Young talent builds on Martinson legacy

Across three generations, the Martinson family has represented the Carey Park Football Club with distinction on and off the field. Promising youngster Josh continued his family’s impressive legacy in round three, when he made his league debut against Busselton at Sir Stewart Bovell Park — much to the delight of his father, Michael, and grandfather, John. “It was a pretty good feeling making my debut,” Josh said. “Getting called into the coach’s room on the Friday night was a bit of a surreal feeling, obviously. And running out for the first time alongside guys like Rory O’Brien and Viv Blurton — guys that you have watched for a long time — was very special. “The first thing I noticed between reserves and league was the pace, as the ball shoots up and back pretty fast.” Growing up, Josh was a fixture at Kelly Park and would not rather be anywhere else. “I have been here since day dot, really,” he said. “I remember being down here on a Friday night when the league boys were training. “I was down here with boys like Liam and Heath Stewart and we would be playing 2x2 games down one end of the ground. It has sort of always been home, really.” “I’ve always found the club to be very social,” Michael added. “It is very friendly and no one has any angst against anybody. “It has an atmosphere that anyone is welcome — no matter what race, colour or creed you are. That is the way we want to keep it, and we will try to instil that into the juniors for the next generation.” Aside from their distinguished playing careers, both Michael and John have also had stints as club president, with both men still keen to give back to their club whenever possible. But John’s remarkable success in grand finals is particularly interesting, as it seemed to follow him wherever he went. “I played in the 1963 grand final, which we won, along with 1973,” John said. “So I had two shots, 10 years apart. “In between that time, I went out to Eaton Boomers, as they are now (formerly Boyanup-Capel-Dardanup), and in 1970 we got beaten in the grand final. “Along with that, in 1964 I went to East Fremantle and won a grand final in 1965.”