Scott's selection was no major surprise given his terrific form, but Martin's was a particularly impressive achievement given that the 26-year-old from Bath suffered a major hip injury over a decade ago that almost ended his footballing career.

After landing awkwardly from a seemingly innocuous slide tackle as a teenager, Martin's injury was misdiagnosed as a pulled ligament.

So, he carried on playing football, making the injury worse. When Martin was finally re-examined his hip had come out of the socket and was halfway around his back.


At just 21, the injury led to Martin (pictured below) having a hip replacement. After several years in a wheelchair, he returned to football with the Plymouth Argyle disabled team and was then spotted by England selectors.

His good form continued, although he admitted he was overwhelmed when he heard he would represent Britain at the London 2012 Paralympics.

"It was a dream come true when I got named for ParalympicsGB," Martin told me as we sat together in the lavish Westminster Park Plaza in London.

"After breaking my hip and being in a wheelchair for over three years, it is a great achievement to be here and it gives me goosebumps.

"The hip replacement isn't a major issue now but it is something I have to manage in the right way. I can still do the full training but I need to rest properly and look after it. It is not going to be a problem at all at London 2012 as long as I look after myself.

"When I cross that white line and walk onto the football pitch, it is completely out of my mind and I throw myself into everything 100 per cent because that is the only way I know how to play.

"I never thought I would be here but now I am; it is incredible to be heading to London 2012 and also to have this amazing chance to change perceptions of disability. People will be so surprised about how good Paralympic seven-a-side football is and how good the players are."


It took several months after being selected for Martin to learn that his younger 23-year-old brother Scott (pictured below, centre) was also going to London 2012 with the Olympic football team. He says it was a special moment.

"It was great when Scott got named too," he smiled.

"When he was at Chelsea, he didn't get much game-time and all he wanted to do was play football.

"He made a great move over to Swansea and everything came good for him after that.

"He got a call up to the England under-21 team from Stuart Pearce and now he has got that call up to Team GB for the Olympics, which was a very proud moment for the Sinclair family.

"I gave him a little bit of stick when I got named for London 2012 before him.


"I said, 'I'm off to London 2012, I don't know what you're going to do!'

"It was good banter and he was sweating a bit at that point!

"But in all honestly, we are both so glad that the two of us got picked and I've heard that it is the first time in history that two brothers have been named for Team GB and ParalympicsGB at the same Olympics and Paralympics so that makes it even more special for the family.

"Fingers crossed, I will get to see him play at the Olympics. I know we have a ParalympicsGB training camp in August when the Olympics are on, but hopefully I will get time to see at least one Team GB football game because I know it will be amazing."

As well Scott, Martin (pictured below, left) has another highly talented footballing brother in 17-year-old Jake.

The latest Sinclair prodigy is part of the Academy at Southampton FC and like Scott, is being tipped for great things in football.

Martin admits he watches both play as much as he can.

"I see Scott a fair bit but I alternate between him and my other younger brother Jake," Martin explained.

"I watch Jake at Southampton one week and then I watch Scott with Swansea the other week, which is great.

"It is pretty incredible that we have all achieved in football but it is not a major surprise when you look at our family.


"My dad was a semi-professional footballer and my mum is a level-two football coach and runs her own football team, so it is in our blood.

"When I was growing up, all I did was eat, sleep and drink football. I slept with a ball under my pillow because it was my life and it was the same with Scott and Jake. For all of us, not much has changed really.

"I obviously grew up with cerebral palsy but it was exactly the same for me as it was for them because I wasn't treated any differently. I'm very proud of both of them and I think they are of me too."

With his place on the ParalympicsGB assured, Martin has allowed himself to think ahead to London 2012 and admits he is already focused on the podium.

"We have to be ambitious at the Paralympics because this is our home Games," he said with a determined look.

"I think we can win a medal and it would be stupid to go to a Paralympics if you didn't think you could win a medal. It will be tough but we are already thinking of that gold medal.

"There are a lot of good teams out there but we are not focusing on one because every team is a contender and every team is capable of winning gold.

"So we are also in the competition to win it.

"The first thing is obviously to get out of the group and if we get out of the group, a medal will be very realistic."


Martin admits that he is aware that he is getting a lot of media attention in the London 2012 build-up because of Scott's success but says he doesn't really want to hog the spotlight.

"I'm enjoying the media attention but it is not about me, it is about the team," he said.

"I am just one member of the team. The media coverage is great but my message is that it is about all of us."

Martin also admits that he has dreams beyond London 2012, if his body is able to keep up.

"I will see what the situation is after London because of my hip," he said.

"I would love to get to the Rio Paralympics in 2016 but it is hard juggling work, my family and my hip. If I can get everything right, I would love to get to 2016."

As for what we can expect to see for the older Sinclair at London 2012, he says it is a closely guarded secret, but hints he has borrowed a few of Scott's trademark tricks.

"You will have to wait and see what style I will play," he laughed.

"I will probably take a few bits from Scott but he has taken some major pointers off me in his career so I won't feel bad!

"I'm not an out-an-out attacker like Scott but I'm pretty versatile and I will play wherever the manager asks me to play.

"I like the midfield and think I can do a good job there in the centre but I enjoy playing wherever the manager asks, unless it's on the bench!"

Tom Degun is a reporter for insideworldparasport. You can follow him on Twitter by clicking here.