Geoffrey Bernard "Paddy Martin is a legend in northern sport and certainly in coastal football.
He began his 312 game career with NTFA club Launceston and was chosen in an intrastate team at just 17 years of age.
In 1947 he played with TFl club Sandy Bay but returned to Launceston the following year.
He was approached by VFL club Melbourne but when Launceston returned with a counter offer of becoming the captain/coach for 1952 he stayed.
He was chosen in the Tasmanian teams in 1951 and 1953. He played 116 senior games with Launceston before joining NWFU club Ulverstone in 1955. He was with the cl;ub during their triple premiership era from 1955 to 1957 winning the club Best and Fairest award in 1955.
Martin was appointed Burnie coach in 1958 and took that club to three straight titles.
In 1970 he returned to club football as non playing coach of Devonport for two years.
In 1959 he captained the NWFU when a non playing coach Noel Atkins was appointed for the first time.
Then Martin became non playing coach from 1960 to 1966; an unprecedented seven straight seasons.
The Best and Fairest NTFL player in intrastate matches against the SFL receives
the Paddy Martin Medal.
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Geoffrey "Paddy" Martin - A Tasmanian Football Legend
