Dennis Martin made 311 appearances for Carlisle and scored 57 goals in his 7 years at the club. Ever versatile, he mostly found himself playing down the left or right flank, but could also be employed as a striker. Although by no means prolific, he still weighed in with a regular supply of goals.

Dennis was born in Edinburgh on 27th October 1947 but spent little time in Scotland, his family having moved to Northants when he was very young. Local schoolboy football led to regular appearances for Non-League Kettering Town, and he soon became noted in the football world. In the summer of 1967, just before Dennis turned 20, West Brom manager Alan Ashman offered Kettering £5000 and the deal was swiftly concluded. Dennis immediately impressed in the reserves and he made his full league debut in March 1968. Ironically, it was Dennis Martin who inspired West Brom to a second half revival in the League Cup semi-final second leg of 1969 that stopped Carlisle from reaching Wembley for the first time in their history.

By the summer of 1970 Carlisle were well established as a strong, dependable Second Division side and Bob Stokoe was on the hunt for players who could take the club that one step further. He approached West Brom and secured the Martin deal for the bizarre sum (if reports are to be believed) of £22,222. Dennis' debut came at home to Birmingham on 22nd august 1970, but his first goal didn't arrive until the 19th September in a 2-1 home win over Swindon. The place out on the right flank became his own, and he was instrumental in the exciting moves the team put together throughout this season. His crosses were whipped in with pace and he was an absolute hand full for opposing defences. He made 44 appearances that year, scoring 12 goals, and United finished fourth in Division Two, missing out on promotion by just 3 points.

He became an ever present over the next 6 years, missing only 1 league game in the 1973/74 season that saw United grab the last available promotion spot to Division One. This led to Dennis having the honour of being the last Carlisle United player to score a goal in the countries highest division, his effort at home to Wolves on 19 April 1975 giving the Brunton Park fans a 1-0 win to remember the First Division by. Perhaps just as memorable was the fact that Carlisle's last ever game in Division One was in front of 38,000 fans at the Baseball Ground where a 0-0 draw confirmed 'The Rams' as champions ahead of Liverpool. Carlisle, of course, were relegated.

Sadly, Dennis' last full season with the club in 1976/77 brought a poor run of results and relegation to Division Three when, despite an end of season run of good form, a 1-1 away draw with Cardiff condemned United to the drop. As these things tend to be, Cardiff needed the point to stay up at our expense.

Dennis played just 9 more games in 1977/78, scoring 1 more goal against Huddersfield in the League Cup, before a surprise move to Newcastle materialised from absolutely nowhere. £40,000 changed hands in October 1977 and Dennis was gone. He didn't really settle with Newcastle and was on the move again just 6 months later in March 1978, signing for Mansfield for £25,000. He was released from Field Mill in May 1979 and had a very brief spell in Denmark before calling a halt to his professional playing career in December 1979, aged 32. He again played for Kettering Town, but soon turned his back on football to concentrate on a new career in Insurance Services, and he settled in Kettering.

Dennis became an instant hit at Brunton Park and provided many exciting moments. His loyalty to the shirt was evident every time he took to the field, and it was testament to his own wealth of ability that he was a regular in a team that had the likes of O'Neill, McIlmoyle and Owen. His pace, touch and delivery were a breath taking and thrilling combination to watch, when in full flow, and it was no accident that he became a Brunton favourite.

Click here to read about the 1969 League Cup campaign that brought Carlisle, and Dennis, to within 45 minutes of the twin towers.

Click here to read about the 1972 Anglo-Italian Cup campaign in which Dennis helped to shock Europe's giants.