Isle of Wight-born central defender Aaron Martin is looking to get back into the English Football League (EFL) with the club he started his career with. Now aged 33, Martin has been something of an EFL journeyman, with spells across the country, including south coast clubs Southampton and Exeter. Martin is looking to win promotion via the National League playoffs with Eastleigh. The Spitfires have been on the fringes of the playoff places for much of the season and they are priced at +2.25 with bet365 to finish in the top seven. This operator is well-known for its offers, which are regarded by oddschecker as one of the top three sign up bonuses in the UK market.
After being born and bred on the island, Martin took the plunge to attend Itchen College in Southampton, representing English Schools’ U18 team on more than one occasion. Following unsuccessful trials with Southampton, Eastleigh eventually recruited him. Martin made 39 senior appearances before finally catching the eye of Southampton in 2009, who were in League One at the time.
Following a solid EFL career lasting 13 seasons, Martin opted to return home to Eastleigh for the 2022/23 campaign. He played a key role in Port Vale’s promotion to League One last season and was a notable pick up for Spitfires manager Lee Bradbury. Now aged 33, Martin has a chance to finish where he started in football.
Martin described the switch as a “homecoming” and he is keen to “bring success” to the club that gave him his first big break in the sport. Martin was vocal of his desire to “see the club in League Two” and his ambitious outlook has clearly rubbed off on the Spitfires so far this season.
After 36 National League games played, Eastleigh are in the coveted seventh place, the sixth and final playoff spot. The Spitfires have won 17 games, which is more than sixth-placed Boreham Wood. With just six draws to their name, it’s a testament to their forward-thinking approach and mentality that three points are much more important than one. Martin’s influence has certainly helped at the back, with the Spitfires conceding just 38 goals in their 36 league games. That’s comparable with third-placed Woking and better than fourth-placed Chesterfield.
Martin and Eastleigh failed to take the chance to establish themselves in the top seven in one of their most recent fixtures, a trip to troubled Somerset club Yeovil Town. The Spitfires went into this game off the back of four successive away wins in the National League, but succumbed to a narrow 1-0 defeat against the Glovers.
The Spitfires’ playoff hopes will hinge on the form of strikers Daniel Whitehall and Charlie Carter. Whitehall has moved into double figures for the season, while Carter has notched eight goals so far this term.
How does the National League season run-in look for Martin’s Eastleigh?
March looks like it will be a season-defining period for the Spitfires. Trips to Notts County and Boreham Wood await. If they can come through this month in touching distance of the top seven, they will be in good shape for a playoff finish. That’s because April looks like it will be particularly kind to Lee Bradbury’s men when it comes to fixtures.
They start the month with a home game with fourth-bottom Gateshead before a trip to third-bottom Torquay United. That’s followed by a home game with lowly Aldershot. An away trip to Chesterfield is likely to be their only serious test in April. The fate of Paul Cook’s Spireites, however, may already be sealed and a playoff place secured by that point, leaving Chesterfield with little to play for except pride.
Should Eastleigh need a win on the final day, a trip to Halifax shouldn’t phase them too much. Halifax are mid-table fodder and will almost certainly have their minds on the close season by this point.
Aaron Martin will certainly play an integral role in the Spitfires’ defensive rearguard in the coming weeks. His playoff-winning experience with Port Vale last season – culminating in a Wembley final victory over Mansfield – should stand the Isle of Wight-born ace in good stead for a shot at helping Eastleigh into the Football League for the first time in the club’s 77-year history.
