7 ▁at ▁Ell and ▁Road ▁in ▁a ▁league ▁game ▁against ▁West ▁Ham ▁United . ▁ ▁A ston ▁Villa ▁In ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 8 ▁Martin ▁was ▁signed ▁by ▁A ston ▁Villa ▁for ▁a ▁fee ▁of ▁£ 1 0 , 0 0 0 . ▁He ▁was ▁immediately ▁installed ▁in ▁the ▁centre - half ▁position ▁but ▁during ▁his ▁first ▁season ▁played ▁a ▁few ▁games ▁at ▁right - back . ▁He ▁missed ▁only ▁two ▁games ▁during ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 9 – 5 0 ▁season ▁and ▁was ▁a ▁permanent ▁fi xture ▁in ▁defence ▁for ▁two - third s ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 0 – 5 1 ▁season ▁before ▁injury ▁s idel ined ▁him ▁for ▁two ▁months . ▁Martin ▁started ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 1 – 5 2 ▁season ▁as ▁a ▁left - back , ▁but ▁after ▁goal keeper ▁Joe ▁R uther ford ▁was ▁injured ▁and ▁the ▁club ▁was ▁caught ▁without ▁cover ▁he ▁took ▁over ▁duties ▁between ▁the ▁posts . ▁He ▁made ▁ 2 6 ▁league ▁appearances ▁and ▁ 1 ▁FA ▁Cup ▁appearance ▁as ▁a ▁goal keeper ▁for ▁Villa ▁before ▁rever ting ▁to ▁the ▁centre - half ▁position . ▁Between ▁ 1 9 4 8 ▁and ▁ 1 9 5 6 ▁Martin ▁made ▁ 2 1 3 ▁appearances ▁for ▁Villa , ▁ 1 9 4 ▁in ▁the ▁league ▁and ▁ 1 9 ▁in ▁cup ▁games . ▁Martin ▁scored ▁just ▁once ▁for ▁Villa ▁– ▁a ▁penalty ▁in ▁a ▁ 4 – 1 ▁league ▁win ▁at ▁Char l ton ▁Athlet ic ▁in ▁April ▁