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

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

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. 1 2 "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022, Mick Murphy" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  2. 1 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. 1 2 "Speedway Romance". Daily Herald. 20 June 1935. Retrieved 2 August 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. 1 2 3 "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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