Hughie Gallacher

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gallacher was born in Bellshill, Lanarkshire in 1903. He started 'biffing a twopenny ball' almost as soon as he could walk. He began a long friendship with Alex James when both were students at Bellshill Academy. His Irish father had moved to Scotland in search of work in the vast coal mining areas. He soon settled and married a local woman, raising a family with a strict Protestant upbringing. This didn't stop the diminutive Gallacher son from having Catholic friends. 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. As a spectator he attended to watch Bellshill Athletic playing St Mirren Juniors. 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 broke up within a few years, although Annie refused to grant Hughie a divorce. Their dispute generated large legal fees, which contributed to his bankruptcy. During his early life Hughie had three children; Hughie (Jr), who died before his first birthday, Catherine (both to Annie McIllvaney) and Jackie Gallacher, who scored prolifically for Celtic in the 1940s. Soon after he moved to Newcastle in 1925, Hughie met and fell in love with Hannah Anderson, a 17-year-old daughter of the landlord of one of his favourite pubs. They married soon after he divorced from Annie, and they had three sons.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere was electric when Gallacher arrived on 8 December 1925. Just four days later, he faced Everton at home, scoring twice in a dramatic 3–3 draw while Dixie Dean hit an Everton hat trick. His first nine games yielded 15 goals, showcasing the lethal finishing that made him a legend. The physical abuse he endured was legendary; teammates described sitting with him in the dressing room as pieces of flesh hung from his legs. In front of 67,211 fans at St James' Park, he scored the solitary goal against Sunderland, a match that clinched the First Division title for Newcastle. The Geordies celebrated wildly as Gallacher, widely rated today as their finest ever player, led them to glory. His time there was so revered that fans reportedly sang: 'Do ye ken hughie gallacher the wee scots lad... If he doesn't score a goal then wu'll put him on the dole.'

Reader's Guide

Gallacher signed for Newcastle United on 8 December 1925. He 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. 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 19 March 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 one season by a Newcastle player. Whilst at Newcastle United, he scored 143 league and cup goals in 174 appearances. His strike rate of over 82% is the most prolific in the club's history.

Did You Know?

• Gallacher was only 5 ft 5 ins tall and was often on the receiving end of rough treatment.
• A chant reportedly once sung at St James' Park in relation to Hughie went: 'Do ye ken hughie gallacher the wee scots lad, The best centre forward Newcastle ever had, If he doesn't score a goal then wu'll put him on the d
• Gallacher scored 81 goals in 144 games for Chelsea and was Chelsea's top scorer in each of his four seasons in west London.