Oh gosh. I used to sit near Martin in the Main Stand and travelled to the occasional away game with him.

He was a true sports fan of anything local, especially football and cricket and his reports for The Tameside Advertiser made it one of the best reads for local sports around, covering everything from non-league football to speedway. It knocked the MEN for six.

If County weren’t playing, I regularly went to local non-league games, and you could normally coincidently find Martin there too. Stalybridge was the most common as he lived in walking distance of Bower Fold.

Sadly he became really ill about ten years ago which really knackered his immune system and he gave up going to County just about the time Stott took over and when his travelling buddy Jeff Lawrenson passed away.

If anyone knows his funeral arrangements, please let me know as my wife and I would like to attend.

He used to post on here under the name of ‘Charter’ if anyone remembers.

RIP Martin.