Football coach was 'role model'

3:02pm Thursday 15th December 2005

A much-loved football coach, who worked with children throughout the borough for almost 30 years, has lost his battle with lung cancer.

Fifty-one-year-old Cuthbert Martin, who lived in Bittacy Hill, Mill Hill East, was diagnosed with the condition in October 2004 and died on December 1.

His funeral will be held tomorrow at Hendon Crematorium at 12.30pm.

All the football work Mr Martin did was voluntary or funded by charities, including coaching disabled children at the Inclusive Play Opportunities Project in Barnet.

Last year, he successfully campaigned with Barnet Council to have a new astro turf pitch set up in Grahame Park.

His daughter, Lysa Martin, 29, said: "He wanted to get kids from off the street and into football, so that they could play on a regular basis."

Mr Martin coached in many of the borough's schools, including The Orion Primary School, in Lanacre Avenue, Grahame Park.

Chris Flathers, its headteacher, said: "Every community needs a Cuthbert'. He was a fantastic role model for all of our children, who loved him to bits.

"They admired him and aspired to do everything he had done in football.

"We're football mad here and all our footballers are very upset with the news."

Mr Martin set up his own football team, Pinnacle Youth, in 2000. Its under-13 team are currently top of the Harrow Youth Premier League.

In 2003, Mr Martin was awarded a testimonial plaque by the Middlesex County Football Association commemorating 25 years' service to football.

His twin sons, Carl and Callum, 19, play for Wealdstone FC and earlier this year they were called up to the England under-18 team, which made their father very proud.

His wife, Lisa, said: "He was over the moon, really over the moon."

As well as his wife, twin sons and daughter, Mr Martin leaves behind his sons Curtiss and Jae.