Martyn Guest

**Martyn Guest** was a footballer who played for **Hashtag United** (men).

Tilbury
Around February 2008, Guest was playing as an outfielder for Tilbury in the Isthmian League - Division One North.

Basildon United
Around August 2009, Guest was captain for Essex Senior League side Basildon United.

Bowers & Pitsea
Prior to joining Southminster United with the manager, Guest was a teammate of Rob Small's at Bowers & Pitsea. It was at around this point in his career that he successfully transitioned into a goalkeeper, having requested to do so.

Southminster United
With Rob Small heading to manage Southminster United of the Essex Olympian League - Senior Division Two, Guest soon joined him at the club. He was with them as they moved up to step 7 of the league system.

Maldon & Tiptree
At the start of the 2013–14 season, Guest was attached to Maldon & Tiptree of the Isthmian League - Division One North.

Witham Town
Towards the end of September 2013, Guest moved to fellow Isthmian League - Division One North team Witham Town. He debuted on 17 November as he played the full duration of a 4–1 league win away to Erith & Belvedere. He featured three more times that month as the club won on each occasion, with Guest claiming the team's Player of the Match award on 26 November in a cup outing at home to Thurrock. He made a total of 34 appearances and won 2 more of those aforementioned awards for Witham across 2013–14 as they gained promotion to the Isthmian League - Premier Division via the play-offs. In 2014–15, Guest featured 46 times in all competitions as *The Town* were relegated back down to the North Division.

Brentwood Town
For the 2015–16 campaign, Guest remained in the Isthmian League - Premier Division after signing with newly-promoted Brentwood Town. His competitive bow for *The Blues* occurred on 11 August 2015 as they lost 3–1 at home to East Thurrock United, which was the first of 6 appearances in the month of August. He remained until the end of December as he participated in 28 matches across league and cup, with his final appearance coming on 19 December in a narrow loss away to Leatherhead.

Bowers & Pitsea return
On 29 December 2015, Guest rejoined Bowers & Pitsea in the Essex Senior League. His first season back concluded with promotion to the Isthmian League - Division One North, with the next ending with a 6th-place finish; as they missed the play-offs by one point. In May 2017, it was announced that Guest had retired.

Bowers & Pitsea return
Guest came out of retirement to rejoin Isthmian League - Premier Division outfit Bowers & Pitsea in July 2020. He didn't appear competitively, though did play in friendlies in 2020–21; which was curtailed early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guest made the first Isthmian League appearance of his third spell on 14 August 2021 as they fell to defeat at home to Leatherhead. In September, the goalkeeper featured in an FA Cup first qualifying round win at Arlesey Town before appearing in league action against Wingate & Finchley and Carshalton Athletic. Guest spent the end of the month with HTU, prior to returning to Bowers in October and playing once at U23 level.

Guest stopped playing for *Bowers* in December 2021 following his diagnosis with acute myeloid leukemia. He had appeared 94 times for them across his three stints there.

### HTU

2020–21
Amid an injury crisis in the goalkeeping department, HTU temporarily signed Guest for an Essex Senior League match away to Sawbridgeworth Town on 26 September 2020. He subsequently started an eventual 4–2 victory at Crofters End under manager Jay Devereux.

## Personal Life

In December 2021, Guest was diagnosd with acute myeloid leukemia. He died from the disease on 8 December 2022. A minute's silence was held for Guest, as well as for the passing of Anthony Page's father, before HTU's league victory over Gorleston two days later. A fundraiser was subsequently set-up for his family, which raised over £54k by mid-2023. Guest had previously married Charlotte Johnson, with whom he had children Jayden (b. 2014) and Sienna (b. 2019). He and Charlotte were together for 17 years. In 2011, Guest founded building company Ivel Group.

## HTU Statistics

Breakdown

'*Other Cups' includes competitions like the FA Trophy, the FA Vase and friendly tournaments. See also: HTUwiki:DataIssues.*

Appearance (1)
Sawbridgeworth Town  v  Hashtag United

## References

1. ↑ "Happy 35th Birthday to @martyn\_guest" , 13 February 2022.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Former Bowers and Pitsea footballer dies after cancer battle" , 4 January 2023.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "A real Guest of Honour!" , 18 December 2022.
4. ↑ "Wray of sunshine for battling Tilbury as Edgware are held" , 9 February 2008.
5. ↑ "Indeed. Cheers and good luck with getting into the Basildon team, our first interviewee was their captain Martyn Guest" , 17 August 2013.
6. ↑ "A Look Into History 20" , 15 March 2020.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Saturday's Ryman Transfer List" , 28 September 2013.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "martyn guest - Witham Town Football Club 1st team" .
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Brentwood Town - Appearances - Martyn Guest - 2015-2016" .
10. ↑ "Welcome back/aboard @martyn\_guest" , 29 December 2015.
11. ↑ "Can't believe it's the last time we see this absolute legend between the sticks as @martyn\_guest retires" , 6 May 2017.
12. ↑ "Thanks Nashy those was the only ones I caught 😂. Good editing. Feel good to be back head down work hard" , 28 July 2020.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "Martyn Guest - Bowers & Pitsea Football Club 1st Team" .
14. ↑ "@Bowerspitseafc @martyn\_guest" .
15. ↑ "KICK-OFF" , 10 December 2022.
16. ↑ "Fundraiser for Charlotte Johnson by Lee Perry : The Guesty Fund" .
17. ↑ "Martyn Guest" , 7 August 2014.
18. ↑ "Martyn Guest" , 9 July 2019.
19. ↑ "I can’t quite believe I’m writing this and totally heartbroken to announce Martyn Lost his battle with Leukaemia yesterday morning surrounded by his family" , 9 December 2022.
20. ↑ "Martyn Guest" .