Sport: Soccer
Position: Coach, Official, Administrator
Year of Induction: 2013

M artin was born in 1932 and came to Chatham from his native Holland in 1958. Having played his favoured game until departing for Canada, he turned away from the sport for 17 years. In 1975 he became involved with a group of men eager to start a youth soccer association. From the beginning of 4 teams and 60 players, it has grown to close to 200 teams and over 2500 boys, girls, and adults. At some point over the last 38 years, Martin has done every job, co-founder, director, coach, referee, maintenance, and administrator for the Chatham Youth Soccer Association. In addition he has been involved regionally and provincially at the administrative level.

• 1975 ‒ along with Bob Christie, Louis Teeuwen, Vito Craievich, Mike Smith, and Ed Williams, founded the Chatham Youth Soccer Association
• 1976 – 1984 ‒ was President, Chatham Youth Soccer Association
• 1985 – 1990 ‒ was Director, Chatham Youth Soccer Association
• Beginning in 1991 ‒ was Administrative Director, Chatham Youth Soccer Association for over 35 years
• 1985 ‒ was co-founder of the Lambton-Kent Soccer Association, a governing (Ontario Soccer Association) district with 9000 registered players
• 1985 – 1991 ‒ was Vice-President, Lambton-Kent Soccer Association
• 1992 – 2008 ‒ was President, Lambton-Kent Soccer Association
• 2009 – present ‒ is Administrator and Director, Lambton-Kent Soccer Association
• 1990 – 1999 ‒ was Director, London and District Youth Soccer Association
• 2007 – 2010 ‒ was Director, Western Ontario Youth Soccer Association
• Beginning in 1992 ‒ was member of Ontario Soccer Association, West Region League Management Committee 35 years
• 1997 ‒ was coordinator of Summer Special Olympics (Soccer Division)
• 1997 to finish of project ‒ was member of Steering Committee, Thames Campus Athletic Complex
• 1988 ‒ formed the Chatham Express Senior Competitive Team to play in the Western Ontario Senior League ‒ coached and managed the team 20 years

Awards & Recognitions

• 1987 ‒ received Certificate of Merit from Royal Canadian Legion
• 1991 ‒ received Western Ontario Individual Sportsmanship Award
• 1996 & 2003 ‒ Express won Western Ontario Soccer League Club Sportsmanship Award
• 2006 ‒ received Province of Ontario 30+ Years Volunteer Service Award
• 2010 ‒ was inducted into the Western Ontario Soccer League Hall of Fame