Signed as a schoolboy, Martin O'Donnell was unfortunate in ending his time at the club with a serious injury picked up in training.
Martin joined Tottenham as a 13 year old and played at schoolboy level until signed as an apprentice professional in 1965. His Spurs career saw him develop through the Youth team, where he was an attacking midfielder, scoring a hat-trick against Chelsea in one match and he captained the side to the South-East Counties League and Cup double in his second season.
A cold February morning brought an end to O'Donnell's time at Tottenham, when he turned to kick a ball back to Derek Possee and Keith Weller, who he was kicking up with and he suffered a broken thigh. This necessitated nine months in hospital, but the club looked after the young player and his parents, with an ex-gratia payment made to him on the termination of his contract following the serious nature of the injury.
After leaving Spurs, Martin still played football, but at non-league level, spending two years at Hayes FC, playing with Dave Bassett (the former Wimbledon and Sheffield United manager) before moving around the non-league scene before ending his playing days in 1987.
On his retirement from football, Martin worked for Revlon, Estee Lauder, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace in the cosmetic/fragrance industry as a Senior Sales executive.
Now living in semi-retirement in Ascot, Berkshire, he and his wife have two sons and a daughter, with two grand-children.