De yen Hughie Gallacher? The Scot who starred for Chelsea (and Newcastle) before WW2. A life story that would bring a tear to a glass eye

So dear reader I am still basking in the warm afterglow of securing a ticket for the FA Cup final. Thanks once more to Peter Tissington for sourcing a pair of golden briefs (!) and also to Craig McGlasson at Penrith FC for also going on the hunt for tickets on my behalf. Back to football matters.

Regular readers will know that for each match I try to establish a link between the competing teams and Bonny Scotland. It has been previously reported that Arsenal do not have any Scots in their current squad but that they do have a rich Scots heritage. Similarly, although the current Chelsea team do not benefit from the Caledonian connection the history of Chelsea FC has been shaped by men from north of the border. Before the Abramovich era Scots featured prolifically for Chelsea. Indeed in the mid nineties the Blues starting line up would regularly include 3 or 4 strapping Jocks with Steve Clarke, Craig Burley, John Spencer, Robert Fleck and David Hopkin all on the payroll at that time. Prior to this Scotland international, and now erudite TV pundit, Pat Nevin entertained fans at Stamford Bridge. However my meander through the Scots in royal blue will concentrate on players from further back in history. In a post on Sunday I will celebrate the contribution of Tommy Walker, Eddie McCreadie and Charlie Cooke. Today step forward Hughie Gallacher.

Hughie Gallacher at The Bridge: Proudly sporting the blue colours of Chelsea

I have been aware of the story of Hughie Gallacher ever since I was a wee boy. In fact I would bet that anyone born on Tyneside who is vaguely interested in football will have heard the tragic story of the ‘wee Scots lad’. Gallacher’s tale would bring a tear to a glass eye and for many years I have thought that his life story would make a great period-piece sports film in the ‘Chariots of Fire’ style. Hughie was arguably the first superstar footballer. He was the first to play with such flair and ability in the centre forward position for Newcastle that the black and white striped number 9 jersey became a cult garment. To this day there is massive interest on Tyneside as to who wears the number 9 shirt and the most popular NUFC fanzine is called simply ‘number 9’. Jackie Milburn, Malcolm MacDonald and Alan Shearer were all to follow Gallacher’s footsteps but Hughie was the original number 9. Gallacher was only 5 foot 5 but was spring heeled and could out-jump any 6 foot tall centre half. He was blessed with dynamite in his boots and could score with rocket shots from outside the box or with clever deft finishes from close range.

Newcastle signed Hughie from Airdrieonians in 1925. While with Airdrie the young Gallacher scored an amazing 91 goals in 111 appearances for the Diamonds and he was 22 years old when he signed for the Magpies. According to my late Uncle Eddie an informal part of this transfer deal was that Newcastle would play Airdrie annually in a friendly match and my Uncle reckoned that these games were indeed very friendly. With the games staged on Wednesday afternoons the Newcastle fans would be waiting at lunch time for the buses and trains from Lanarkshire to arrive to clap the Airdrie fans off their carriages and welcome them to Geordie Land. A few refreshments were downed before the game. After the final whistle Geordies would organise which Scots visitors they would take back to their homes for their tea. Following some sustenance the lads would gather again in the town centre for a few more beers and some communal singing. ‘Scots wha hey’ was followed by ‘The Blaydon Races’ according to my Uncle Eddie. At about 10.00 pm the Scots were applauded back on to their transport and bid a merry goodbye. Apparently the same hospitality was extended to the Newcastle fans on their visit to Lanarkshire for the return match. “With it being a friendly and on a Wednesday afternoon you never got much of a crowd – only about thirty or forty thousand” (!) said Eddie.

Hughie’s time at Newcastle was probably the happiest time of his career. He was made captain at the tender age of 23 and Newcastle won the league in 1927 under his leadership. His goal scoring prowess was unparalleled. In a 5 year period at Newcastle he scored 133 goals in 160 games. During this period he was also Scotland’s ‘go-to’ man and in 20 games for Scotland he scored 24 goals. To this day only Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law have scored more goals for the national side. In 1928 he was part of the Scotland team who will be forever know as ‘The Wembley Wizards’ who humiliated England at their famous home ground romping home by  the outrageous scoreline of 5 goals to 1.

Hughie front row second from left: At Wembley ready to put England to the sword

Gallacher is also credited with being the inspiration for one of the earliest terracing songs. In the 1920’s to the tune of ‘de ye ken John Peel’ the Newcastle fans would sing:

"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 dole,

and wu'll send him back to Scotland where he came from."

I can personally verify that this song was popular and indeed had longevity because my father used to sing it to me when I was a toddler!

All good things come to an end and in 1930 the feisty Gallacher fell out with the hierarchy at Newcastle United and they sold him to Chelsea for a then massive transfer fee of £25000. Newcastle’s loss was to be the Blues gain. Hughie was in his prime and he went on to score 72 goals in 132 games whilst at Stamford Bridge. His return to St James Park following his transfer is still talked about on Tyneside to this day. It is evidence of how much this 1920s footballing God was adored by the Geordies that on the 3^rd September 1930 a crowd of 68386 crammed into St James Park to see the return of the prodigal son. It is reported that tens of thousands more were locked out. This match is still the record attendance at St James Park. What makes this even more remarkable is that in the days before floodlights this was a midweek match with a 6.30 pm kick off and many must have had to rush from work to get in to the ground in time.

Hughie was a popular figure at Chelsea where he continued to score goals. He was helped to settle in by the fact that Chelsea employed a number of Scots at this time. Fellow Scots internationalists Alex Cheyne (the man responsible for allegedly creating ‘The Hampden Roar’ when his goal against England in 1929 was greeted with noisy delight) and Chelsea stalwart Andy Wilson played alongside Gallacher at Stamford Bridge in the 1930-31 season.

Wee Hughie flanked by fellow Scots Cheyne and Wilson

By this time it was reported that the mercurial Gallacher liked a wee bevy and as the pic below shows he was partial to the old woodbines too.

Match off due to snow in Feb 1931 so Hughie (centre) and Wilson (left) enjoy a wee smoke

Despite the fact the goals continued to flow, he was the top scorer for Chelsea for each of his 4 seasons in West London, Hughie’s behaviour as a Chelsea player became erratic. His time at Stamford Bridge was marred by suspensions for indiscipline including a two month ban for swearing at a referee. There were off pitch controversies too and Gallacher was declared bankrupt due to a prolonged and acrimonious divorce. He was sold to Derby County in 1934 where he continued to score goals. In 1934 he also remarried. He got hitched to the barmaid from Tyneside who it had been long rumoured that he was having an affair with when he was playing for Newcastle. Hannah was clearly the love of his life and they had three sons.

After leaving Chelsea, Gallacher’s career was in decline as old father time was catching up with him. He had spells with Notts County and Grimsby and despite his advancing years he continued to score goals. In 1938 he signed for Gateshead who were then a league club. “It's grand to be back on Tyneside,” said an emotional Gallacher, when he climbed off the train. “My heart has been here ever since I left United eight years ago. I intend to spend the rest of my life with my adopted folk in Gateshead”.  Crowds at the Gateshead ground soared to 20,000 a week. He hit 18 league goals for the club before retiring from football with the outbreak of World War II.

Gallacher continued to live in Gateshead, trying a number of careers, one of them being a sports journalist, a role that led to him being banned from St James’ Park for his outspoken remarks about Newcastle United. However, he continued to be a popular character on Tyneside. Gallacher turned out in charity matches even at the age of 52.

With no savings from his footballing days, Gallacher took numerous unremarkable jobs, often menial, to earn a living to support his family. After the sudden death of his wife Hannah in December 1950 from a heart complaint, Gallacher became very depressed and lonely. One evening in May 1957, Hughie went home after a few drinks. His youngest son Mathew (aged 14) was at home reading a newspaper. When Mattie, as he was known, ignored him, he picked up a heavy ashtray and threw it at the newspaper. It bounced off the top of Mattie's head, drawing blood. Mattie left the house and went to a neighbour's, attempting to find his big brother Hughie Junior. Later when Hughie Junior arrived, he saw the blood and hurried home to confront his father. An altercation took place and as a result the police were summoned. The police reported the assault on young Mattie to the authorities. Mattie was taken into his Aunt’s care and was prevented from returning home until the assault charge could be resolved.

For weeks after the alleged assault, Gallacher began wandering the streets. Many people spoke to him including Newcastle players and staff offering support and assuring him that no one would believe the press and their scandalous statements. Many offered to speak on his behalf. Denied access to his son and with the court appearance looming, Gallacher began to get increasingly irrational. A local reporter friend said he looked like ‘a traumatised man walking in a glassy-eyed dream’. Gallacher said to a friend, “It's no good fighting this thing now. They have got me on this one. My life is finished. It's no use fighting when you know you can’t win.” He was summoned to Gateshead Magistrates Court for Wednesday 12 June 1957. On 11 June, he posted a short message to the Gateshead Coroner expressing his regrets at what he had caused, adding that ‘if he had lived to be 100 he would never be able to forgive himself for having hurt Mattie’. He then wandered aimlessly through the streets ignoring the greetings of several people.

On the day of his death, two young trainspotters watched him for half an hour pacing backwards and forwards on a footbridge over the London-Edinburgh railway line at Low Fell, Gateshead. He was openly weeping, talking to himself and occasionally pounding the bridge rail with his fists. He stepped down from the bridge and killed himself by walking in front of an oncoming express train.

Rest in peace me bonnie lad.

Yesterday I posed the question for Chelsea fans … who was the last Scot to play for Chelsea? I did not receive any correct responses! The answer is the unremarkable Aberdonian Steven Watt who is still only 32 years old and is now the player manager of Margate.

Aberdonian Steven Watt: The last Scot to play for Chelsea - 12 years ago !

Steven played for Chelsea in the FA Cup in Jan 2005 and whose only other appearance for the Super Blues was a cameo as an 89^th minute sub for Chelsea in a Premier League match against Newcastle on the 15^th May 2005. So, it is 12 years since a Scot last played for Chelsea and I have a feeling it may be at least another 12 years before a Scot dons the famous blue jersey.

Come back here on Sunday for more on the Scots who helped shape Chelsea Football Club … and keep reading !