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Hammers career : 1991-1993, 2001-2003
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ANDY GALVIN joined the Hammers when his long time sponsor and friend Terry Russell took over at Arena-Essex. Their association went back along way - it was Terry who had promoted at Crayford and Hackney where Andy had ridden previously.
It was at Hackney that Andy's career really began to take off - he earned acclaim as skipper of the Kestrels in the 1988 National League double winning side, leading a team that included Mark Loram and Chris Louis to championship success over arch rivals Wimbledon and Poole. Andy stayed with the Kestrels the following season where he finished second in the national averages to team mate Steve Schofield.
The 1990 season started well enough for Andy when he was crowned National League Pairs champion alongside Schofield in a marathon meeting at Glasgow. A dip in form mid-season, though, was nothing compared to what he suffered in an early September meeting at Rye House when he badly broke his leg in a horrific spill. It was to be the last meeting he rode for the East London side.
In the 1990/91 close season he signed for the Hammers as club captain, but initially struggled with his fitness and recovery from his leg injuries and was rested. When he returned he looked a lot more like his old self and contributed to that unforgettable treble-winning season for the Hammers.
1992 was another year of consolidation as injuries again took their toll - however, a horror smash in 1993 at the Arena-Essex 12-lapper meeting lead to the official announcement that Andy was retiring from speedway and he was awarded a benefit meeting in 1995.
Early whispers around the internet and other speedway circles began to appear early in 2001 that Andy was contemplating a return to the saddle - and so it proved when he was announced as a new signing for the Hammers in readiness for that season.
A series of engine problems, injuries and a struggle to return to full match fitness took their toll on Andy and despite riding in three largely curtailed seasons for the Hammers, 2003 was to prove his last. He suffered a wrist injury in June against Workington without crashing and did not ride again, being replaced in the side by Daniel King. Andy underwent surgery early in 2004 for his injury and retired when the Hammers announced their membership of the Elite League.
Year |
Matches |
Rides |
Points |
Bonus |
Total |
Average |
Full Max |
Paid Max |
1991 |
26 |
106 |
159 |
38 |
197 |
7.43 |
0 |
3 |
1992 |
21 |
78 |
83 |
14 |
97 |
4.97 |
0 |
0 |
1993 |
25 |
115 |
104 |
20 |
124 |
4.31 |
0 |
0 |
2001 |
16 |
53 |
33 |
12 |
45 |
3.40 |
0 |
0 |
2002 |
28 |
97 |
81 |
11 |
92 |
3.79 |
0 |
0 |
2003 |
16 |
57 |
45 |
7 |
52 |
3.65 |
0 |
0 |
TOTAL |
132 |
506 |
505 |
102 |
607 |
4.80 |
0 |
3 |
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