Andy Galvin

[Vincent Vega]

As we have been talking about Scoie recently what about the other half of the NL Pairs 1990 champs. Anyone know what the Great Galvini is up to these days?

 

See him at Arena most weeks has he officially retired as I reckon he would do a cracking job as rider/coach for a CL outfit.

[iris123]

Simple solution if you see him most weeks is to ask him,or is that too hard

[Vincent Vega]

Iris He is normally up in the Raceway Tavern and I dont go up there. Prefer being on the terraces with the real supporters who pay money to get in. So unless I buy myself a megaphone and shout the question I thought it would be easier to leave a message on here. Happy now my love.

[HBKPCNBob]

Iris He is normally up in the Raceway Tavern and I dont go up there. Prefer being on the terraces with the real supporters who pay money to get in.  So unless I buy myself a megaphone and shout the question I thought it would be easier to leave a message on here.  Happy now my love.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It doesnt take alot of effort to go into the Tavern ask him, respond to his answer and then walk back to the terraces.

[KevH]

Iris He is normally up in the Raceway Tavern and I dont go up there. Prefer being on the terraces with the real supporters who pay money to get in.  So unless I buy myself a megaphone and shout the question I thought it would be easier to leave a message on here.  Happy now my love.

 

I've been up in the Raceway Tavern and paid to get in - is there something I should know VV?

[Vincent Vega]

What I mean Kev is the raceway tavern is probably like watching footy in a directors box no atmosphere I prefer being on the terraces with the rank and file where there is more passion. Especially when the S Bird is around passion

 

Back to the original question anyone know if he has retired officially or not?

[Graham]

What I mean Kev is the raceway tavern is probably like watching footy in a directors box no atmosphere I prefer being on the terraces with the rank and file where there is more passion.

 

Back to the original question anyone know if he has retired officially or not?

 

It's irrelevant. He's 40, has a history of injuries, wasn't much cop the last time and frankly no-one would be stupid enough to take him on, not even TR who for some reason thinks the sun shines out of his bum.

 

BTW even if you are addicted to watching speedway from the terracing (and I can understand that) what's stopping you from visiting the bar after racing has finished?

[shazzybird]

What I mean Kev is the raceway tavern is probably like watching footy in a directors box no atmosphere I prefer being on the terraces with the rank and file where there is more passion.  Especially when the S Bird is around passion

 

Back to the original question anyone know if he has retired officially or not?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Oh I think I'm going to throw up ............. VV try standing up there for the once the view is probably the best around the track.

[iris123]

It doesnt take alot of effort to go into the Tavern ask him, respond to his answer and then walk back to the terraces.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hahahah There was me thinking this raceway tavern was the speedway equivalent of Belmarsh Prison,high security surounded by a moat,etc...when all he has to do is walk up there and ask him.Bit bashful VV,i'm sure he won't bite.Couple of tips,get someone else to go up and ask him for you.Or,why not send a note to the track announcer to do an interview with him.

[Vincent Vega]

Graham you have obviously a bad knowledge of speedway or have only been going for 5 mins. Andy Galvin was a brilliant rider in the late 80s at NL level equivalent to todays PL in case you didnt know. Iris can you stop posting pointless replies I have read loads of posts on the YGB bit with people asking about what former riders are doing these days I just thought someone on here may know if he is coming back or not as in last year Speedway Star he said he wanted to ride again. You obviously didnt read that dont they get the SS in Germany darlin?

 

I will ask him some time if I get the chance just thought I would post on here first thats all. Back to German Iris for next rib tickling reply.

[norbold]

Ever wish you'd never started something, VV?

[shazzybird]

Stopped Iris for a couple of hours though didn't it

 

VV would be interested if Andy is going to make a comeback so if you do find out can you post on here please, I grew up with Andy at Canterbury and it's nice to know what the lads are doing now.

[KevH]

I grew up

 

When?

[shazzybird]

Hmmmmmm ok maybe I got taller

[Graham]

Graham you have obviously a bad knowledge of speedway or have only been going for 5 mins.

 

Neither. I've been going since before Galvin started riding and have attended well over a thousand meetings in that time. I can remember AG riding for Crayford, Hackney and Arena-Essex. Too much of an ego-tripper for my liking I'm afraid. I found his behaviour childish and his on-track tactics crude - he was the king of the knock off.

 

Regardless of how good or otherwise he may have been in the 80s, you cannot deny that his return to the PL a few years ago was a resolute failure. He was unfit and was frequently left standing by riders half his age and with a fraction of his experience. In all honesty I thought the guy was well and truly found out on his comeback, even allowing for the bad injuries he'd suffered in the early 90s.

 

VV you're obviously a fan and that's fine but do you really think he would make a succesful comeback at this stage? Be honest.

[HBKPCNBob]

Im pretty sure he must of retired by now as the only racing speedway wise that he has a chance of getting is CL and I havent seen his name in or linked with any teams so its unlikely.

 

He may do grasstrack or longtrack but I doubt your ever see his name in a line up in a speedway programme again.

[Bryn]

Too much of an ego-tripper for my liking I'm afraid.  I found his behaviour childish and his on-track tactics crude - he was the king of the knock off.

 

Regardless of how good or otherwise he may have been in the 80s, you cannot deny that his return to the PL a few years ago was a resolute failure.  He was unfit and was frequently left standing by riders half his age and with a fraction of his experience.  In all honesty I thought the guy was well and truly found out on his comeback, even allowing for the bad injuries he'd suffered in the early 90s.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Having known Andy, his late father Chris, his mum and the rest of the family since the days of him practising at Iwade, with respect Graham, I find your description of him as a ego tripper etc absolutely preposterous. NOTHING could be further from the truth believe me as someone who was closely associated with him throughout his riding career rather than someone who saw him on his visits to mainly Scottish tracks.

 

In my view he was one of the most naturally talented riders ever to grace the National League especially as part of Hackney's marvellous 1988 side.

 

You are right in saying his track comeback from injury was not successful. In fact there were two comebacks as such, the first being from the crash that totally shattered his hipjoint at Rye House.

He was JUST beginning to get things together as they say though, when he was involved in a horrific crash at Arena Essex that nigh on cost him his life, and that's without being over dramatic I can assure you.

 

The other comeback again ended in injury, an injury to his arm/wrist that last time I saw him was still giving him huge problems and that was gong to require further surgery in an effort to try and regain full use of that limb. Interesting to note that when he made that latest comeback, he had to not only try to regain some measure of form but also cope with the fact that speedway machines were now fitted with laydown engines rather than uprights that was the case before his enforced length lay off.

 

Andy is now happily married to Lisa and were blessed with their first child last year, him also being the father of two other children by a previous relationship. A great many speedway fans will remember with deep affection and admiration not only the silky skills he displayed as a rider but the courageous way he battled back after the sport he, and indeed ourselves, love so much - a sport that could have cost him his life but for the quick thinking and action taken by the medical staff on duty the night he crashed at Arena Essex during that match against King's Lynn.

 

As the guy on the centre green mike that night, the memories of that crash will stay forever in my memory along with those of other tragic events over the years.

 

Any Galvin a "showman" - Undoubtedly! Childish? Crude? Ego Tripper? NEVER!

Edited May 25, 2005 by Bryn

[shazzybird]

"We" at Canterbury affectionately knew him as a "flash git" and yep we told him to his face but that was Andy. Please or offend in the 80's he was a showman and dreaded his visits to Kingsmead as more often than not he would kick ass oh and never brought a round either

[Guest cheetahhawk]

Very well said Bryn. Andy will always be one of my favourite riders,indeed I still to this day have photos of him by the side of my computer and a framed photo of him of him in my bedroom .

Andy was rather special when we were all at Hackney and along with Barry Thomas must be two of the nicest riders around. Both Andy and Barry always made time for the supporters and when it was my twins 7th or was it 8th birthday Andy and Barry looked after them when they went on the after match parade with the Kestrels.

Nice to know that Andy is now happily married and has another little one(is it a little boy or little girl?).Is he still living in Whitstable?

[Robyn1972]

nice response there Bryn - well said.

 

As for the earlier comment about Andy being a dirty rider, again I can only say that in my opinion there is nothing further from the truth. graham are you sure you're not confusing Andy with someone else? I'm not being sarky there - I honestly do wonder as there was not anything dirty about Andy's riding, and to describe him as the "King of the Knock off" is misguided at best. There were a few riders around at that time who fit into my mind as being pretty dirty, (I'm not going to name names but I should imagine there are a good few who remember their NL speedway from the late 80's who would come up with the right names if I said Mildenhall & Rye House!!) but Andy would not be one of them.

 

I was sorry to hear about Andy's injuries - he was a fine rider at NL level and with the same kind of turnaround in fitness and determination as Dave Norris seems to have had over the past few years, could have cracked the top level. I do recall that he said around the time of his benefit meeting though that there was no question of him being able to get back on a bike again ever, as it would literally be putting his life on the line - now he's a family man I would think that would be a risk he would never be prepared to take. Best of luck to him, whatever.