YoG No. 2 – Under-rated Irish – Tony Galvin

A full 3 years before the USSR collapsed, the process was begun when Ireland’s Tony Galvin dismantled their magnificent football team in Hanover in a EURO 88 group game. His degree in Russian Studies from Hull University may have helped him play such a key part in this landmark game for Irish football. To this day, it remains probably the greatest Irish performance of all-time, if not the greatest result. The 1-1 outcome may push this game down the pecking order compared to better days and nights for Ireland, but the overall performance has yet to be bettered. Ireland were outstanding, and against a team who were edged out in the previous World Cup in an epic 2nd round match which finished 4-3 after extra-time. They lost out on that occasion to an excellent Belgian side, who were themselves only knocked out by Maradona in the semi-finals. This USSR side also went on to the final of EURO 88 itself.

But in that group game, Ireland were far superior and Tony Galvin was our star. He tormented the Soviet defence, which included Khidiyatullin, Kuznetsov, and Demyanenko, protected by the likes of Aleinikov, Belanov and Vasyl Rats in midfield – a fairly solid bunch. Run after run down the Irish left led to chances for Aldridge and Stapleton. While Ronnie Whelan’s volley/shinned screamer is deservedly the most memorable moment of the game, giving Ireland the lead in the first half, it should not be forgotten that Galvin was completely upended in a one-on-one by Soviet keeper Rinat Dasayev in the second half, with the match still at 1-0. Had Galvin not been poleaxed, he most certainly would have finished it to make it 2. As it happened, the collision ended Dasayev’s participation eventually, after hobbling around for a few minutes as Ireland – with Galvin to the fore – kept up the bombardment.

While Galvin’s performance has gone down in history, let’s not forget that other Irish legend which was created that night. As a Charlton-esque hoof from the back landed at the feet of Oleg Protasov at the edge of the Irish box, the young George Hamilton let out that infamous cry of “danger here”. The ball went through Packie Bonner’s legs and the phrase has been a dreaded part of the Irish soccer commentary folklore ever since.

In 2012 the Irish Independent published “The Legends” magazine listing the top 50 Irish soccer players of all time. Galvin came in at 36 just behind Chris Morris and ahead of Tony Cascarino. And when you consider the exalted cult status of the latter, it jars slightly with the under-rated tag I give Galvin here. Perhaps, but Cascarino’s status has as much to do with his media appearances, eye-opening biography and his exuberant personality, than anything he did on the pitch.

Galvin’s club career is defined mainly by his years at Tottenham Hotspur. Signed by Keith Burkinshaw on the recommendation of Bill Nicholson in 1978 from non-league Goole Town, Galvin is still remembered fondly by Spurs fans as a major part of a very successful side which won 2 FA Cups back-to-back in 1981 and 82 and the UEFA Cup in 1984. En route to the latter, he scored 3 goals over 2 legs against Feyenoord in the second round. That Feyenoord team included Ruud Gullit and Johan Cruyff.

Galvin left White Hart Lane in 1987 to go to Sheffield Wednesday. Hit by injury there he went on to Swindon Town in 1989, and with former Spurs team mate Ossie Ardiles in charge he became assistant manager the following season. He followed Ardiles to Newcastle in the same role until the Argentinian was sacked in 1992.

As I mentioned earlier, Tony Galvin has a degree in Russian Studies and he also studied teaching at Trent Polytechnic. He now teaches at a London College.

It’s not usually fair to distill a great and hugely successful career down to one match, but sometimes a game just stands out and will stand out forever in the hearts and minds of those who saw it – Richard Dunne in Moscow for example – and when I think of Tony Galvin now, it’s the socks down around the ankles almost goading one of the world’s best defences into even attempting to dispossess him that I think of.

And to end, here he is in all his glory, having been absolutely creamed by Dasayev… It was all they could do to stop him that night…