Martin Patching

{{Short description|English footballer (1958–2023)}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date= December 2023}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Martin Patching

| image =

| upright =

| caption =

| full_name = Martin Patching{{Hugman|15388|accessdate=31 July 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1958|11|01}}

| birth_place = Rotherham, West Riding of Yorkshire, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2023|12||1958|11|01}}

| death_place = Rotherham

| height =

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1973–1975

| youthclubs1 = Wolverhampton Wanderers

| years1 = 1975–1979

| clubs1 = Wolverhampton Wanderers

| caps1 = 90

| goals1 = 10

| years2 = 1979–1983

| clubs2 = Watford

| caps2 = 25

| goals2 = 3

| years3 = 1983

| clubs3 = → Northampton Town (loan)

| caps3 = 6

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 1985–1987

| clubs4 = Dunstable

| caps4 =

| goals4 =

| years5 = 1987–1996

| clubs5 = Staines Town

| caps5 =

| goals5 =

| years6 = 1996–

| clubs6 = Hendon

| caps6 = 1

| goals6 = 0

| totalcaps = 122

| totalgoals = 14

| nationalyears1 = 1974 | nationalteam1 = England Schoolboys | nationalcaps1 = 7 | nationalgoals1 = 1

| nationalyears2 = 1976–1977 | nationalteam2 = England Youth | nationalcaps2 = 7 | nationalgoals2 = 0

}}

Martin Patching (1 November 1958 – December 2023) was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Watford and Northampton Town, in non-League football for Dunstable, Staines Town and Hendon, and in Sunday league football for Hemel Hempstead Spinners.{{cite web |url=http://www.watfordfcarchive.com/downloads/players/+O%27Brien-Patching.pdf |title=Martin Patching |website=Watford FC Archive |page=41 |accessdate=31 July 2019 |archive-date=31 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731225043/http://www.watfordfcarchive.com/downloads/players/%2BO%27Brien-Patching.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/martin-patching-8742/league-appearances_a17266/ |title=Martin Patching |website=Sporting-heroes.net |publisher=George Herringshaw |accessdate=31 July 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.hendonfc.net/Squad?method=view&id=420 |title=Former staff – Martin Patching |publisher=Hendon F.C. |accessdate=31 July 2019}} He was capped by the England schools team and the national youth team in 1977.{{cite book |editor-first=Jack |editor-last=Rollin |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1988–89 |year=1988 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |isbn=978-0-356-15880-8 |page=751}} Patching scouted for Watford and Nottingham Forest after retiring from playing. His son, Cauley Woodrow, is a professional footballer.{{cite web |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/preview-bristol-city |title=Preview: Bristol City |publisher=Watford F.C. |date=19 August 2017 |accessdate=31 July 2019 |archive-date=31 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731221715/https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/preview-bristol-city |url-status=dead }} Patching died in December 2023, at the age of 65.{{cite web |last=Youll |first=Russell |date=5 December 2023 |title=Former Wolves midfielder dies age 65 |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2023/12/05/former-wolves-midfielder-dies-age-65/ |access-date=5 December 2023 |website=www.expressandstar.com }}{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/uk/obituaries/rotherhamadvertiser-uk/name/martin-patching-obituary?id=53942166 |title=Martin Patching |accessdate=5 December 2023}}