Gallacher, William

G | Player Pics | World War Two | A-Z of Players

N.B. Quite common for different sources to spell the surname differently, either “Gallagher” or “Gallacher”. We’ve used Gallacher as we believe this is the way his family spelt it.

Personal

Fullname: William Patrick Gallacher
aka: Willie Gallagher, William Gallagher, William Gallacher, Willie Gallacher
Born: 29 June 1919
Died: 16 October 1982
Birthplace: Renfrew, Renfrewshire
Signed: 1937 (prov); 5 May 1938 (full)
Left: April 1949 (free); 17 May 1949 (Falkirk)
Position: Inside-Right
Debut: Hamilton Academicals 6-2 Celtic, Regional League, 2 Sep 1944
Internationals: N/A
International Caps: N/A

Biog

The eldest son of the legendary Patsy Gallacher, Willie Gallacher signed provisional terms with Celtic in 1937 from junior side St Anthony’s.

“I learned my game as a ball boy at Celtic Park. Bright prospects should be made ball boys, the apprentice as close as possible to the journeyman”.

He would sign a full contract in May 1938 but it would not be until 2nd September 1944 that he would make his senior competitive debut in an ignominious 6-2 league defeat at Hamilton Academicals.

An intelligent and assured ball player the inside-right may have lacked the tricks and pace of his father but he was nevertheless a more than competent performer. He was physically big built and imposing, though considered to be on the slow side but had a superb football brain.

His father actually didn’t want him to join Celtic in fear of inevitable comparisons which can be a burden on anyone.

Ironically, despite Willie Gallacher playing for the more prestigious Celts whilst his brother Tommy played for Dundee, back in the 1947-48 season it was Celtic hovering close to relegation. They both were to play against each other in the pivotal match v Dundee in April 1948, where the Celtic players had to play to save the club from a then possible relegation. Their father was present at the match, and thankfully Celtic won 3-2 and survived but the years were not filled with glory for Willie Gallacher at Celtic as they were for his father.

Willie Gallacher had been re-drafted as a regular starter into the side in the second side of that 1947/48 season, but the results weren’t great, and there were so many problems at Celtic during that poor era for the club.

His brother Tommy Gallacher at Dundee on the other hand won league cup honours with Dundee in 1951 & 1952, and Dundee were generally finishing above Celtic in the league.

Unfortunately the war had seen Willie Gallacher have to join the Royal Engineers, and it robbed the player of what should have been the prime period for development of his Parkhead career.

However, Celtic were going through their poorest patch ever in results and performances in the 1940s, and the authorities were unashamedly backing Rangers. It was no easy time to be at Celtic.

Willie Gallacher lost his regular place in Oct 1948 after two humiliating defeats: a 4-2 loss to Hibs and then a 6-3 defeat at home to Clyde in the league cup. He had actually scored twice a few weeks back in successive games, first v Clyde in a 2-0 win and then against Rangers in a 3-1 win (both league cup wins).

A week after the 6-3 loss, Celtic played at Ibrox in front of a special guest reportedly invited by Rangers, the Irish Taoiseach, Eamonn de Velera, but Willie Gallacher wasn’t playing.

His was given three further games as a filler in in the rest of the 1948/49 season but Celtic won none of those games in what was another poor season.

In total, Willie Gallacher would make 57 league, Scottish Cup and League Cup appearances for the Hoops and scored 8 goals.

He joined Falkirk in May 1949 after being released by Celtic the previous month. This wasn’t a step-down as in the past season, Falkirk had actually finished a place above Celtic in the league in 5th place. The next season was tougher and Falkirk finished just above the relegation zone, although Celtic little improved themselves finishing 5th behind even East Fife.

He then moved onto Ayr Utd in 1950, St Johnstone in 1952 and then wrapped up his time with Inverness Thistle in 1953.

He passed away on 16 October 1982.

It was Willie Gallacher’s son, Kevin Gallacher, who opened the scoring for Dundee Utd in the Scottish Cup final in Celtic’s centenary season as Celtic went on to triumph 2-1 and seal the league & Scottish Cup double. It was a great piece of history to have his family involved in what was a very emotional day for all. In October 2019, on behalf of the family, it was also Kevin Gallacher who received the Scottish Hall of Fame award for the great Patsy Gallacher.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

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Pictures

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