Gallagher, Patrick – 1888-93

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Note: There is more than one player to have played for Celtic with the same name, so please check the other namesakes if need be.

Personal

Fullname: Patrick Gallagher
aka: Paddy Gallagher
Born: 25 April 1865
Birthplace: Johnstone, Renfrewshire
Died: 7 June 1899
Signed: 1888
Left: 1893 (retired from playing duties)
Position: Wing-Half
Debut: Celtic 5-1 Shettleston 1st Sept 1888.
Career: Johnstone Rovers, Cowlairs (1885), Hibernian(1886), Celtic (1888).
Internationals: none

Biog

Patrick Gallagher was an early Celtic hero, adored by the Bhoys support for his passionate play and tough tackling.

The right-half – like many of his team mates – was tempted to the east end of Glasgow in 1888 from Hibernian to play for the newly formed and ambitious Celtic side. However, as stated by future Celtic chairman John McLaughlin  in an interview, Paddy Gallagher “was needed at home on account of his father’s death“. So, it appears he was looking for a move from Hibernian back to the West of Scotland, and possibly may have moved away in any case to another club in the Glasgow.

His competitive debut came on September 1st when the Celts defeated Shettleston 5-1 in a Scottish Cup tie at the original Celtic Park.

His full blooded commitment to the cause made him an obvious target for abuse from opposition supporters but he was a huge favourite of the Celtic fans and it was to their delight that he was appointed captain for the start of the 1891-92 season. The Johnstone born player went on to be the first man to skipper the Bhoys to Scottish Cup glory on 9th April 1892 when Celtic beat Glasgow rivals Queen’s Park 5-1.

Tom Maley described Paddy Gallagher as:

“a lightweight with pluck and grit that men twice his size didn’t carry.“

Paddy played right half alongside Kelly and McLaren in the Hibs’ side in the first Celtic Park match against Cowlairs on Tuesday May 8th 1888.

His first game for Celtic was against Abercorn in the Glasgow Exhibition Cup, which took place at the Glasgow University pitches at Gilmorehill on August 1st 1888.

He was to be probably the most intensely committed of the aboriginal Celts both as a player, committeeman and perennial linesman (by October 2nd 1898). Paddy was Celtic’s original ball-winner adored by the Celtic support, reviled by the opposition.

As a measure of his worth, there were three field invasions in Edinburgh on October 20th 1888 in a ‘friendly’ between Celtic & Hibs, and each time the Hibs fans target was Paddy Gallagher. Such choice expressions as “Renegade“, “Judas“, and “Deserter” were being freely levelled at heads of players who used to be prime favourites on the Easter Road ground. Celtic’s gain their loss, and Celtic won 3-0.

He gave as good as he got. On January 3rd 1889, Pa Jackson of the Corinthians threatened Tom Maley with no return fixture at the Kennington Oval (London) “if that Gallagher doesn’t mend his ways and improve his language in the second half.”

Another example is when against Bolton Wanderers on April 19th 1889, Paddy played on with blood seeping in his sock rather than jeopardise his place in the team to Willie Maley.

He played against St Bernard’s on October 19th 1889 which led one commentator to remark:

“What crank is there in Gallagher’s nature that he must inevitably raise the ire of Edinburgh spectators? He was the most abused player on the field and, truth to tell, he earned it.“

Paddy did actually have a temper but he was a popular team mate. Maybe it was the double edge of the temper that ultimately made him so successful and popular.

Celtic went on tour to England in March 1891 and he arrived back in bitter cold Glasgow minus his top coat. It had been pawned in Sheffield on 31st March “for fear you might lose it“.

He was to play for Celtic in the Glasgow Exhibition Cup final (the club’s first ever final), which Celtic lost 2-0 to Cowlairs, then regarded as a shock result as Celtic entered this hyped up as supposedly to be “invincible”. A real comedown and lesson learnt, although the tag like was PR hype to help sell tickets for the event. In any case, it was a minor set-back for the then new club.

He was appointed captain for 1891-92 and although he missed the first (annulled) Scottish Cup final of March 12 1892 he was back at left half to lift Celtic’s first ever Scottish Cup a month later on April 9th.

He retired from playing duties in 1893 but became a club umpire (i.e. official linesman). By that time he had made 45 appearances and scored one goal.

In 1893, he became a member of the Celtic committee, and remained so until 1897.

He took ill from ‘inflammation‘ in December 1897 but reports of his death in early 1898 were ‘greatly exaggerated‘.

However, illness was still to cut his life tragically short and he died prematurely in 1899 aged just 34.

Paddy Gallagher was the original ‘Bould, Bould Celt‘, the club’s very first jersey player. A proud honour whom all who followed in his footsteps must acknowledge.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Scottish Cup

• 1892

Pictures

• Player Pics

Links

• CGS Remembrance (Nov 2016) http://celticgraves.com/topic/30030330/1/?x=50
• CGS Remembrance Podcast: http://www.spreaker.com/user/homebhoys/cgs-patrick-gallacher