I'm Martin McConachie, a 55-year-old based in a small village, Oldland Common, just outside Bristol. I was brought up in Stoke-sub-Hamdon, near Yeovil; moved into Yeovil at age 10 then up to Bristol in my early thirties.
Having enjoyed a varied career in sales & account management, I now work as a Football Services Officer for the GFA.
I'm also a keen writer. Previously in 2009, I co-wrote "Birth Of The Giant Killers" about Yeovil Town's famous FA Cup victory over Sunderland in 1949 and then completed a second book myself, "10", in 2013. I also produced more than 500 articles for the match day programme in eleven years of working on the Yeovil Town FC matchday programme, "Green & White".
Outside of writing, I also work for Opta Sports as an in-ground analyst, covering various teams including both Bristol City's Men's and Women's teams & Bristol Rovers. I also produce matchday programmes for four Toolstation Western League clubs (Hengrove Athletic, Cadbury Heath, Bishop Sutton & Helston Athletic).
Outside of work, I have four lovely children (three sons and one daughter), three grandchildren (two grandsons, one granddaughter) & I am club secretary for Hengrove Athletic (a Step 6 non-league side near Bristol). When I have time, I enjoy playing golf, reading or listening to music. The geek in me is never far away and my slightly more suspect hobbies have included geocaching, autograph collecting and plane spotting!
Claims to fame? I went to the same school as Ian Botham; Dale Winton once flirted with me and I worked on the BBC TV show "Casualty" for three years. I shot a gross 88 at Gleneagles golf course in 1998; hit a hole in one in 2010; lost six stone in ten months in 2012/13 and five stone in twelve months in 2019/20. Also raised £10,500 for charity by visiting all 92 football grounds twice, eating 48 KitKats, playing darts and running a marathon (but not all at once). I even appeared on Countdown in January 2015 but alas, no teapot!
Below are a few of the many people I've had the pleasure of meeting over the years.
