Hughie Gallacher

Hughie Gallacher

Personal information
Full name	Hugh Kilpatrick Gallacher
Position(s)	Centre forward

Hugh Kilpatrick "Hughie" Gallacher (2 February 1903 – 11 June 1957) was a Scottish football player in the 1920s and 1930s. In 624 senior games, Gallacher scored 463 times.

Gallacher lacked height and weight. However, he had excellent ball control, guile and instinct, being able to go past opposing defenders with ease. Although a mere 5' 5", he was a handful for any defence possessing awesome strike power. Hughie could shoot with either foot, dribble with the ball, head, tackle and forage. There were four occasions when he scored five goals in a game. He also made chances for other players.

He is the Scotland national football team's most prolific goal scorer with 23 goals from his 20 internationals, a remarkable strike rate of more than a goal a game. Gallacher was one of the Wembley Wizards who beat England 5-1 at Wembley Stadium in 1928.

Early history

Hughie Gallacher was born in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire in 1903. He started "biffing a twopenny ball" almost as soon as he could walk. Gallacher was a boyhood friend of Alex James. He had been down the Hattonrig Pit at the age of 15, working 10-hour shifts. Aged 16 he left Lanarkshire junior league side Tannochside Athletic to join Hattonrigg Thistle. However fate played a part in his next move up the football ladder. As a spectator he attended to watch Bellshill Athletic play St Mirren juniors. However Bellshill were a man short and Gallacher was asked to play. After hitting his side's goal in the 1-1 draw he was asked to join the club.

He was barely 17 when he met and married Annie McIlvaney, a girl who worked at the pit where he worked as a miner. The marriage foundered after only a couple of years.

Queen of the South

In December 1920, Hughie Gallacher was picked for the Scottish junior side to play against Ireland at Shawfield. Gallacher hit the Scotland equaliser with a fine header with two minutes remaining in the 1-1 draw. Among those at the game was James Jolly, secretary of Dumfries club Queen of the South.

Jolly approached Gallacher after the game and offered him a trial Queens with the prospective of a £30 signing on fee and £5 per week plus expenses should he do well in the trial. At the time Queens were in their second season after formation and cup games aside played only local fixtures. However professional football was professional football and that was good enough for Gallacher.

Rejecting the opportunity of an international trial game at Methil Hughie Gallacher made his Queen of the South debut aged 17 against St Cuthbert Wanderers on 29 January 1921. Gallacher scored four goals in a 7-0 victory. The Herald and Courier wrote after the game, "Gallacher was the pick of the front line. He is only a young player but knows all that is required of him in the centre. He gathers the ball to perfection and possesses a first time shot of a deadly nature. His four goals were all well taken and it was not his fault that he did not have more". The contract was waiting for Gallacher after the game.

Gallacher's next game was his senior debut, a Scottish Cup second round tie against Nithsdale Wanderers. Queens lost 3-1.

In the 5-2 victory over Dumbarton the Herald and Courier gushed of Gallacher, "From the first kick until the last, he showed exceptional dash and had the unusual record of scoring all five goals. He was continuously the source of great danger and showed no mercy with his rocket shooting".

Gallacher then hit four against a Glasgow Railway Select and another four against a Queens Park XI. His next goal was in the 3-1 defeat to Airdrie Reserves with the Herald and Courier covering another Gallacher virtuoso performance, "Gray's beautiful cross enabled Gallacher to score one of the bravest goals imaginable. Although Gallacher had his back to goal and with a defender bearing down on him, he quickly saw the danger and scored with an overhead kick. A goal that would have impossible for most players and the cheering continued when the game was in motion again". This magnificent moment would later hit Queens hard.

Gallacher's next goal was against Hawick Royal Albert. A few days later while enjoying a holiday in Dumfries things turned sour when he took ill with double pneumonia. Doctors perceived that he would never football again, but a week later he was said to be recovering well. While in Dumfries Infirmary he was approached by directors of Airdrieonians who had noted his performance in the recent challenge game. At this time if a player was not playing league football at any time then he was free to sign for whoever offered a contract. Airdrie offered Gallacher a contract and Gallacher signed without a second thought.

At Queens Gallacher's name on the team sheet replaced Ian Dickson who was on his way to Aston Villa. They were two of the four players to play in fledgling Queens first three seasons before moving on to successful careers in England's top division. The others were Dave Halliday and Willie Ferguson.

In his nine games Gallacher hit 19 goals with the game against Hawick on April 13 1921 being his last. Gallacher however returned to Palmerston many times to play in and referee charity matches. Gallacher was also among the jubilant crowd who watched Queens win in their 1929-30 season ending 2-1 Charity Cup final win against Mid-Annandale.

In the week prior to Queen of the South appearing in the 2008 Scottish Cup Final the club office took a phone call from Hughie Gallacher's son who phoned to wish Queens all the best and said his father had always spoken fondly of his time at Queen of the South.

Airdrieonians

He moved back to North Lanarkshire with the transfer to Airdrieonians. On September 19 1921 Gallacher made his senior Scottish League debut in the 2-0 defeat to Raith Rovers. Gallacher was selected for the first team 15 times that season and hit seven goals. He also also helped Airdrie reserves to the Second XI Cup. The following season Gallacher became a first team main stay as the club finished second. The next season Airdire finished second again with Gallacher hitting five in the 6-1 win over Clyde that briefly had Airdrie top of the league. Silverware arrived when Airdire beat Hibs 2-0 in the Scottish Cup final, the club's first senior trophy.

On March 1st 1924 in the 2-0 victory against Northern Ireland Gallacher was awarded his first international cap.

In 1924-25 Airdrie had their third straight second place league finish. Gallacher was credited with 35 goals. In November 1925 Gallacher hit five in the Scottish League 7-3 victory over the Irish League. Two weeks later a Gallacher double followed in the 2-0 win against the English League.

He was only 5 ft 5 ins tall and was often on the receiving end of rough treatment. However, because he tended to seek his own retribution, he was often in trouble with the authorities. There was much speculation about a number of English clubs that were out to sign him. The Airdrie fans were incensed and threatened to burn the wooden stand down if he was sold. His last game for the club came on December 5 1925 in the 2-1 defeat to Morton. In 129 games for Airdrie Gallacher hit 100 goals.

Newcastle United

Newcastle United’s desperation for their new centre-forward meant that they were willing to pay £6,500 to capture him. Gallacher signed on December 8th 1925.

There was never anything shy or modest about Gallacher. From the moment he walked into the Newcastle dressing room, he was a dominant figure. Men 10 years his senior and a foot taller than him were made fully aware that they were privileged to be playing in the same team. Opposing goalkeepers always talked fondly of him. "He was the greatest centre forward I ever saw," said the legendary Frank Swift. "But he had more tricks than a bucketful of monkeys." Gallacher practised and practised - "A proud boast of mine was that there was no one in the game more conscientious in training than I".

At Newcastle United Gallacher made an immediate impact, scoring two goals on his debut four days after signing in the 3-3 home draw against Everton (Dixie Dean hit an Everton hat trick) and scoring 15 goals in his first nine games. He ended the season with 23 league goals in 19 games, ending up as the club’s top scorer despite signing halfway through the season.

From the very first match he played in England he was a marked man, hacked and elbowed and gouged by defenders acting on instructions to stop him scoring at all costs. One team- mate described how Hughie would sit in the dressing room, sucking on his half-time Woodbine, with pieces of flesh hanging from his legs and his socks and boots soaked in blood. He sometimes wept with pain, but he couldn't wait for the second half to start. He wanted both goals and revenge.

The following season, 1926-27, 23 year old Gallacher was given the captaincy, and his powerful leadership qualities took Newcastle to the League Championship for the first time since 1909, although his criticism of some of the less talented players in the team did not go unnoticed. Sunderland were still in contention until they were beaten 1-0 at St James’ Park on March 19 before a then record crowd of 67,211. The goalscorer was Gallacher, still widely rated today as Newcastle’s finest ever player. He scored 36 league goals in 38 appearances, still the highest number of league goals in a season by one Newcastle player.

In the 1927-28 season he scored 21 league goals in 32 appearances. In the 1928-29 season he scored 24 league goals in 33 appearances. In the 1929-30 season he scored 29 league goals in 38 appearances. It can be seen that season after season he maintained his high scoring rate.

Within a few months of coming to Newcastle he met and fell in love with Hannah Anderson, the 17-year-old daughter of the landlord of one of his favourite pubs. That caused gossip in the town, and he was threatened several times by her relatives. But Hannah was the only girl for Hughie, although it wasn't until 1934, when he was finally able to divorce, that he was able to marry her. She was to become the core of Gallacher's life, giving him three sons.

Gallacher enjoyed the limelight and was often in trouble both on and off the field. At one time, he was bound over to keep the peace after brawling on the High Level Bridge.

Whilst at Newcastle United, he scored 143 league and cup goals in 174 appearances, a prolific strike rate of over 82% unmatched by any other player at the club before or since.

In 1928 he was a member of the Wembley Wizards Scottish team that thrashed England 5-1.

Always outspoken, Gallacher’s relationship with United’s directors was never healthy despite his value as a player. Gallacher went on a tour of France with his international compatriots and whilst he was away Newcastle agreed to sell him to Chelsea. He was furious that United had done the dirty on him and later said. "Why Newcastle wanted to let me go I never found out, but with such an attitude, I was bound to leave the club. Better sooner than later". The fee involved was £10,000. The shocked Newcastle fans were incensed, as the Aidrie fans had been before them, but the directors had their way.

Gallacher in his 5 years at the club had become the king of Tyneside. Loved and adored by men, women and bairns alike, the Scot had become an adopted Geordie - the highest honour for any 'foreigner' or indeed any non Geordie footballer.

Chelsea

Gallacher joined Chelsea as part of a £25,000 spending spree which also saw the club sign his fellow Scottish forwards Alex Jackson and Alec Cheyne; such was his popularity at Newcastle, when Chelsea visited St James' Park, the home of Newcastle United, that season the attendance was a record 68,386 with several thousand more locked out. Gallacher scored 81 goals in 144 games and was Chelsea’s top scorer in each of his four seasons in West London. The team sometimes clicked, such as in a 6-2 win over Manchester United and a 5-0 win over Sunderland but trophies remained elusive.

The FA Cup was to be the closest the club came to silverware. In 1932, the team secured impressive wins over Liverpool and Sheffield Wednesday, and were drawn against Newcastle United in the semi-finals. Tommy Lang inspired Newcastle to a 2-0 lead, before Gallacher pulled one back for Chelsea. The Blues laid siege to the United goal in the second half, but were unable to make a breakthrough and the Geordies went on to lift the trophy.

Gallacher's time there was also marred by suspensions for indiscipline - including a two month ban for swearing at a referee - and off-pitch controversies. In 1934 he ended up in the bankruptcy court due to prolonged and acrimonious divorce. In November 1934 he was sold to Derby County for £2,750.

Derby County

Hughie Gallacher in 1934 was transferred to Derby County F.C. for £2,750. Even at the age of 32 Gallacher was one of the finest centre-forwards ever to wear a Derby County shirt. Hugh was taken under the wing of fellow Scotsmen Dally Duncan and an old Newcastle United friend, Jimmy Boyd, and was said to have been as good as gold during his Baseball Ground days. His 38 goals in 51 league games helped Derby finish second in the league to Sunderland in 1935-36, a finish the club have surpassed only twice (both times in the 1970s under the influence of Brian Clough and Dave Mackay). Gallacher hit 40 goals in his 55 games for Derby.

Later in 1941 the club were investigated by the F.A. over suspected financial irregularities, one of the accusations being that manager George Jobey had paid Gallacher illegal signing on fees. The player refused to admit it, but Jobey, manager of the Rams since 1925, received a stunning ten year suspension for his part in the scandal.

Notts County

The following season he moved to Notts County F.C. for £2,000. His impressive 32 goals in 45 games helped County to a second place finish in England's third division.

Grimsby Town

In January 1938 he moved to Grimsby Town F.C. for £1,000 hitting three goals in his 12 games.

Gateshead

Later in 1938, Gateshead FC, a modest team languishing in the bottom division, paid £500 for him. "It's grand to be back on Tyneside," said an emotional Hughie, when he climbed off the train. "My heart has been here ever since I left United eight years ago. I intend to spend the rest of my life with my adopted folk in Gateshead."

Crowds at the Gateshead ground soared to 20,000 a week. He hit 18 goals for the club before retiring from football with the outbreak of World War 2.

Internationals

Only two players, Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish with 30 each, have scored more goals for the full Scotland international team than Hughie Gallacher's 23. Gallacher has the most prolific international strike rate of any Scot averaging 1.15 goals per game with 23 goals coming from only 20 caps. Law took 55 games for his 30 goals (0.55 goals per game), Dalglish took 102 games for his 30 (0.29 goals per game) and Lawrie Reilly had 38 games returning 22 goals (0.58). To put into a modern context James McFadden in his first 39 Scotland internationals has hit 13 goals, a strike rate of 0.33 goals per game.

At all levels Gallacher represented Scotland 30 times hitting 46 goals.

Full international Hughie Galacher goals - scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	February 14 1925	Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh	Wales	2-0	3-1	BHC
2	February 14 1925	Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh	Wales	3-1	3-1	BHC
3	February 28 1925	Windsor Park, Belfast	Ireland	2-0	3-0	BHC
4	April 4 1925	Hampden Park, Glasgow	England	1-0	2-0	BHC
5	April 4 1925	Hampden Park, Glasgow	England	2-0	2-0	BHC
6	February 27 1926	Ibrox Park, Glasgow	Ireland	1-0	4-0	BHC
7	February 27 1926	Ibrox Park, Glasgow	Ireland	3-0	4-0	BHC
8	February 27 1926	Ibrox Park, Glasgow	Ireland	4-0	4-0	BHC
9	October 30 1926	Ibrox Park, Glasgow	Wales	1-0	3-0	BHC
10	October 29 1927	The Racecourse, Wrexham	Wales	1-0	2-2	BHC
11	October 27 1928	Ibrox Park, Glasgow	Wales	1-1	4-2	BHC
12	October 27 1928	Ibrox Park, Glasgow	Wales	2-1	4-2	BHC
13	October 27 1928	Ibrox Park, Glasgow	Wales	3-1	4-2	BHC
14	February 23 1929	Windsor Park, Belfast	Ireland	1-0	7-3	BHC
15	February 23 1929	Windsor Park, Belfast	Ireland	2-0	7-3	BHC
16	February 23 1929	Windsor Park, Belfast	Ireland	3-0	7-3	BHC
17	February 23 1929	Windsor Park, Belfast	Ireland	5-2	7-3	BHC
18	October 26 1929	Ninian Park, Cardiff	Wales	1-0	4-2	BHC
19	October 26 1929	Ninian Park, Cardiff	Wales	2-0	4-2	BHC
20	February 22 1930	Celtic Park, Glasgow	Ireland	1-0	3-1	BHC
21	February 22 1930	Celtic Park, Glasgow	Ireland	2-1	3-1	BHC
22	May 18 1930	Stade Olympique, Paris	France	1-0	2-0	Friendly
23	May 18 1930	Stade Olympique, Paris	France	2-0	2-0	Friendly

Later life and tragedy

When Gallacher hung up his size-six boots he was happy and contented man, a man with a family he adored. Treated as an honorary Geordie, he could not set foot on the streets or walk into a bar without being met like a hero.

The all-powerful F.A. flatly denied Gallacher the chance of entering football management. Gallacher continued to live in Gateshead trying a number of careers, one of them being sports journalist, a role that led to him being banned from St James Park for his outspoken remarks about Newcastle United. However he continued to be a popular character on Tyneside. Gallacher turned out in charity matches even at the age of 52.

However Gallacher was to be touched with tragedy. Without court records to provide information all that is known is that in May 1957 NSPCC officers made a complaint to the local authority that Gallacher's youngest son, Matthew, aged 14, had been injured following an incident at the house. Matti, as he was known, was shorlty afterwards taken into care and his father faced an assault charge. Press reports from the time are short on detail, rich in innuendo and speculation.

He was virtually branded ‘guilty of assault’ without trial, and pilloried by the media and street gossips alike. Hughie Junior, sprang to his defence, saying “people built him up as a hero figure, one of the very best, then crucified him as though he were a criminal”.

Hughie Jr comments vastly different from that hinted at in the press reports. Press tales of a neglected family were a fabrication and the opposite was the truth. Hughie adored his kids. The truth behind the events was the death of the wife he worshipped some before years in December 1950. She suffered from a heart complaint and died suddenly, Hughie's life was shattered. He became very depressed and lonely, but according to his sons did his very best in looking after them.

He hadn't any cash from his footballing days, but the ex-miner had no issues with going out to earn a living to support his family. He took numerous unremarkable jobs, often menial, just to keep the family together. It was a comfortable and happy home. Details of a relatively trivial event got out, the authorities responded out of all proportion. The press sensationally went to town scandalising events implying drunkenness and domestic abuse. People who knew him were certain it was rubbish knowing he would never harm his boys. However Gallacher found the shame in the accusation unbearable and the hints and innuendoes both torturous and soul destroying. According to Hughie Jr and Matti, Matti had been misbehaving and his father had told him off several times. Matti persisted, his father lifted a small plastic ashtray and in exasperation threw it across the room. It glanced off Matti's head and he ran from the house uninjured, not even cut. Gallacher later apologised to him. Matti told some friends what had happened and probably an unknown neighbour told the NSPCC.

What followed owed more to Gallacher’s celebrity status than to British justice. The next day police and social services called to remove the boy away. It dawned on Gallacher he would face a charge with potential of losing custody of his sons. For weeks the devastated man spent hours wandering the streets. Many people spoke to him including Newcastle players and staff offering support, assuring him no one would believe the press scandalisation. Many offered to speak on his behalf.

Removed of access to his son and with the court appearance looming, Gallacher was being driven closer to the edge. A local reporter friend said he looked like a traumatised man walking in a glassy eyed dream. Gallacher’s mind was more troubled than people knew. The press went for the kill. The shattered man said to a friend, “It’s no good fighting this thing now. They have got me on this one. My life is finished. It’s no use fighting when you know you can’t win”. Feeling completely trapped, he was summoned to Gateshead Magistrates Court for Wednesday 12 June, 1957.

On the 11 June he posted a short heart-rending message to the Gateshead Coroner expressing his regrets at what he had caused adding that if he had lived to be 100 he would never be able to forgive himself for having hurt Matthew. He then wandered aimlessly through the streets ignoring the greetings of several people.

Two young trainspotters saw a small flat-capped man on a footbridge over the London-Edinburgh railway line at Gateshead. They watched him for half an hour pacing backwards and forwards agitated, confused, openly weeping, talking to himself and occasionally pounding the bridge-rail with his fists. He stepped down from the bridge and took his life by walking in front of an on-coming express train.

The Newcastle Journal said more in their seven word headline than even the lengthiest of eulogies. It simply read ‘HUGHIE OF THE MAGIC FEET IS DEAD’.

References

• Paul Joannou, “The Black and White Alphabet”, 1996, Polar Print Group Ltd, ISBN – 1 899538 03 8

• Paul Joannou, “United, The First 100 Years”, 1991, Polar Print Group Ltd, ISBN – 1 899538 10 0

External links

• Hughie Gallacher at the Scottish Football Association
• Newcastle United profile