Martin Riley (footballer)

Martin Riley

Riley in October 2021
Personal information
Full name	Martin James Riley [1]
Date of birth	(1986-12-05) 5 December 1986 (age 36)
Place of birth	Wolverhampton, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) [2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Hednesford Town
Youth career
2002–2005	Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2007	Wolverhampton Wanderers	0	(0)
2008	Shrewsbury Town	0	(0)
2008–2010	Kidderminster Harriers	68	(4)
2010–2011	Cheltenham Town	26	(0)
2011–2012	Mansfield Town	28	(1)
2012–2013	Wrexham	34	(0)
2013–2015	Mansfield Town	64	(1)
2015–2016	Tranmere Rovers	16	(0)
2016–2017	Wrexham	30	(0)
2017–2018	Halifax Town	3	(0)
2018–2019	Alfreton Town	24	(0)
2019–2020	Hereford	12	(0)
2020–2021	Stourbridge	6	(0)
2021	Tamworth	8	(0)
2021–	Hednesford Town	10	(0)
International career
2009	England C	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:00, 26 June 2022 (UTC)

Martin James Riley (born 5 December 1986) is an English footballer who plays for Northern Premier League Division One West side Hednesford Town, where he plays as a defender.

Playing career

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Riley began his career at the age of thirteen with his home-town club Wolverhampton Wanderers. ^[2] In March 2005, he signed a professional contract with the club but was released in December 2007 without making a single first-team appearance. ^[3]

Shrewsbury Town

Riley had a short spell with Shrewsbury Town in 2008, but once again didn't feature in the first team. ^[4]

Kidderminster Harriers

He joined Kidderminster Harriers in the Conference National division in the summer of 2008 where he spent two seasons, he often linked up with fellow centre back Mark Creighton with whom nothing was won trophy wise at Aggborough.

Cheltenham Town

Riley was signed by Cheltenham Town in the summer of 2010. ^[5] He made his debut for the club on 7 August against Gillingham. ^[6] On 9 May 2011, Riley was released from Cheltenham after his contract expired.

Mansfield Town

However, on 14 July 2011 Riley signed for Mansfield Town. ^[7] Riley played 33 times for Mansfield Town scoring once, he also played in the Conference Play-off semi-finals against York City which they lost 2–1 on aggregate.

Wrexham

On 16 July 2012 he signed for Wrexham. ^[8] This was after Wrexham sold star striker Jake Speight went the opposite way to Mansfield. At The Racecourse Ground Riley would be reunited with former defensive partner from his Aggborough days Mark Creighton, although after just 3 games Creighton suffered a season-ending injury. Riley made his debut in a Conference National game against Woking, Wrexham won 3–1. In March 2013 Riley won his first honour by winning the FA Trophy with Wrexham, beating Grimsby Town on penalties at Wembley.

Return to Mansfield

Riley playing for Mansfield Town in August 2013.

On 3 June 2013, Riley left Wrexham, returning to former club Mansfield Town on a free transfer. ^[9] He was released by Mansfield at the end of the 2014–15 season. ^[10]

Tranmere Rovers

Following his release from Mansfield Town, Riley signed with Tranmere Rovers on 10 June 2015, joining them on 1 July 2015. ^[11]

Return to Wrexham

On 25 May 2016, Riley returned to Wrexham from Tramere. ^[12] He played 30 games in the 2016–17 season, and was named Wrexham A.F.C. Player of the Year, however despite this he was released at the end of the season. ^[13]

Halifax Town

On 24 May 2016, Riley signed a one-year deal at Halifax Town, becoming their first signing since winning promotion to the National League. ^[14]

Alfreton Town

In July 2018, Riley joined National League North side Alfreton Town on a one-year deal. ^[15]

Hereford

On 30 May 2019, he joined Hereford. ^[16]

Stourbridge

On 21 August 2020, following his departure from Hereford, Riley signed for Southern League Premier Central side Stourbridge on contract terms. ^[17]

Riley made his debut for Stourbridge on 22 September 2020, in an FA Cup first round fixture at away to Tamworth. Riley was introduced on the 88th minute for Darryl Knights. The game finishing 3-3, and Tamworth went on to won the tie 5–4 on penalties. ^[18]

Tamworth

On 17 September 2021, Riley signed for Southern League Premier Central rivals Tamworth. ^[19] The following day Riley was named as an unused substitute in an FA Cup 2nd qualifying round 5–0 away victory over Belper Town. ^[20] He did make his debut in the next round of the FA Cup on 2 October 2021, as Tamworth defeated Leiston 3–1 away from home, with Riley coming on as an 83rd minute substitute for Jack Thomas. ^[21]

Riley made his Southern League Premier Central debut for Tamworth on 9 October 2021, when he was called on as a 6th minute substitute for injured former Stourbridge teammate Jordaan Brown, and helped the club to a 2–1 victory, with both goals coming from Dan Creaney in injury time. ^[22]

Hednesford Town

On 3 December 2021, Riley signed for Southern League Premier Central side Hednesford Town. ^[23]

Riley confirmed on 29 May 2022 that he would be retiring following the conclusion of the 2021–22 season. ^[24] However, on 13 June 2022 it was confirmed that Riley had a change of heart and agreed a deal to remain with Hednesford Town, and play for the club for the 2022–23 season. ^[25]

Career statistics

As of match played 23 April 2022 ^[26]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Kidderminster Harriers	2008–09	Conference Premier	26	3	3	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	30	3
	2009–10	Conference Premier	43	1	0	0	—		0	0	43	1
	Total		69	4	3	0	0	0	1	0	73	4
Cheltenham Town	2010–11	League Two	26	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	29	0
Mansfield Town	2011–12	Conference Premier	28	1	2	0	—		2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	32	1
Wrexham	2012–13	Conference Premier	34	0	0	0	—		10 [lower-alpha 3]	0	44	0
Mansfield Town	2013–14	League Two	31	1	2	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 4]	0	34	1
	2014–15	League Two	33	0	3	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 4]	0	38	0
	Total		64	1	5	0	1	0	2	0	72	1
Tranmere Rovers	2015–16	National League	16	0	2	0	—		0	0	18	0
Wrexham	2016–17	National League	30	0	1	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	32	0
Halifax Town	2017–18	National League	3	0	0	0	—		0	0	3	0
Alfreton Town	2018–19	National League North	24	0	2	0	—		0	0	26	0
Hereford	2019–20	National League North	12	0	0	0	—		0	0	12	0
Stourbridge	2020–21 [27]	Southern League Premier Division Central	6	0	1	0	—		0	0	7	0
Tamworth	2021–22 [27]	Southern League Premier Division Central	8	0	3	0	—		2 [lower-alpha 5]	0	13	0
Hednesford Town	2021–22 [27]	Southern League Premier Division Central	10	0	0	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 6]	0	11	0
	2022–23 [27]	Southern League Premier Division Central	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
Career total			330	6	21	0	2	0	19	0	372	6

1. Appearances in the FA Trophy
2. Appearances in the Conference Premier play-offs
3. Seven appearances in the FA Trophy and three in the Conference Premier play-offs
4. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
5. Two appearances in FA Trophy
6. Appearance(s) in Birmingham Senior Cup

Honours

Wrexham

• FA Trophy: 2012–13

Alfreton Town

• Derbyshire Senior Cup: 2018–19

References

1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2010 and 31/07/2010" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
2. "Cheltenham profile" . Retrieved 10 August 2010.
3. "Riley Contract Terminated". 3 December 2007. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
4. "Five go as Shrews start clear-out". BBC Sport. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
5. "Harriers' defender Martin Riley paid his own fee to join Cheltenham Town FC". This is Gloucestershire. 20 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
6. "Gillingham 1–1 Cheltenham". BBC Sport. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
7. "Mansfield Town sign former Cheltenham Town defender Martin Riley". chad.co.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
8. Currie, Mark (17 July 2012). "Wrexham FC sign defender Martin Riley". Daily Post Wales. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
9. "Riley becomes fifth summer signing". Mansfield Town FC. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
10. "Retained list confirmed". Mansfield Town F.C. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
11. "Tranmere sign Mansfield defender". Liverpool Echo. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
12. "Martin Riley: Defender Wrexham from Tranmere for second spell with club". BBC Sport. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
13. "Player of the Year Martin Riley among nine Wrexham players released". Non League Paper. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
14. "Martin Riley: Halifax sign defender on one-year deal following release by Wrexham". BBC Sport. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
15. "Player Profiles 2018/19 – Martin Riley". Alfreton Town F.C. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
16. Bulls Add Experienced Defender To Squad, herefordfc.co.uk, 30 May 2019
17. "GLASSBOYS SIGN EXPERIENCED DEFENDER RILEY". StourbridgeFC.com. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
18. "Tamworth 3-3 Stourbridge". TheLambs.co.uk. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
19. "Experienced Defender Joins League Rivals". Southern-Football-League.co.uk. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
20. "Belper Town 0-5 Tamworth". TamworthFC.co.uk. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
21. "Leiston 1-3 Tamworth". TamworthFC.co.uk. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
22. "Rushall Olympic 1-2 Tamworth". TamworthFC.co.uk. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
23. "RILEY JOINS PITMEN". Hednesford Town F.C. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
24. "CLOSE SEASON PLAYER NEWS". Hednesford Town F.C. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
25. "PITMEN RETENTIONS RALLY CALL ……". Hednesford Town F.C. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
26. Martin Riley at Soccerway. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
27. "Player profiles: Martin Riley". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 16 September 2021.

External links

• Martin Riley at Soccerbase
• Martin Riley at Soccerway