The North-East's football teams are working through pre-season but one Darlington-born footballer is already playing for real. Chief football writer Paul Fraser caught up with Gary Martin who, after his release from Middlesbrough, has found a new lease of life in Iceland.

THREE years ago, a young graduate of Middlesbrough's academy system was told he was not going to be retained. Years of hard work on the training ground, developing his talent had ended in disappointment for Gary Martin.

He tried his luck immediately after at Hartlepool United, but after a successful trial he missed out on a contract because of a change of manager. It was time to think about the future.

A future in football? Or a complete change of direction?

The predicament he found himself in is widespread in football. Every summer there are more teenagers released by professional clubs than the lucky ones who actually earn extended deals.

How the young pros react to the disappointment is what counts. Some decide to pursue other avenues in their lives, others do everything they can to try to make sure they fulfil their dream.

After much deliberation, Martin went for the latter. Not only did he feel football was still the best option, he also decided to gamble on a completely different route. He ended up accepting a proposal to go to Iceland.

“It's the best decision I have ever made,” said Martin after 35 goals in 64 appearances in the Icelandic leagues.

“People asked me why would I go to Iceland? It's seriously the best decision I have ever made and I would recommend it to anyone who had the chance to try it.”

Martin had already been on loan as a teenager to Ujpest in Hungary, so deciding to uproot 800 miles north of Scotland was not something that worried him too much.

It was still a big decision, but when the opportunity arrived he knew he had to take it or the hopes he still had for being a footballer might have ended there and then.

Nick McCreery, the son of former Newcastle defender David McCreery working as an agent, contacted him to see if he would be interested in a move to IA Akranes, who had enlisted the help of Nick to find a new forward.

“I had gone on holiday after being told by Chris Turner and Colin West that I would be getting a contract at Hartlepool,” said Martin. “When I got back, West had gone and Mick Wadsworth had been appointed. He decided not to give me a deal.

“Then Nick rang me up and asked me if I was interested in going over to Iceland for ten matches to see if I could help Akranes to promotion. I scored nine goals in those ten games, we won promotion and I have loved it ever since.”

After his blistering start with Akranes. A loan spell to Danish club Hjorring followed before the biggest club in Iceland, KR Reykjavik, made a bid for him. “It's a no-brainer, you just do it, you don't turn KR down,” said Martin, whose team are sitting top of the Pepsi League and have an Icelandic Cup semi-final to come.

Since joining KR the striker has become more versatile, playing on the left of midfield, while still popping up with goals – and he is the top-flight's top scorer with six goals in ten this season.

Scoring was exactly what he did last week too.

While old Middlesbrough reserve team colleagues like Richie Smallwood, Luke Williams and Rhys Williams were in Portugal preparing for the new season, Martin was already focused on one of the biggest nights of his career.

After helping – by scoring – his previous club win the Icelandic Cup earlier this year, he was part of the team which set up an exciting Europa League qualifier second leg with Glentoran by claiming a first leg draw.

The 22-year-old then scored one in a 3-0 return leg success which set up a second round qualifier with well-known Belgium club Standard Liege. The first leg is this Thursday.

“The season here runs from May 6 to September 29, so we are right in the middle, so we were mentally at it for the Europa League game,” said Martin. “It means I get to go home to Darlington three months over the winter, I normally see about training with Darlington, my hometown club. I might even see about a loan or something somewhere to make sure I stay fit.“ It may not have worked out for Martin on Teesside, but the former pupil at Darlington's Eastbourne School has not completely given up succeeding in English football. If he continues his success rate in Iceland, his return could be sooner than he may have thought.

“I would love to come home at some point, of course I would,” said Martin, whose weekly earnings in Iceland reflect a League One/Two club in England. “I still have two-and-a-half years left on my contract, which runs to October 2015 and I love it here.

“I'm not in any rush to leave, I am happy with my life out here. I would also like to try the Swedish league, where clubs have been watching me, I'm a big admirer of that league. There's also been interest from Norway, Rosenborg.

“But I am just enjoying playing football, which is what I always wanted to. I'm not thinking too far ahead, I'm just playing and hopefully I will keep on scoring. If I can keep doing that then who knows what will happen.”

Martin's outlook is refreshing and has clearly earned its rewards. One day he could end up back in England. For now, making the most of his second chance to shine in professional football is something he is relishing.

Plenty footballers never make the grade, but Martin is proof that venturing in to the unknown could actually be a gamble worth taking.