Western Daily Press (Saturday)
FA Cup ties are always exciting, insists Martin
on some of his favourite memories playing in the world’s oldest cup competition.
“I scored my first career hat-trick in the FA Cup against Paulton Rovers,” the 35-year-old revealed. “Obviously not too far from here (Bristol) back when I was at Norwich, we won 7-0. I think I’ve got a fairly decent goal scoring record in the cup.
“It’s just special. A really special tournament. What it means for every team that gets to compete in it across the country and the upsets that it brings and all the non-League teams that manage to make it through.
“Those special stories of going to the huge away grounds against some of the top teams in the country. It is a really special tournament in world football and we’re so lucky to have it in this country.
“It’s always exciting. Trying to get your name in the hat for the next round against a team that has been in the Premier League several times over the last few years, full of real quality, going to a great stadium. Hopefully it will be close to if not full and it will be a great prospect for us to go there and try to see if we can cause a little bit of an upset.
“We’re fully focused on going out there to try and win the game, but we’re under no illusions as to how difficult it’s going to be. We’re not sure what sort of team they (Norwich) will select, whether they’ll make some changes, rest some players. Stuff like that. Hopefully that means it gives us a little bit more of an opportunity, but they’ve obviously got a squad full of real quality so we know it’s going to be a difficult game.
“But I think it’s a really exciting opportunity to go and test yourself. There will be lads in our squad that will be trying to lay down a marker to say that they think they’re capable of going on in their careers and playing at that level and potentially above so always lots to play for.”
As is customary at the moment with Martin, there has to be some contract talk. Admittedly, the striker, whose current deal expires on January 26, last spoke to the media after the Charlton win a week ago, so there has not been too much opportunity for any changes except adding another two goals to his tally against Wycombe Wanderers.
On his current situation in BS7, the forward declared: “No decisions have been made yet. Obviously a few conversations going on in the background, but nothing decided just yet.
“I’m pretty calm about it, to be honest. I’ve seen a lot in my years in the game. I’ve been around for quite a while. I think ultimately, those sorts of things are secondary to your performance levels, training and games. Perform day in, day out.”