Born |
Holmfirth, England |
5 January 1972
---|---|
Nickname | Steady or Gazza |
Nationality | England |
Current club information | |
Career status | Retired |
Career history | |
1988 | Cradley Heath Heathens |
1989-1992, 2007 | Stoke Potters |
1993-1994 | Newcastle Diamonds |
1995, 1997 | Bradford Dukes |
1996 | Sheffield Tigers |
1998 | Wolverhampton Wolves |
1999-2005 | Hull Vikings |
2006 | Workington Comets |
Team honours | |
1997 | Elite League Champion |
2004 | Premier League Champion |
2006 | Premier League Fours Champion |
2001, 2004 | Premier League KO Cup Winner |
2000 | Premier Trophy Winner |
2004 | Young Shield Winner |
Garry Stead (born 5 January 1972 in Holmfirth, England) is a former international speedway rider.
As a child Garry showed a real interest in speedway, being a regular supporter at the Shay watching the Halifax Dukes, and spent many years as a child learning to ride.
Garry became a schoolboy grasstrack rider, winning the British Championship in his category numerous times. His speedway career started at a Bradford Dukes training school in 1987, followed by after meeting rides. Garry's first club was the now defunct Cradley Heath Heathens in 1988 where he was a junior before he moved to the Stoke Potters in 1989. He continued to ride in after the meeting races but during this season he broke his elbow. It was at Stoke that Garry had the opportunity to battle for a team place towards the end of 1990. He became a regular in 1991 and stayed there until 1992.
Garry moved to Brough Park in 1993 to be part of the Newcastle Diamonds outfit, scoring well but did not manage to get through the season unscathed as he ended up with a broken wrist and thumb. It was during his time at Newcastle that Bradford promoter Alan Ham became aware of Garry's potential, he moved quickly to secure his services in the 1994 season and paid £15,000 for him but loaned him back to Newcastle for the rest of the season.
In 1995 Garry became a fully fledged Bradford Dukes rider, cementing his place in the main body of the team and picking up a winners medal for the KO Cup. He also had a good individual year which saw him qualify for his first British Final and also progress from that round to the Overseas Final. The season was not without its disasters however and Garry picked up another injury, this time being a broken ankle towards the end of the season.
1996 saw Garry again qualify for the British Final and also found him surplus to requirements at Bradford after they signed Australian Todd Wiltshire. A loan agreement was quickly arranged for Garry to join the Sheffield Tigers and that season saw Garry progress to heat leader status with Tigers. The following year Alan and Bobby Ham brought Garry back to the Dukes. 1997 was a good year for Garry, ending the season with an Elite League Championship winning team medal.