Army Lifetime Achievement Award for Volleyball England official Shakespeare

He is one of two recipients – along with football's Andy Halliday MBE – and will be presented with his award at a ceremony on19th November at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. 

A Lieutenant Colonel, Martin's recognition comes after more than four decades of exceptional service to Army Volleyball and the wider volleyball community. 

A qualified Volleyball England referee since 1979 who is now a member of the Officials Working Group, Martin has officiated at Army, national and international competitions for more than 40 years. 

After captaining and coaching Army Men’s and Mixed Volleyball teams for over a decade, he progressed to achieve volleyball’s highest officiating qualification, National Grade Referee, in 2012. 

His reputation within the sport has seen him officiate regularly at Volleyball England National Finals since 1998 and he also oversees referee appointments for national competitions inclusing Super League, NVL, National Cup and National Shield.

Alongside his officiating achievements, Martin has played a significant role in developing volleyball officials across the country, acting as Referee Tutor since 2008. 

He has delivered countless referee education courses and mentored aspiring officials both within the Army – which he first joined in 1980 – and across the wider volleyball community 

Through his involvement in national referee development programmes, he continues to help prepare the next generation of officials for the highest levels of the sport. 

Alongside that, Martin has also been a pioneering figure in volleyball scoring and was appointed to lead scorer training and selection for the London 2012 Olympic Games, developing the electronic scoring training package used for Olympic competition and contributed to the preparation of officials for the Paralympic Games. 

Paying tribute to his work, a britisharmysport.com article, explaining why he had won the award, said: "Throughout his career, Martin has remained committed to the development of Army Volleyball. 

"Through leadership roles including Head Coach, Treasurer and Secretary of the Army Volleyball Association, he has helped strengthen the sport, improve officiating standards and support opportunities for Army personnel to compete and develop. 

"His influence extends far beyond the matches he has officiated. Through decades of service, innovation and mentorship, he has helped shape the future of volleyball in both the Army and the United Kingdom. 

"The Army Sports Awards 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award recognises an individual whose dedication, expertise and commitment have left a lasting legacy on the sport." 

All at Volleyball England would like to congratulate Martin on his award and thank him for his ongoing service he gives to the sport.