RIP Martin Chivers

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RIP Martin Chivers

Luke Nicoli

2026-01-07T18:00+00:00

Martin Chivers had a brief spell at Albion during the 1979-80 season. 📷Evening Argus

Brighton & Hove Albion are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Martin Chivers, aged 80.

Chivers is best remembered for his time at Tottenham Hotspur, where he scored 118 league goals in 278 appearances, winning the League Cup in 1971 and 1973, likewise the UEFA Cup in 1972 – scoring twice in the first leg of the final against Wolves at Molineux.

After his eight-year stay at White Hart Lane had come to an end, the forward had spells at Servette and Norwich City before being persuaded by his former Spurs teammate Alan Mullery to help the Seagulls’ 1978/79 promotion push after Teddy Maybank had received a two-match suspension that March.

His return to the south coast – Chivers had started his career with hometown club Southampton – was all too brief, but it was the former England international’s presence off the pitch as much as on it which helped the Seagulls over the line in their successful bid for top-flight football.

He made just five league appearances, with his majestic header against Leyton Orient in a 3-3 draw at Brisbane Road still spoken about by Albion fans of a certain vintage.

Shown on ITV’s The Big Match, it became an immediate candidate for the show’s Goal of the Season.

“I took a bit of a chance on him, but he was terrific for us,” Mullery said. “He was a proven goalscorer and helped us both on and off the pitch.”

It proved to be Chivers’ only goal for the club and having been dogged at the time by a troublesome Achilles problem, an operation was needed that summer. He struggled to fully recover, with his final appearance for the club coming against Arsenal in the League Cup in January 1980.

While Chivers continued to turn out for the reserves and scout for the club, his glittering professional career – which also included 13 England goals from 24 appearances – had come to an end.

After leaving the Goldstone, ‘Big Chiv’ joined Southern League Dorchester Town as player-manager, then Norwegian side Vard, before hanging up his boots with Barnet during the 1982/83 season.

A true legend of the English game, we send our deepest condolences to Martin’s family and friends at this very sad time.