Biography
Brian Garvey was a versatile half back and full back that was born in Hull – his father Bob played rugby league for Hull FC in the 1920s – and was raised in the Princes Avenue area of West Hull, attending Hull Grammar School. He joined the Tigers on apprentice terms in August 1953 but didn’t sign a part-time contract until January 1958 when he ended his National Service. He made his first team debut in March 1958, a 1-1 draw at Bury’s Gigg Lane ground, and made his second start in late August 1958 at Bradford City. It wasn’t until early October 1958 that Garvey established himself in manager Bob Brocklebank’s first team and becoming a reliable performer in a range of positions – he began at left half then moved to centre half in December 1959, then switched again to left full back in March 1960.
In three years that began in October 1958 when Brian made his third start for the Tigers, he missed only five of 152 consecutive first team fixtures. His first goal for the Tigers came in a February 1959 win over Newport County and it wasn’t until the 1963/64 season that Garvey netted again with goals in two draws – in December 1963 against Watford and March 1964 against Bristol City. From 1961 onwards Garvey was one of manager Cliff Britton’s trusted defensive players, though Brian missed two large parts of the 1961/62 season only to win his place back in September 1962. The 1963/64 season again saw Garvey miss significant chunks of the season and by the 1964/65 season he was largely consigned to the sidelines by the emergence of left back Dennis Butler. Garvey left the Tigers in June 1965 after twelve years of loyal service.
Garvey joined Division Three side Watford in June 1965 and served the Hornets for five seasons at centre half and left back. When Watford won the Division Three title in 1968/69 season Garvey was an important presence at the back, though he did miss thirteen games towards the end of the season. In the 1969/70 season he missed large parts of the season as Watford successfully battled against relegation and also reached the FA Cup Semi-Final in March 1970 – Garvey came on as substitute in the semi-final against Chelsea, played at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane ground, and started the subsequent third place play-off against Manchester United staged at Arsenal’s Highbury Stadium, which the Hornets lost 0-2. Brian left Watford during the 1970 close season having scored two goals in 201 senior appearances.
In June 1970 Garvey joined Division Four side Colchester United and in his first season he missed only one game and contributed to a second FA Cup run in two seasons as the U’s reached the Sixth Round, famously beating Leeds United 3-2 in a February 1971 Fifth Round tie before being knocked out a fortnight later by Everton. Garvey remained a first team regular for the 1971/72 season before leaving the Layer Road side in the 1972 close season having scored two goals in 93 appearances.
In April 1972 Garvey was reportedly offered a coaching position at Blackburn Rovers, however he instead dropped into the non-league scene in August 1972 and was appointed player-manager at Southern League side Bedford Town. He left Bedford in the 1973 close season amid financial problems and was without a club until April 1974 when he signed a two month deal to play for Southern League side Romford.
In July 1974 Garvey was appointed youth team coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers, his side reached the FA Youth Cup Final in the 1975/76 season only to lose to local rivals West Browmich Albion – Brian was promoted to reserve team coach shortly afterwards. In July 1981 Garvey left Wolverhampton Wanderers and was appointed reserve team coach at Division One side Arsenal, but that appointment only lasted a year and he returned to the Midlands in 1982.
In 1984 he emigrated to Australia and initially settled in Melbourne where he continued to work as a football coach for Heidelburg Alexander and South Melbourne Hellas. In 1990 he moved to Adelaide to become coach at Adelaide Hellas, but in 1993 he left football behind and retrained as a security guard, initially in Adelaide then from 1995 back in Melbourne. He remained in Australia after his retirement, apart from a brief return to the UK during 2005. After a long retirement Brian died in Melbourne in April 2026.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 3 July 1937, Hull
Hull City First Game: 1 March 1958, Bury A (Division Three North), 20 years, 241 days old
Hull City Final Game: 17 April 1965, Mansfield Town A (Division Three), 27 years, 288 days old
Clubs
Hull City (1953-1965), Watford (1965-1970), Colchester United (1970-1972), Bedford Town (1972-1973), Romford (1974)
Hull City Record
Career: 258 apps, 3 goals
Brian Garvey| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953/54 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1954/55 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1955/56 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1956/57 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1957/58 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1958/59 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1959/60 | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1960/61 | 43 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 1961/62 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 1962/63 | 40 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 1963/64 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1964/65 | 14 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – |
Brian lodged with my mother May Bartholomew when he arrived in Colchester in 1070. I was teaching at St Helena School in Colchester at the time. My Mum loved having Brian around and she always thought he was a gentleman. Graham Smith was the Colchester goalkeeper at the same time and he came and coached teams at St Helena. I believe he is now in California. My abiding memory of these two guys is the giant killing act of beating Leeds United in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup at Layer Road beating them 3-2. Shortly after Graham was signed by Everton.
Thank you for the information re Brian Garvey. I didn’t know about the Giant Killing game against Leeds united and would have love to have heard about it from the Giant Killer himself. Kind regards, Chris Haw
I played under Brian Garvey at Bedford Town fc I was only seventeen but remember him as a really nice guy
I found the Colchester v Leeds match on YouTube and watched it with Brian. Towards the end of the match Colchester were still pressing when the commentator said Garvey had a shot at goal from 40 yards out. Oh no said Brian I wouldn’t have done that! An abiding memory is the Colchester crowd shouting “what a load of rubbish every time Leeds had the ball.
A lovely modest man.
RIP
It was with sadness hearing the passing of Brian Garvey. I met Brian in the mid eighties he used to live across the road from the Eltham Soccer Club who I played for. He would come across and watch the games and when he found out I was also from Hull and remembered him playing for the Tigers we clicked. He went to the UK at one point and returned with a book about Hull City for me which he signed