Martin Riley (footballer)

Martin James Riley (born 5 December 1986) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Stourbridge.

Martin Riley

Riley playing for Mansfield Town in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Martin James Riley[1]
Date of birth	5 December 1986
Place of birth	Wolverhampton, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s)	Defender
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–	Stourbridge	0	(0)
National team
2009	England C	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:55, 6 August 2020 (UTC)

Career

Early career

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] He 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

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

After leaving Hereford at the end of the 2019-20 season, Riley joined Stourbridge in August 2020.[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 25 November 2017 [18]

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		43	1	0	0	—		0	0	43	1
	Kidderminster 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		33	0	3	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 4]	0	38	0
	Mansfield 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	2	0	0	0	—		0	0	2	0
Career total			269	6	15	0	2	0	16	0	302	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

Career honours

Wrexham

• FA Trophy 2012/2013

References

1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2010 and 31/07/2010" (PDF). TheFA. 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 Official Website. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
10. "Retained list confirmed". Mansfield Town. 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. , stourbridgefc.co.uk, 25 August 2020
18. Martin Riley at Soccerway. Retrieved 27 November 2017.

External links

• Martin Riley at Soccerbase
• Martin Riley at Soccerway