Christopher Hugh Martin (born 4 November 1988) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Bristol Rovers. Born in England, he has played for the Scotland national team and has also represented England U19 national team.
Martin began his career at Norwich City, joining the club's books at the age of 10 and making his professional début at 18 in the 2006–07 season. He fell out of favour in the 2007–08 season and spent the 2008–09 season on loan at Luton Town. On his return to Norwich, he was an important first team player as the club recorded successive promotions from League One and the Championship in the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons.
However, upon the club's return to the Premier League, he found himself out of favour and spent part of the 2011–12 season on loan at Crystal Palace and parts of the 2012–13 season on loan at Swindon Town and Derby County. At the end of the season, he agreed a deal to join Derby on a permanent basis, signing a three-year contract and moving to the club on a free transfer ahead of the 2013–14 season. He ended the season as the club's top goalscorer, with 25 goals in all competitions, as the club reached the 2014 Championship play-off final. He signed a new four-year contract in August 2014 and was also the club's top goalscorer for the 2014–15 season, with 21 goals in all league and cup matches.
On 31 August 2016, Martin joined Fulham on a season-long loan, with an arrangement for a permanent deal at the end of the loan spell. This arrangement was disputed during the season, as Martin expressed a desire to return to Derby.
Martin was eligible to play international football for either England or Scotland, where his father was born. He represented England at under-19 level in 2007. Seven years later he was first selected for the senior Scotland team, for which he made his full international début in May 2014. He scored his first goal for Scotland in October 2015.
Club career
Norwich City
2006–07 season
Born in Beccles, Suffolk, Martin was rewarded with a place on the bench for the game against Plymouth Argyle on 13 January 2007 after impressing in Norwich's FA Youth Cup run. He made his first team debut in a 1–0 home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 30 January 2007. He scored his first goal in an FA Cup fourth round replay against Blackpool on 13 February 2007 at Carrow Road, and grabbed his first league goal in a 1–1 draw against Coventry City on 24 February. Two more goals against Luton Town and Barnsley quickly followed. His run of form continued against Derby County, scoring one and having another ruled offside.
2007–08 season
However, he found a place in the starting line up hard to come by in the 2007–08 season under Peter Grant. Under new manager Glenn Roeder he was very much out of favour. He was also constantly criticised by Roeder with Roeder questioning his effort and being banned from a number of pubs in the Beccles area led to more criticism from Roeder.
Along with Michael Spillane he joined Luton Town at the start of the 2008–09 season with Roeder famously naming the pair as "Tweedledum and Tweedledee". The decision to loan the pair out was met with criticism from many Norwich fans feeling that the pair should have been given a chance instead of relying on the high amount of loanees that Roeder had brought in.
2008–09 season
Loan at Luton Town
Martin joined League Two club Luton Town on a season-long loan from Norwich two days prior to the start of the 2008–09 season. He was announced as one of a number of new signings made by manager Mick Harford following The Hatters exit from administration, along with fellow Norwich player Michael Spillane, who also arrived on a season-long loan, and midfielder Rossi Jarvis, who signed on a free transfer having been released by Norwich in May.
Luton began the season on −30 points, having been deducted 10 points for irregular matters involving player transfers and another 20 points for rule violations when they left administration. The club thus faced a struggle merely to avoid relegation from the Football League for the first time in their history.