Hughie Gallacher
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hugh Kilpatrick Gallacher | ||
| Date of birth | 2 February 1903 | ||
| Place of birth | Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 11 June 1957 (aged 54) | ||
| Place of death | Gateshead, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) | ||
| Playing position | Centre forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1921 | Queen of the South | 9 | (19) |
| 1921–1925 | Airdrieonians | 111 | (91) |
| 1925–1930 | Newcastle United | 160 | (133) |
| 1930–1934 | Chelsea | 132 | (72) |
| 1934–1936 | Derby County | 51 | (38) |
| 1936–1937 | Notts County | 45 | (32) |
| 1937–1938 | Grimsby Town | 12 | (3) |
| 1938–1939 | Gateshead | 34 | (18) |
| Total | 554 | (406) | |
| National team | |||
| 1924–1935 | Scotland | 20 | (24) |
| 1925 | Scottish League XI | 2 | (6) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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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 huge threat for any defence as he possessed grand strike power. Gallacher 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 created chances for other players.
He is one of the Scotland national football team's most prolific goalscorers with 24 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.
Gallacher was born in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire in 1903. He started "biffing a twopenny ball" almost as soon as he could walk. Gallacher began a long friendship with Alex James when at Bellshill Academy. 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. They had two children Hughie, who died before his first birthday and Catherine. They were divorced in acrimonious circumstances.
In December 1920, 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.
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