Patsy Gallacher
Encyclopedia
Patsy Gallagher was an Irish
footballer
, playing in the wing right position, and most noted for his career at Celtic
.
town of Milford
. After his family moved to Scotland he played for his first schoolboy team, at Holy Redeemer Primary School in Glasgow
. Patsy had to organise the team, acting as captain and secretary because every teacher in the school was female and showed little interest in the sport. Patsy remembered his first trophy in the Yoker
Athletic Schools' Tournament playing for Holy Redeemer who were the dark horses of the competition. He recalled that the organisers were unwilling to award the cup to a team without an adult manager.
Patsy then joined Benvue, a team in the Clean Speech League. He then moved up to the juvenile side, Renfrew
St. James. He then moved up again to Clydebank Juniors and began to attract the attention of scouts from senior clubs. They could see his talent which was impressive, but had doubts due to his puny, frail appearance. Despite this he received offers of a trial with Clyde F.C
and Celtic. During his trial period he scored twice in a 6–1 defeat of Dumfries and three times in a 5–0 win against a British Army XI.
would in years to come. Within six months he secured his first winner's medal scoring once in the 2-0 victory over Clyde in the 1912 Scottish Cup
final. He went on to play for Celtic for 15 years from 1911 to 1926, featuring in 569 games in all competitions. In 464 games in major competitions Patsy scored 192 goals. Today he ranks as Celtic's sixth highest goal scorer behind Jimmy McGrory
, Bobby Lennox
, Henrik Larsson
, Stevie Chalmers
and Jimmy Quinn. One of his most famous moments came in the 1925 'Patsy Gallacher' Scottish Cup final against Dundee, when he barged from behind in a packed penalty area
, and somersault
ed over the goal line with the ball between his feet into the net for a goal.
He revitalised Celtic's team which had slipped to fifth place in the league for season 1910-11 as the great team, that had included Jimmy Quinn
and Jimmy McMenemy
which had won six successive league titles in a row began to tire. With Gallacher in the team Celtic won seven League Championships, four Scottish Cups, four Glasgow Cup
s and eleven Glasgow Charity Cups
and Jimmy McStay
). Gallacher went on to play for six more years with Falkirk
, fuelling speculation among Celtic supporters as to how many more goals he would have scored and trophies lifted had he stayed at Celtic Park
.
in Belfast
against England
he became the highest paid international ever. Interest in the Ireland team grew tremendously: 50,000 packed into Windsor Park
for his debut.
Like many Irish players of his era, he played for both the Belfast-based Irish Football Association side (12 times), and the Dublin-based Football Association of Ireland team (Once). This has led to the mistaken assumption that he played for both Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. In fact, both sides called themselves, "Ireland," and both selected players from the entire island. It was only after the Second World War that FIFA regularised this situation, ordering both associations to rename their sides, although the Irish Football Assoctiation were given permission to continue to call themselves, "Ireland," in the now defunct Home International competition.
The best book on Patsy Gallacher is "The Mighty Atom" by David Potter, published by the Parrs Wood Press 2000
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, playing in the wing right position, and most noted for his career at Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
.
Early life
Patsy was born in a workhouse in the small DonegalCounty Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
town of Milford
Milford
- England :* Milford, Derbyshire* Milford, Devon, a place in Devon* Milford on Sea, Hampshire* Milford, Shropshire, a place in Shropshire* Milford, Staffordshire* Milford, Surrey** served by Milford railway station* Milford, Wiltshire, a place in Wiltshire...
. After his family moved to Scotland he played for his first schoolboy team, at Holy Redeemer Primary School in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. Patsy had to organise the team, acting as captain and secretary because every teacher in the school was female and showed little interest in the sport. Patsy remembered his first trophy in the Yoker
Yoker
Yoker is a western district of Glasgow, in Scotland, UK, lying on the northern bank of the Clyde to the east of Clydebank. It is located approximately 5 miles west of the City Centre. From the fourteenth century a ferry has linked Yoker with the burgh of Renfrew on the south bank...
Athletic Schools' Tournament playing for Holy Redeemer who were the dark horses of the competition. He recalled that the organisers were unwilling to award the cup to a team without an adult manager.
Patsy then joined Benvue, a team in the Clean Speech League. He then moved up to the juvenile side, Renfrew
Renfrew
-Local government:The town of Renfrew gave its name to a number of local government areas used at various times:*Renfrew a town to the west of Glasgow*Renfrewshire, the present unitary local council area in which Renfrew is situatated....
St. James. He then moved up again to Clydebank Juniors and began to attract the attention of scouts from senior clubs. They could see his talent which was impressive, but had doubts due to his puny, frail appearance. Despite this he received offers of a trial with Clyde F.C
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
and Celtic. During his trial period he scored twice in a 6–1 defeat of Dumfries and three times in a 5–0 win against a British Army XI.
Celtic career
He was quickly promoted to the Celtic first team and made his debut against St. Mirren at Parkhead in November 1911. He was to overcome his supposed physical problems in the same way that GarrinchaGarrincha
Manuel Francisco dos Santos , known by the nickname "Garrincha" , was an association football right winger and forward who helped the Brazil national team win the World Cups of 1958 and 1962. He played the majority of his professional career for Brazilian club Botafogo.The word garrincha itself...
would in years to come. Within six months he secured his first winner's medal scoring once in the 2-0 victory over Clyde in the 1912 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
final. He went on to play for Celtic for 15 years from 1911 to 1926, featuring in 569 games in all competitions. In 464 games in major competitions Patsy scored 192 goals. Today he ranks as Celtic's sixth highest goal scorer behind Jimmy McGrory
Jimmy McGrory
James Edward "Jimmy" McGrory was a Scottish football player and manager for Celtic who holds the record for most career goals in British football...
, Bobby Lennox
Bobby Lennox
Robert "Bobby" Lennox, MBE is a former Scottish professional footballer who played for Celtic Football Club and was a member of their 1967 European Cup winning team known as the Lisbon Lions. He also earned ten international caps for his national team Scotland...
, Henrik Larsson
Henrik Larsson
Henrik Edward Larsson MBE is a retired Swedish footballer and current manager of Landskrona BoIS.Larsson began his career with Högaborgs BK. He moved to Helsingborg, where he was one of the key players when they qualified to Allsvenskan 1993. Larsson then moved to Feyenoord for four years before...
, Stevie Chalmers
Stevie Chalmers
Stevie Chalmers is a former Scottish association football player who played as a centre forward. He is best remembered for scoring the winning goal for Celtic in the 1967 European Cup Final against Inter Milan....
and Jimmy Quinn. One of his most famous moments came in the 1925 'Patsy Gallacher' Scottish Cup final against Dundee, when he barged from behind in a packed penalty area
Penalty area
The penalty area , is an area of an association football pitch. It is rectangular and extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. Within the penalty area is the penalty spot , which is from the goal line, directly in-line with the centre of the goal...
, and somersault
Somersault
A somersault is an acrobatic exercise in which a person does a full 360° flip, moving the feet over the head. A somersault can be performed either forwards, backwards, or sideways and can be executed in the air or on the ground...
ed over the goal line with the ball between his feet into the net for a goal.
He revitalised Celtic's team which had slipped to fifth place in the league for season 1910-11 as the great team, that had included Jimmy Quinn
Jimmy Quinn (Scottish footballer)
Jimmy Quinn was a Scottish footballer who played for Celtic and represented Scotland.Signed for Celtic by Willie Maley from junior club Smithston Albion in 1900, he took several seasons to make his mark, playing at outside- then inside-left before being moved to centre...
and Jimmy McMenemy
Jimmy McMenemy
James "Jimmy" McMenemy was a Scottish footballer, who played for Celtic from 1902 to 1920. He made 515 appearances and scored 168 goals....
which had won six successive league titles in a row began to tire. With Gallacher in the team Celtic won seven League Championships, four Scottish Cups, four Glasgow Cup
Glasgow Cup
The Glasgow Cup is a knockout football tournament open to teams from Glasgow. It was competed for annually by senior Glasgow clubs from 1887 until 1988. It is now competed for between the youth teams of Rangers, Celtic, Clyde, Partick Thistle and Queen's Park.It is dominated by the Old Firm of...
s and eleven Glasgow Charity Cups
Departure from Celtic
In 1926, Celtic 'retired' Patsy without warning. Speculation among his fans was that they wanted to save on his wages, which were considerably higher than those of any other Celtic player of the time. (despite the fact that the team included greats such as Jimmy McGroryJimmy McGrory
James Edward "Jimmy" McGrory was a Scottish football player and manager for Celtic who holds the record for most career goals in British football...
and Jimmy McStay
Jimmy McStay
James Frederick "Jimmy" McStay was a Scottish football player and manager. He spent most of his career at Celtic, and was a captain and manager for the club. He took over the club captaincy from his brother, Willie McStay, in 1929.McStay managed the club between 9 February 1940, and 23 July 1945...
). Gallacher went on to play for six more years with Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
, fuelling speculation among Celtic supporters as to how many more goals he would have scored and trophies lifted had he stayed at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
.
International career
Patsy gathered 13 caps for Ireland in an age when fewer internationals were played. On his debut for Ireland at Windsor ParkWindsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
he became the highest paid international ever. Interest in the Ireland team grew tremendously: 50,000 packed into Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
for his debut.
Like many Irish players of his era, he played for both the Belfast-based Irish Football Association side (12 times), and the Dublin-based Football Association of Ireland team (Once). This has led to the mistaken assumption that he played for both Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. In fact, both sides called themselves, "Ireland," and both selected players from the entire island. It was only after the Second World War that FIFA regularised this situation, ordering both associations to rename their sides, although the Irish Football Assoctiation were given permission to continue to call themselves, "Ireland," in the now defunct Home International competition.
Trivia and quotes
- Gallacher played just one game for Glasgow Rangers http://rangerspedia.org/index.php/Gallacher,_Patrick
- Gallacher's nickname was "The Mighty Atom".
- Gallacher's sons both played football as well, Tommy for Queen's ParkQueen's Park F.C.Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
and DundeeDundee F.C.Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
and Willie for Celtic - Patsy Gallacher was the grandfather of Scottish footballer Kevin GallacherKevin GallacherKevin William Gallacher is a Scottish former professional footballer and now a sports pundit.He is the grandson of the late Celtic forward Patsy Gallacher, who died before he was born.-Career:...
. - In 2007, Celtic supporters in a neighbouring Donegal town called Ramelton claimed Gallacher as "a son of Ramelton", despite it being well known that his place of birth was Milford. This has been a subject of much local mirth ever since. Interestingly, a Milford spokesperson stated, "Ramelton can have Patsy. The last thing this quiet and peaceful wee town (Milford) needs is rowdy tribal Scotsmen tramping all over our heritage".
To play alongside Patsy Gallacher in national cup final was a dream. Patsy was the fastest man over 10 yards. He moved at great speed and he could stop immediately sending opponents in all directions. He could win a game when the rest of us were just thinking about it — Jimmy McGrory
Within 20 yards of goal Patsy Gallacher was the most dangerous forward I have ever seen. You never knew what he would do. Often he would wriggle through, past man after man, with defenders reluctant to tackle in case they gave away a penalty kickPenalty kickA penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
— Alan MortonAlan MortonAlan Lauder Morton was a Scottish international footballer and 'Wembley Wizard'. He was known for his stirring wing play as an outside-left and commitment to Rangers. He retired from active play in 1933.-Early life:...
of RangersRangers F.C.Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and Scotland
Many people have asked me how Patsy would have stood up to the rigours of the modern game. He would have strolled through it. There is no present day player in this country that I would put anywhere near his class. Even Jimmy JohnstoneJimmy JohnstoneJames Connolly "Jimmy" Johnstone was a Scottish football player. Johnstone was best known for his time with Celtic, and was voted their best ever player by the club's fans in 2002...
, with all his talents, never reached the Gallacher heights. Gallacher was always advancing; there was no doubling back and playing across the field. Everything he did was positive. — Jimmy McGrory
There never was a player like him, and I often wonder if we shall see his like again. I wish we could, just to show the present day players that we of Patsy Gallacher's time had something to boast about — Alan Morton
He was the greatest who ever kicked a ball. — Tommy Cairns of Rangers
Patsy was the complete footballer. He had wonderful ball control, he had tricks of manipulation all his own. His body swerve and ability to change pace, which never came from practice but obviously were natural gifts, were a sore problem to opponents — Sir Robert Kelly
So long as there is a Celtic the name of Patsy Gallacher will be revered, and his sons and their families can rightly be proud of that. — Sir Robert Kelly
The best book on Patsy Gallacher is "The Mighty Atom" by David Potter, published by the Parrs Wood Press 2000