West Ham feel good story: the David Martin Fairy-tale

After two months of having to endure the calamitous Roberto Jimenez in goal, seeing David Martin’s name on yesterday’s team-sheet against Chelsea drew a sigh of relief from the West Ham United fan base.

Perhaps that was more of a reflection to just how hopeless the Spaniard had looked in the absence of Lukasz Fabianski, rather than the inclusion of Martin in itself, but it was a welcome addition to the lineup nevertheless.

It was a big day for Martin for a number of reasons. Firstly, having grown up as a West Ham fan, it was a dream occasion and debut that every Hammers supporter across the world could relate to. The difference being, this was his reality.

Secondly, the 33-year-old has played his entire career in the football league, with his previous club being arch-rivals Millwall, whom he left to join the Hammers in the summer. Having made that switch, he surely couldn’t have envisioned what was to come less than half a season in, having reportedly only signed as a training ground goalkeeper.

Thirdly, he finally got to follow into the footsteps of his father and West Ham legend Alvin Martin. The Liverpool born defender made 596 appearances for the Irons over a 16-year long career, having brought David up in the heart of that cherished period.

Focusing on the game, and there was a noticeable level of distinction almost instantaneously, as Martin claimed a high cross into the West Ham penalty box, something which Roberto had struggled with over recent weeks.

This set the tone for a calm and assured display from the debutant, as he continued to deal with anything that came his way.

In all honesty, he didn’t have the busiest of afternoons in terms of making saves, as the defensive pair of Angelo Ogbonna and Fabian Balbuena cleared almost everything that made its way into Hammers territory.

This could be seen as a reflection of the confidence that Martin brought to his defense, which bodes well for the upcoming games against Wolves and Arsenal.

Of course, while Martin was doing his job at one end of the pitch, the rest of the team also contributed greatly at the other, as Aaron Cresswell scored the winning goal with a sublime effort in the 48th minute.

Martin can, however, take his share of credit for the goal too. It was his quick kick upfield after he had gathered a fizzing cross that set Michail Antonio and Robert Snodgrass on the attack, which initiated the ball finding its way to Cresswell, who fired in on his weaker right foot.

As the final whistle rang around the stadium, the emotions got too much for Martin, as he broke down in tears on the pitch, only for his teammates to run over and congratulate him, highlighting just how much it means.

Moments later, he climbed up the Stamford Bridge stands to find his dad in the press box, who shared a heartwarming moment together. This, along with West Ham fans chanting “There’s only one David‌ Martin!” as the players left the field, rounded off a day he shall never forget.

Just when West Ham looked to be fading and dying, the David Martin fairy-tale happened, and reminded every Hammers fan just why this club means that much more.