By Malcolm Brodie
Martin Harvey graced the football fields of Britain wearing with pride the Northern Ireland green jersey but like so many stars of the past he takes a minimal interest in the game he loves.
He watches it on television, reads about it in the newspapers which he sells in his corner shop at Plymouth, but was sickened by it all when manager of Millwall with Jimmy Nicholl, they lost out obtaining salary compensation when the club went into receivership. That left a sour taste with him and with Nicholl too.
Ironically, however, Plymouth has played a major part in his life. He made his Sunderland debut there, got sacked there when manager at Carlisle and now he is a well-known resident.
Harvey, capped 34 times, who was assistant manager to Billy Bingham in the Sweden 1982 and Mexico '86 World Cup finals, has had offers to join the Plymouth School of Excellence but all were turned down. Running a business is a full-time occupation for him now.
"We are waiting on a communication from hospital for my wife to undergo surgery in London. Hopefully it will be some time soon" he says .
A gentleman of football is an over-used clich�. Yet it perfectly describes Martin who spent six months as Bingham's deputy with the Saudi Arabian club Al Naser.
It was a partnership which worked well as did that with Nichol during those periods with Raith Rovers and Millwall.
A story circulated in the Seventies that Martin had been called after the renowned Shakespearean actor of the same name. Not so, though he didn't let many people know it wasn't true. Consequently newspaper reports often appeared quoting the "Bard" describing his football exploits!
He explains: "I was called after an Aunt Meg whose surname was Martin. If I can recall correctly there were two streets in the Newtownards Road named after Martin and Harvey!"
His first attempt to enter professional football ended in rejection.
"Along with Terry Neill and Jimmy O'Neill I was sent to Burnley. They turned down Terry and myself although we both made the grade in football. I often use this illustration to bring home the harsh reality to youngsters of breaking into football."
Harvey went straight from Ashfield School to Sunderland making 310 appearances between 1959 - 72 when he retired with a back injury and cartilage problems to become club coach.This happened in November but six months later Sunderland defeated Leeds United 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley so he missed out walking up the Wembley steps to collect the coveted medal.
He spent 20 years, 15 as a player and coach at Roker Park. Remember that famed half back line - McNab, Hurley and Harvey. Remember, too, some of the players of that great era - George Mulhall, Johnny Crossan and of course Jim McNab.
Harvey played with all the Northern Ireland stars of that era - Bingham, Jimmy McIlroy, Peter McParland, Bertie Peacock, George Best, Derek Dougan and he was a member of the Ireland team which lost 8-3 to England.
When Harvey quit Sunderland he was appointed assistant to Bobby Moncur at Carlisle and succeeded him when the Scot left for Hearts.
And it was at Carlisle that he helped recruit the then unknown Peter Beardsley for the price of a set of jerseys.
He explains: "Amazingly nobody wanted him despite showing his prowess in a local team. We signed him from a small Newcastle team for what it cost to buy the kit. That was the bargain of all time."
Harvey, from east Belfast, made his Northern Ireland debut against Italy in Bologna where his opponent was Argentinean Omar Sivori.
"I never got near him," admits Martin, whose unfulfilled ambition is that he never managed Sunderland.
Today he is happy in idyllic Devon living with his memories of those historic Northern Ireland days of '82 and '86 - memories that will never fade.
26 February 2005 