes who represented England in both cricket and football evokes images of a distant past: trading cards, blazers, and the faint scent of vintage hair pomade. Icons from that bygone era like Denis Compton, CB Fry, and Tip Foster make up just twelve names in this exclusive group. The last to achieve this feat was Arthur Milton, who played his first Test in 1958—seven years after earning his sole England football cap against Austria. Now, a more modern figure is poised to join this elite club. ## Martyn's cricket resurgence Nigel Martyn, who earned 23 caps for England as a goalkeeper, has earned consideration for the England Over-60s cricket team after rekindling his love for the sport. Though his temples may show a little silver, the possibility of becoming a dual international this year has reignited his passion. "Obviously as a professional goalkeeper I wasn't allowed to play cricket in the summer, as it would threaten breaking fingers and things like that," he reflected. "I retired with a stress factor on my ankle so I didn't think I was able to play cricket again. But I got the all-clear to do it in about 2011 so I started playing again." ## Football journey and records Martyn turned professional with Bristol Rovers in 1987 after the club's tea lady Vi Harris recommended him to manager Gerry Francis. The Cornishman later represented Crystal Palace, Leeds, and Everton, amassing 666 league appearances before retiring in 2006. He still plays club cricket today, most recently with Scarcroft CC near Leeds. Years ago, he helped Knaresborough CC reach the North Yorkshire Premier Division alongside former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson. ## County and international pathway Martyn's route to England's Over-60s side began with county age-group matches for Cornwall, requiring an 800-mile round trip from his Yorkshire home. "My good friend Sean Hooper, who was the captain of Cornwall Over-50s, spoke to me about six years ago asking if fancied playing for Cornwall," he recalled. "We last played when we were together with Cornwall Schools Under-15s. From there Cornwall recommended me to England. It's a long trip but being able to go home and see family more often was always the added bonus with it as well." ## Trials and competitive standards Despite his football pedigree, Martyn—now a wicketkeeper—faced no special treatment during England Over-60s trials at Loughborough University earlier this year. After shining in a recent intra-squad match, he was selected for the England Over-60s 'Lions' squad—the developmental group supporting the full side, which he qualifies for later this year. "The batting and bowling standard is really, really high," he noted. "The fielding is the one area where it gets more difficult, but there's still blokes in their sixties diving around stopping the ball, sprinting after it and throwing it in, it's quite incredible to watch really. I just love playing. If you're going to play into your 60s and 70s, you've got to love it. I love the camaraderie that you get." ## Wicketkeeping aspirations and admiration Martyn pointed to England legends Alan Knott and Bob Taylor as inspirations behind the stumps. "Because I wanted to be a goalkeeper, I also wanted to be a wicketkeeper," he explained. "There's some transferable skills of hand-eye coordination and I'm sort of used to a round object being either thrown or kicked at me. I've had several thousand of those things happening to me in my life. So I can seem to get my hands pretty much in the right place most of the time." ## World Cup dreams deferred Having attended two football World Cups—in 1998 and 2002—as David Seaman's understudy without playing, Martyn turns 60 on August 11, making him ineligible for this year's Over-60s Cricket World Cup in Canada, which begins just days earlier. He remains focused on future opportunities, though. "I trained with the two wicketkeepers picked for the World Cup and they are both excellent, so the competition [for places] does drive you on to push the people ahead of you. They're in spot at the moment, and I'll just keep doing my thing."