Not the slightest of wingers, Tony Galvin used his size to produce some lung-busting runs down the Tottenham left wing and his ability to keep going for 90 minutes meant that Spurs were a constant threat.  His time at Spurs coincided with a good spell of trophies and his part in that success was often under-rated.

A late starter in football terms, Tony went to Hull University and gained a BA in Russian Studies and went to teacher training college with a view to becoming a languages teacher.  He was playing part-time for non-league Goole Town and it was there he was spotted by Tottenham by Bill Nicholson and the club signed him for £30,000 in January 1978, although Tony wanted to stay on and complete his course in case the football career did not last that long.  Thus it was not until the summer that he turned professional.

His first game came just over a year later and he was not a regular in the team until early 1981, which coincided with Tottenham's good run to the FA Cup Final of that year.  Galvin was instrumental in the team's progress, with his arms pumping as he ran quickly up the wing, providing crosses for Crooks and Archibald to feed off.  Sometimes, his speed got the better of him and he over-ran the ball across the dead ball line, but his physique made him difficult to knock off the ball and the sight of him evading tackles, with his socks down by his ankles, was a familiar one.  His stamina allowed him to exploit defences late in the game and added to his awareness of his defensive duties, he blended well with the likes of Ardiles and Hoddle in midfield.

It was Galvin's run and pass that led to Ricky Villa's winning goal in the 1981 FA Cup Final and he also played in both games in the final in 1982.  It was only a horror tackle by Graeme Souness on Galvin that prevented Spurs beating Liverpool in the 1982 League Cup Final, as he had been picked out as the team's danger man, but Tony was part of the team that went on to win the UEFA Cup in 1984, thus adding to his medal collection.

Although carrying a broad Yorkshire accent, Galvin represented the Republic of Ireland (through an Irish grand-father) on 29 occasions, including at the 1988 European Championships and often linked up on the left wing with Spurs team-mate Chris Hughton.

In 1987, David Pleat began to dismantle the Spurs team he inherited and Galvin was sold to Sheffield Wednesday, but his time at Hillsborough was blighted by injury and he moved to Swindon Town two years later, working under former team-mate Ossie Ardiles.  He managed only the 1989-90 season, before retiring from playing and taking the assistant manager's position at the County Ground.  He didn't last long, as Ardiles moved to Newcastle United to take over the St. James' Park club, although he did take Galvin with him in a similar role.

After leaving football, he took up a position using his language skills as Head of Languages at a North West London college.  Still turns out for the Spurs Legends side.