Martin Squires was a true gentleman a friend and just the sort of hard working, fun loving liked by everyone sort of guy that we should all strive to be. He was sadly taken from us on 5/6/99 after contracting leukemia. He left a widow Caroline and three lovely daughters Natasha, Claire and Hayley. His fight against the disease was short but strong. Martin spent the most part of his illness raising awareness and funds for the "Plymouth Leukemia Fund."

The fund raiser took the form of a sponsored headshave. Over two hundred people packed the Kings Tamerton Community Centre to take part ....nearly every single person prepared to lose their hair for the cause.....in fact one silly person had his chest waxed and allowed each of the 10 strips to be removed one after the other to the highest bidder. Thanks Nick you gave us all such a laugh, especially Martin!!!. The main event of the evening was the shaving of four heads, Andy Batten, Andy Rickard, Steve Margeson and Martin himself, these people were selected because they had the most hair to lose. After those people there was a steady flow of people taking the chair to have their locks removed, some for as little as £5 pledges. I myself Miles Bidgood already sporting a shaven head (my prefered hairstyle) sat down in the chair and had LFC (Liverpool Football Club) shave into my hair........not too adventurous.....it is when you are an avid Manchester United supporter!!!

Martin had been searching for a match to have a marrow transplant, it came in his sister Janet. Janet and her husband Paul, had to be flown in from Australia, they were with us all at the headshave and were gobsmacked to see the support Martin was receiving, as a jesture to those that helped baseball caps were sent from Australia to cover those now folically challenged heads. I vowed to wear mine at every match which we played from then on...... this season 1999/2000 looks like being our most successful yet, so I guess Martin is looking over us.

Martin became very weak quickly after his treatment began, we were all shocked to see this brilliant athlete looking so unwell...but we were all convinced he would recover...it was Martin, one of the best. Unfortunately this didn't happen and Martin died at hospital in Carolines arms. My last memory of Martin is the day of our Divisional Cup Final at Torpoint FC, we were hoping that Martin was coming to spectate but knew he had taken a turn for the worse and it was unlikely he would be there.....but he was, after much argument at the hospital he was picked up and delivered to the ground, this was one game in which the players were not going to let anybody down least of all Martin. We won the Cup and Martin was sent up to receive the trophy.Everybody clapped and cheered it was so important for Martin to be a part. In two minutes Martin had bonded everybody at this Football Club in a way we had been trying to for years. We have one rather blurred picture of this event, (see below) but the image will live in my mind for the rest of my life.

After his death the Football Club decided that the most fitting tribute would be to purchase a fine trophy and award the Players Player of the Year Trophy in his name (probably the biggest honour to be the winner of at any Football Club) The funding to buy this trophy was in the form of donations from club members initially, however when the local community got to hear what we were doing money flooded in and we were able to purchase the fine trophy pictured above. We would like to thank all those that donated, with special thanks to "Kings Tamerton Community Association", "The Fellowship Inn" and "The Plymouth Sunday League"