This week, Under-18s forward Donte Martin reflects on his journey from grassroots football to Palace, the setbacks he overcame and an excellent start to 2026/27, which has brought back-to-back hat-tricks!
Young Eagle: Donte Martin
Our Young Eagle series gets to know the Academy prospects kicking off their careers at Crystal Palace.
This has been my best start to a season
—Donte Martin
It’s been quite a start to the season for Martin.
The forward is in red-hot form, scoring 11 goals in 12 games for Javier Alonso’s history-making U18s, and recently hitting consecutive hat-tricks in emphatic wins over Ipswich Town and Reading.
Those goals have taken his overall Academy tally in the Professional Development Phase – Under-18s and Under-21s – to an impressive return of 29 in 56 appearances.
“I feel good. I haven't scored a hat-trick in three years, and now I've got two in a row!
“Goal-scoring-wise, I feel like this has been my best start to a season. The first few games of the season, I didn't score, but looking at how many goals I've got now, I think it's the best form I've been in.”
If it was two centimetres lower, I wouldn't be playing football
—Donte Martin
Martin’s route into football was anything but conventional. Growing up, he was more interested in sprinting, with athletics seemingly his future, until his auntie – a footballer herself – introduced him to the game.
“I wasn't really into football at first. I was more of a sprinter, but my auntie used to play and take me along. That's what made me fall in love with it.”
He joined Carshalton Athletic at Under-10 level, spending three seasons with the grassroots side and helping them climb from Division Seven to Division Two.
But during that spell, aged 11, he suffered a serious burn to his ankle after spilling hot water on himself while ill. The injury kept him out for three to four months, with the COVID pandemic further disrupting his recovery.
“I was told that if the burn had been two centimetres lower, it would have damaged my ligaments and I wouldn't be playing football.
“I was out for three or four months, then COVID came along, so it was difficult to get fit and recover properly.”
Martin returned with nearby Croygas at U13 level before earning a move on to neighbours Sutton United. A torn calf initially delayed his trial, but he soon made an impression.
Palace first took notice during a friendly at the Academy, where Martin scored twice in Sutton's 3-0 victory. One was a long-range effort; the other saw him dribble from halfway before finding the net.
“I scored twice in a 3-0 win – one from long range and the other after dribbling from halfway into their box.
“That's when I got offered my pre-scholarship at Sutton. I remember saying to my mum, 'Imagine if Palace came calling just because of that game!'”
His goalscoring continued, with Martin recalling a season in which he found the net almost 50 times.
That season was probably my best for Palace
—Donte Martin
A combination of Martin’s performances at Sutton and his eye-catching display against Palace, earned him a move to the Academy at U15 level in 2023/24. Impressed by the facilities and coaching environment, as well as the chance to stay close to home, he had little hesitation.
“Two teams were interested, but Palace came to me first. I liked the facilities and it was close to home, so it made sense to move here.”
Having come from a Category Three environment, the step up to Palace’s Category One Academy was significant. He adapted quickly, scoring more than 30 goals in his first season before taking another step forward as an U16.
Appointed captain, Martin was encouraged by head coach Svetoslav Todorov to lead through his work rate and set the standard for his teammates.
“I came into the U16s as captain. Toddy wanted players to run and lead from the front. If you start the run and everyone follows, you're kind of a leader.
“That season was probably my best for Palace. I scored 27 goals.”
He made his U18s debut against Norwich City at the start of 2025, scoring in his next appearance away to Aston Villa. He finished the campaign with two goals in six appearances and also trained with Darren Powell’s U21s on occasion.
It was something special
—Donte Martin
As a first-year scholar in Alonso’s history-making U18 side last season, Martin quickly established himself as a regular, featuring in 36 matches across all competitions and scoring 15 goals, including nine in his final 13 appearances.
His progress was recognised early in the campaign when he signed his first professional contract in November 2025.
On the pitch, he helped Palace reach the FA Youth Cup semi-finals for the first time in nearly 30 years and made his mark on their U18 Premier League Cup run.
Introduced from the bench in the quarter-final at Peterborough United, Martin struck twice in quick succession, including a spectacular volley, to turn the tie in Palace’s favour. The Young Eagles went on to lift the club’s first-ever U18 Premier League Cup in front of 4,000 supporters at Selhurst Park.
Reflecting on the group, Martin admits it took time for the squad to realise their potential.
“We went into pre-season and weren't really winning much. But it all kick-started when we won 8-0 against Birmingham. That's when we looked at each other and said, 'We're better than what we think we are.'
“We were doing well in the league, the Premier League Cup and the Youth Cup. Our team was very strong. It was something special.”
We had to get back to the training ground, work harder and find our feet
—Donte Martin
Now enjoying life as a second-year professional with the U18s, Martin has faced a different challenge.
Despite opening their league campaign with a 3-0 victory at West Ham United, the Young Eagles went on to suffer four consecutive defeats across league and cup competitions.
Martin was among those struggling to rediscover the goalscoring form and consistency of the previous season, but believes a dramatic comeback against Fulham marked an important turning point.
Palace trailed 3-0 at half-time before September Goal of the Month nominated goals from Jamar Lee, Oladotun Lamidi and Martin himself secured a 3-3 draw.
“When we went inside, I'll tell you the truth, we had lost belief. But we thought that if we got the first goal back, we could turn it around.
“It started with Jamal's volley. Then Dots scored, and then I scored. All of a sudden, everything changed. We went from being a team that everyone laughed at to a team where people were thinking, 'Hold on a minute, they're actually doing something.'”
That renewed belief has carried into the weeks since the September-October international break.
A 3-0 victory over Leeds United kept Palace's Premier League Cup defence alive, before Martin's hat-trick inspired a 6-2 win at Ipswich Town. He repeated the feat against Reading, scoring three times as the Young Eagles raced into a 5-0 lead before holding on for victory despite being reduced to nine players.
Palace then extended their unbeaten run to five matches with a 1-1 draw away to Brighton & Hove Albion, where Ajean-Ray Greaves scored a late equaliser from a Martin assist.
For Martin, the turnaround has been built on a willingness to put things right on the training ground.
“Last year we didn't know how good we were. This season, we thought we knew and got humbled a little bit.
“We had to get back to the training ground, work harder and find our feet. A lot of the second years are now in the U21s, so the first years need to understand how tough the league is.
“We hate losing. Personally, I wasn't scoring either, so from a striker's point of view, I was disappointed. Something needed to change.”
From grassroots football to a professional contract, Academy silverware and 11 goals in 12 games this season, Martin has come a long way at Palace.
Setbacks have tested him along the way, but his resilience and determination have never wavered. Still only in his second year as a professional, he has plenty more to achieve – and, judging by his start to the season, plenty more goals to score.
You can watch Donte and the U18s in action, with a large portion of their matches streamed LIVE on Palace TV+!