Mick Murphy (speedway rider)

John Glass (1911 – 1998) was a motorcycle speedway rider from Australia. During his speedway career he rode under the pseudonym Mick Murphy.[1][2]

Mick Murphy
Born1911 (1911)
Scotland
Died1998
Australia
NationalityAustralian
Career history
1931Stamford Bridge Pensioners
1931–1932Wimbledon Dons
1933–1934Plymouth Panthers
1935Hackney Wick Wolves
1935–1936West Ham Hammers
1937–1938New Cross Rangers

Career

Glass was born in Scotland but emigrated to Perth in Australia with his parents as a child.[3] In 1925, at the age of 14, he rode up to the Claremont Speedway track and asked for a trial. He had borrowed his father's helmet so asked that his name not be released. Therefore, the name Mick Murphy (the Irish champion) was created.[4] He won the 1930/31 New South Wales Individual Speedway Championship.

He arrived in the United Kingdom from Australia to race in the Britain during the 1931 season after signing for the Stamford Bridge Pensioners.[5] He also made an appearance for the Wimbledon Dons during 1931 and rode in the final of the National Trophy for Stamford Bridge, losing out to Wembley Lions.[6]

The 1932 season saw the formation of the National League and Murphy signed for Wimbledon but was positioned mainly at reserve.[5] He rode in Sweden and Germany in early 1932 and then confused reporters by switching to his real name John Glass for the 1933 season with Plymouth Panthers.[7]

In 1935, he represented the Australia national speedway team in four of the five tests that season.[8] In the 1935 Speedway National League, Murphy started the season with Hackney Wick Wolves before transferring to West Ham Hammers in June.[4]

In the winter of 1936/37, he won the Western Australia Championship. He finished his UK career with New Cross Rangers.[1][5]

Players cigarette cards

Murphy is listed as number 32 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.[2]

References
  1. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022, Mick Murphy" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  2. "Mick Murphy". Speedway Museum Online. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  3. "Stamford Bridge Speedway". West London Observer. 15 May 1931. Retrieved 2 August 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Speedway Romance". Daily Herald. 20 June 1935. Retrieved 2 August 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  6. "Wembley wins National Trophy". Bayswater Chronicle. 17 October 1931. Retrieved 2 August 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Speedway Thriller". The People. 9 July 1933. Retrieved 2 August 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Speedway Rider passes riding test". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 December 1945. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
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