Martin Foyle
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography
Martin John Foyle (born 2 May 1963) is an English former professional footballer and manager who is the Head of Recruitment at Template:Scottish football updater club St Mirren. In his 20-year playing career, he played 533 League games, scoring 155 goals. As a manager, he took charge of Port Vale and York City, Northwich Victoria, Hereford United and Southport.
He started his career with Southampton as a trainee, and after spending four years at the club, during which he was loaned out on two occasions, he joined Aldershot for a £10,000 fee in August 1984. A £140,000 move to Oxford United followed in March 1987, and he became Port Vale's record signing when they paid £375,000 for him in June 1991. He spent nine seasons at the club, scoring 108 goals in 353 appearances. He was twice voted the club's Player of the Year and helped the Vale to win the Football League Trophy in 1993.
After retiring as a player, he managed Port Vale's youth team and, in February 2004, took charge of first-team affairs, eventually leaving the club in September 2007 by mutual consent. A spell as caretaker manager at Wrexham preceded his appointment as manager of York City in November 2008. Foyle took York to an FA Trophy final and Conference Premier play-off final, but resigned in September 2010. He was put in charge of Northwich Victoria for three months in February 2012 before being appointed manager at Hereford United in May 2012. He stayed with Hereford until departing in March 2014. He was appointed as Southport manager in May 2014 but resigned five months later.
Playing careerEdit
SouthamptonEdit
Template:Quote box Foyle was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he made his name in local football before Football League referee Tony Glasson saw him playing for Bemerton Athletic and recommended him to Lawrie McMenemy, manager of Southampton.<ref name="ITN513">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="saints">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He joined Southampton as a trainee in 1980, signing as a professional on 13 August of that year.<ref name="Hugman2000-01"/><ref name="ITN513"/> He had grown up supporting the club and would get to play alongside his idol, Mick Channon.<ref name="saints"/>
He spent the summer of 1982 from May to October playing on loan with Swedish Division 5 side IFK Munkfors, which helped his development, scoring 30 goals in 22 appearances as Munkfors were promoted for the first time since 1959.<ref name = "ITN513"/><ref name="Sen införrapport: Mansfield-York">Template:Cite news</ref> Shortly after his return to Southampton he made his first-team debut on 15 January 1983 in a 1–1 draw at home to Coventry City.<ref name="ITN513"/>
On 25 October 1983, he came on as a second-half substitute for Ian Baird in a League Cup match at home to Carlisle United.<ref name="ITN289"/> His 86th-minute goal brought the tie level on aggregate. It was followed by the winner in extra time.<ref name="ITN289">Template:Cite book</ref> In the next round, Foyle came on as a sixth-minute substitute for Mark Wright, who had broken his nose in a collision with his goalkeeper, Alistair Sperring, but was unable to prevent Southampton going out 2–1 to Rotherham United.<ref name="ITN289"/> He spent a few weeks on loan with Blackburn Rovers in March 1984, without making any first-team appearances, before joining Aldershot on 3 August 1984 for a fee of £10,000.<ref name="Hugman2000-01"/><ref name="ITN513"/>
AldershotEdit
He made 98 appearances and scored 35 goals in the league for Aldershot, as the "Shots" posted mid-table finishes in the Fourth Division in 1984–85 under Ron Harris. Foyle was named as Aldershot Town Player of the Season for the 1984–85 campaign.<ref name="atbpot">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Harris was replaced by Len Walker for the 1985–86 campaign, and another mid-table finish ensued. The club won promotion in 1986–87 after beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 in the play-off final. However, Foyle missed out on the celebrations, as he was transferred to Oxford United on 26 March 1987 for a fee of £140,000, of which Southampton received £40,000.<ref name="Hugman2000-01"/><ref name = "ITN513"/>
Oxford UnitedEdit
He featured for Oxford in the First Division during two seasons and scored 44 goals in 151 appearances for the club.<ref name="York City boss Martin Foyle could return to former club Oxford in crucial cup clash">Template:Cite news</ref> The club avoided a relegation play-off in 1986–87 by two points, before a last-place finish in 1987–88, after which manager Maurice Evans was replaced by Mark Lawrenson. Lawrenson resigned in October 1988, and was replaced by Brian Horton; Oxford then posted mid-table finishes in the Second Division in 1988–89, 1989–90, and 1990–91.Template:Citation needed He missed two-thirds of the 1989–90 season with injury.<ref name="beanodb">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Port ValeEdit
He signed for Port Vale on 25 June 1991 for a club record fee of £375,000.<ref name="Hugman2000-01"/><ref name="Caught in Time: Vale drunk on success">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> He was signed as a replacement for Darren Beckford and was convinced to sign for the club by manager John Rudge and chairman Bill Bell, who sufficiently impressed enough for him to reject the opportunity to speak to other clubs.<ref name="fee">Template:Cite news</ref> Foyle had wanted to move north and was persuaded by Rudge's persisitence and the opportunity of playing in a strike partnership with Beckford, although Beckford was sold shortly after Foyle's arrival.<ref name="Phil">Template:Cite book</ref> Foyle's transfer fee of £375,000 was set by a tribunal after Oxford asked for £700,000, and Vale offered £200,000.<ref name="fee"/> His first game was against his former club, Oxford, at Vale Park, and he scored both goals in a 2–1 win.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Although he finished as leading scorer in the 1991–92 campaign with 16 goals, the club finished bottom of the Second Division that season and were relegated.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
During the following season, Foyle was part of the team which won the Football League Trophy and narrowly missed out on automatic promotion before losing the play-off final against West Bromwich Albion. He played from the start of the Football League Trophy final win over Stockport County and provided an assist for Bernie Slaven's goal.<ref name="Phil"/> He returned to Wembley a week later for the play-off final, which ended in a 3–0 defeat.<ref name="Phil"/> He opened the home campaign of the 1993–94 season with a hat-trick in a 6–0 win over Barnet, scoring a left-footed, right-footed and headed goal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He ended the season with 18 goals, Foyle was again the club's leading scorer as the club finally achieved promotion in 1994.Template:Citation needed One of his 20 goals in the 1994–95 season was the winner in Vale's 1–0 victory in the Potteries derby at the Victoria Ground in 1995, and later he was voted as the club's player of the year for 1995.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He played in the 1996 Anglo-Italian Cup final, scoring twice as Vale lost 5–2 to Genoa. He scored against Everton at Goodison Park in the FA Cup, which he later said was his most enjoyable goal; the match finished 2–2 and Vale went on to win the replay.<ref name="Phil"/> In 1998–99 the ageing striker became the club's top scorer for a fourth time, with nine goals.Template:Citation needed
During his time at Port Vale, Foyle scored 108 goals, which made him the club's record post-war goalscorer until Tom Pope overtook this tally in 2020.<ref name="York City: New boss will feel right at home">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Some of his important goals include a late equaliser in a League Cup tie at Liverpool in 1991, two at Brighton which sealed promotion in 1994, and one in a game at Huddersfield Town in 1998 which saved the club from relegation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In May 2019, he was voted into the "Ultimate Port Vale XI" by members of the OneValeFan supporter website.<ref name="ovf">Template:Cite news</ref>
Coaching and management careerEdit
Port ValeEdit
Persistent knee injuries forced him to retire from football at the age of 36 in 2000,<ref name="Hugman2000-01"/> but he stayed at the club as manager of the youth team.<ref name="Martin Foyle lands York City manager's job">Template:Cite news</ref> Foyle took over first-team responsibilities at the club on 13 February 2004 after Brian Horton left by mutual consent,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the team narrowly missed out on a play-off place on goal difference at the end of the 2003–04 season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Following the end of the season, Foyle aimed to keep players at the club,<ref name="Foyle plans player talks">Template:Cite news</ref> but eventually lost top scorer Stephen McPhee and midfielder Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.<ref name="Coca-Cola League One">Template:Cite news</ref> The club also had to make massive cut backs due to having just come out of administration and when Steve Brooker (a player signed by Horton on Foyle's recommendation)<ref name="ooff">Template:Cite news</ref> was sold to Bristol City any chance of a play-off push was unlikely. Vale eventually finished 17th in a frustrating season where many players suffered injuries leaving the squad threadbare on more than one occasion. The next two seasons saw an increase in the playing budget as Vale got their house in order after administration, and Foyle steered the side to 13th and 12th-place finishes in League One. Two cup runs to the 4th round of the FA Cup in 2005–06 and 4th round of the League Cup in 2006–07, coupled with the selling of players such as Chris Birchall and Billy Paynter saw the club make a profit on the financial front.Template:Citation needed He also signed striker Akpo Sodje from Darlington, who would be sold on to Sheffield Wednesday for a reported £300,000 a year later.<ref name="ooff"/> Showing a talent for signing attackers, he bought striker Leon Constantine for £20,000 from Torquay United, who would hit 26 goals in the 2006–07 season; attacking midfielder Danny Whitaker from Macclesfield Town, who would have a long and successful career; and winger Jeff Smith, who impressed enough to win a £60,000 transfer to Carlisle United.<ref name="ooff"/>
Despite the improvements, the standard of football on offer was becoming a concern to some, with losses to League Two Hereford United in the FA Cup and at eventually relegated Chesterfield singled out in particular for criticism. Foyle did enough to stave off the critics at the end of the 2006–07 season with some improved performances, which saw the side finish in the top half. With a positive pre-season, which included beating a young Manchester United team and some exciting prospects signing, things appeared to be looking up, with chairman Bill Bratt claiming that the club's ambition would be challenging for play-off places. However, the team had a poor start to the 2007–08 campaign, claiming just five points from their first seven games, scoring just three goals and also losing in the League Cup to League Two Wrexham. Foyle's tenure as Port Vale manager ended on 26 September 2007, as he left the club by mutual consent.<ref name="Foyle and Port Vale part company">Template:Cite news</ref> New signing Marc Richards, who Foyle had been tracking for months, picked up an injury at the start of the season and was unable to contribute, though would justify Foyle's faith in him with 75 goals over the next five years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
WrexhamEdit
He revealed his interest in taking the vacant managerial position at Lincoln City in October,<ref name="Ex-Vale manager wants Lincoln job">Template:Cite news</ref> but he eventually joined Wrexham in January 2008 as first-team coach to manager Brian Little<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and signed a new two-year contract with the club in May. He and Brian Carey took over as joint-caretaker managers on 27 September 2008 after Little left the club during their first season in the Conference Premier,<ref name="Little parts company with Wrexham">Template:Cite news</ref> while Foyle was placed as the bookmaker's favourites to succeed Little. They were in control for the 1–1 draw against Torquay United,.<ref name="Wrexham 1-1 Torquay">Template:Cite news</ref> However, Foyle left the club<ref name="Saunders concedes Wrexham gamble">Template:Cite news</ref> after Dean Saunders was appointed as manager on 2 October 2008.<ref name="Saunders appointed as new Wrexham manager">Template:Cite news</ref>
York CityEdit
Foyle was appointed as manager of Conference Premier side York City on 24 November 2008, following the club's sacking of Colin Walker.<ref name="Foyle confirmed as new York boss">Template:Cite news</ref> Foyle's first game in charge finished in a 1–1 draw at his home town club, Salisbury City,<ref name="Salisbury 1-1 York">Template:Cite news</ref> who were managed by his former Southampton teammate Nick Holmes.<ref name="York City boss Martin Foyle starts reign against familiar foe">Template:Cite news</ref> He said he was pleased with how the players reacted to his ideas following the match,<ref name="Early signs please new boss Foyle">Template:Cite news</ref> although he branded some of the team as "weak-hearted" following a 2–1 defeat to Altrincham in December.<ref name="'Weak-hearted' York anger Foyle">Template:Cite news</ref> He managed York to the 2009 FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium on 9 May 2009, which was lost 2–0 to Stevenage Borough.<ref name="Stevenage 2-0 York">Template:Cite news</ref>
Foyle won the Conference Manager of the Month award for November after York won four league games and progressed to the FA Cup third round.<ref name="York's Foyle wins November award">Template:Cite news</ref> After York finished the 2009–10 season in fifth place, he guided the team to the 2010 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley, where they were beaten 3–1 by Oxford.<ref name="Oxford United 3-1 York City">Template:Cite news</ref> He resigned on 24 September with York 15th in the table, 10 games into the 2010–11 season.<ref name="Martin Foyle resigns as York City manager">Template:Cite news</ref> Following this, his assistant manager at York, Andy Porter, commented Foyle had been "sending his CV off everywhere" and was interviewed for the position of manager at League Two side Hereford United, being placed on a shortlist of seven.<ref name="Ex-caretaker manager Andy Porter hails 'great' York City players">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Former York City boss in running for Hereford United job">Template:Cite news</ref> He was placed on a four-man shortlist for the Mansfield Town managerial vacancy in December.<ref name="Dave Penney favourite to land Mansfield Town job">Template:Cite news</ref>
Bristol RoversEdit
Foyle was appointed first-team coach at League One club Bristol Rovers on 21 January 2011.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, he left the club on 7 March following the sacking of manager Dave Penney.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After being interviewed twice for the managerial vacancy at Conference club Newport County in March he failed to make a shortlist of three for the job.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Northwich VictoriaEdit
Foyle was appointed manager of Northern Premier League Premier Division side Northwich Victoria on a contract until the end of the 2011–12 season on 27 February 2012.<ref name="Martin Foyle joins Northwich Victoria's management team as replacement for Paul Simpson">Template:Cite news</ref> His team finished as the division's runners-up, but were relegated after a hearing found that the club had broken financial rules.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Foyle had played no part in the financial irregularities, as it was a matter relating to the club's creditors.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He stepped down as manager to make way for Alan Wright on 9 May 2012.<ref name="Northwich Victoria owner Jim Rushe says he will build a new team as old one breaks">Template:Cite news</ref>
Hereford UnitedEdit
Foyle was appointed manager of newly relegated Conference club Hereford United on 30 May 2012.<ref name="Hereford United appoint Martin Foyle as manager">Template:Cite news</ref> He appointed Andy Porter as his assistant.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His first signings were defender Luke Graham and goalkeeper James Bittner on free free transfers from Forest Green Rovers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Three further free transfers arrived in defenders Andy Gallinagh and Chris Carruthers, and attacker Marlon Jackson.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He further added wingers Marley Watkins and Ryan Bowman to bring his squad to 18 players.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> More youngsters arrived in the form of loanee Tom Nichols and former Birmingham City youth team midfielder Ashley Sammons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Going into the season, he further bolstered the squad's links to Forest Green by bringing in striker Phil Marsh and defender Chris Todd on loan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The "Bulls" began the season in impressive form defensively, but soon became afflicted with injuries to numerous members of the small squad.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Financial problems became acute, as player's wage payments were missed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite this, Foyle masterminded a 3–1 FA Cup giant-killing over nearby League Two side Shrewsbury Town.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hereford finished in sixth place in the league, ten points outside the play-off places.
Hereford struggled in the 2013–14 season, and off the pitch faced a serious financial crisis, which meant that Foyle admitted the entire playing staff would have to leave the club in the summer of 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite this, he won the Conference Manager of the Month award for January 2014 after Hereford went four games unbeaten amidst their growing financial crisis.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Foyle parted company with Hereford on 19 March 2014, with the club in 18th place, four points above the relegation zone.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Following continuing non-payment of money owed to him by the club, Foyle issued a winding-up petition against Hereford United Football Club (1939) Ltd.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
SouthportEdit
He returned to management by joining Conference Premier side Southport on 4 May 2014, following the departure of John Coleman.<ref name="Martin Foyle is the new Southport manager">Template:Cite news</ref> Two months later he began coaching the under-15 side at the Port Vale Academy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> With Southport sitting in the Conference Premier relegation zone following a 5–2 defeat to Woking at Haig Avenue, he left the club by mutual consent on 5 October 2014.<ref name="Martin Foyle leaves Southport">Template:Cite news</ref>
Head of RecruitmentEdit
Foyle was named as Head of Recruitment at Northampton Town in February 2015.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He went on to work as chief scout at Scottish Premiership club Motherwell the following year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Speaking in September 2019, "Well" scout Martyn Corrigan credited Foyle with bringing a high calibre of players to Fir Park, calling him a "workaholic" with an encyclopedic knowledge of the English football's lower leagues.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He returned to Northampton Town in his former role as Head of Recruitment in May 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He left Northampton Town in November 2021 to become Morecambe's Head of Recruitment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He left the role six months later.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He joined Scottish Premiership side St Mirren as Head of Recruitment in June 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Personal lifeEdit
Foyle married Jacqueline Churchill in Salisbury in 1985.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Career statisticsEdit
Playing statisticsEdit
Source:<ref>Template:ENFA</ref>
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | OtherTemplate:Ref label | TotalTemplate:Ref label | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Southampton | 1982–83 | First Division | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| 1983–84 | First Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 2 | |
| Total | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 3 | ||
| Blackburn Rovers (loan) | 1983–84 | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aldershot | 1984–85 | Fourth Division | 44 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 55 | 18 |
| 1985–86 | Fourth Division | 20 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 11 | |
| 1986–87 | Fourth Division | 34 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 44 | 14 | |
| Total | 98 | 35 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 5 | 122 | 43 | ||
| Oxford United | 1986–87 | First Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1987–88 | First Division | 33 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 42 | 13 | |
| 1988–89 | Second Division | 40 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 15 | |
| 1989–90 | Second Division | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 3 | |
| 1990–91 | Second Division | 36 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 45 | 15 | |
| Total | 126 | 36 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 5 | 151 | 44 | ||
| Port Vale | 1991–92 | Second Division | 43 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 50 | 16 |
| 1992–93 | Second Division | 16 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 29 | 10 | |
| 1993–94 | Second Division | 37 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 45 | 21 | |
| 1994–95 | First Division | 42 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 48 | 20 | |
| 1995–96 | First Division | 25 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 34 | 14 | |
| 1996–97 | First Division | 37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 43 | 4 | |
| 1997–98 | First Division | 39 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 8 | |
| 1998–99 | First Division | 35 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 9 | |
| 1999–2000 | First Division | 22 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 6 | |
| Total | 296 | 83 | 18 | 9 | 39 | 16 | 353 | 108 | ||
| Career total | 533 | 155 | 31 | 15 | 77 | 28 | 641 | 198 | ||
- A. <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^{{#if:| }} The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the League Cup, Football League Trophy, Football League play-offs and Full Members Cup.
- B. <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^{{#if:| }} Statistics for IFK Munkfors not included.
Managerial statisticsEdit
| Team | From | To | Record | Template:Abbr | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | ||||
| Port Vale | 13 February 2004 | 26 September 2007 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | ||||
| Wrexham (caretaker) | 27 September 2008 | 2 October 2008 | <ref name="Little parts company with Wrexham"/><ref name="Saunders appointed as new Wrexham manager"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | |||||
| York City | 24 November 2008 | 24 September 2010 | <ref name="Foyle confirmed as new York boss"/><ref name="Martin Foyle resigns as York City manager"/><ref>Template:Cite book Template:Cite news Template:Cite book Template:Cite book</ref> | |||||
| Northwich Victoria | 27 February 2012 | 9 May 2012 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | ||||
| Hereford United | 30 May 2012 | 19 March 2014 | <ref name="Managers: Martin Foyle"/> | |||||
| Southport | 4 May 2014 | 5 October 2014 | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | ||||
| Total | — | |||||||
HonoursEdit
As a playerEdit
Port Vale
- Football League Trophy: 1992–93<ref name="therecord">Template:Cite book</ref>
Individual
- Aldershot Town F.C. Player of the Season: 1984–85<ref name="atbpot"/>
- Port Vale Player of the Year: 1995, 1999<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
- Conference Premier Manager of the Month: January 2014
ReferencesEdit
Template:Sister project Template:Aldershot Town F.C. Player of the Season Template:Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year