Martin Harvey

Martin Harvey (19 September 1941 — 25 November 2019) was a Northern Irish footballer who played for Sunderland and the Northern Ireland national team as a wing half.

Playing career Club He played for local side Boyland F.C. and with a trial spell with Burnley before signing for Sunderland in 1959. His debut for the club came on 24 October 1959 against Plymouth Argyle in a 0–0 draw at Home Park. In total he made 314 league appearances, scoring five goals while at Sunderland.

In the late sixties, alongside Jimmy Montgomery, Cecil Irwin, Len Ashurst, Charlie Hurley and Jim McNab, Harvey formed one of the most notable and most settled back fives in Sunderland's history. In September 1967 Tommy Cummings' Aston Villa agreed to buy Harvey for £25,000.00. Harvey chose to remain at Sunderland.

During the 1971–1972 season, Harvey sustained serious back and other injuries which forced his premature retirement at the age of 30.

International Harvey was capped twice for Northern Ireland 'B', and played three matches, all against Wales, for the Under 23 side in 1962, 1963 and 1964. By then, he was already a full international. His first cap was awarded when he was just nineteen years old, in April 1961. Over the next ten years, he was to collect a total of 34 caps, scoring three goals.

Harvey won his first international cap for Northern Ireland on 25 April 1961 against Italy in a 3–2 defeat. Raith also won a major trophy for the first time in their history, a League Cup Final win on penalties over Celtic at Ibrox on 27 November 1994.