THE NUMBER
ONE OF THE FIRST
PLAYERS TO NOT ONLY
DON A BLACK & WHITE
JERSEY, BUT ALSO THE
FAMED NUMBER NINE,
WAS TO BE THE WEE
SCOTSMAN HIMSELF,
HUGHIE GALLACHER.
The diminutive addition
to the United frontline arrived on
Tyneside from Scottish side
Airdrieonians in 1925. By the
time he left five years later the
£6500 fee paid would be an
absolute bargain as the striker
did what he was known to do
best, tear apart the opposition.
Gallacher’s time with the
Magpies would see him top the
scoring charts in each of those
five seasons, eventually
amassing an incredible 143 goals
in just 174 appearances,
including netting on his debut
and the start of every season. The
debut, against Everton on
December 12th, would see ‘wee
Hughie’ net a brace in a match
that would finish level at 3-3
(Stan Seymour would score the
other). He would finish the
‘season’ with 25 goals in just 22
games.
Including the debut double
Gallacher would be seen to score
seven times in his first four matches,
and seventeen in the first eleven of
his United career. The Scotsman
running the English defences ragged
in every way.
Within his early haul for the
club there would be a hat-trick on
Christmas Day as the Magpies fell to
a crushing 6-3 defeat on Merseyside
to Liverpool. He followed that treble
up with a brace on Boxing Day at
home against the same side.
As the New Year dawned,
January 2nd would see the number
nine put visiting Bolton to the sword,
scoring four times as United notched
up a 5-1 win. The reminder of his
first season would see United’s new
goal-machine carry on in the same
vein as there were to be doubles
against West Ham, Leicester and
Bury in the league as well as
Aberdare Athletic in the FA Cup on
January 19th.
The 23rd, 24th and 25th goals
of what was a prolific start to his
9
S
career not only in United colours, but
English football as a whole, came on
the final day of the season. May 1st
would see Gallacher’s new
employers claim a tenth placed finish
courtesy of a 3-2 home win over
relegated Manchester City. The
frontman would score all three for the
home side as they finished with an
impressive ninety goals (their best
return since 1906), the third of which
would be a century conceded by their
relegated visitors.
A seasonal best in the black &
white of United would be registered
in his first full season for the club,
1926-27, as the Magpies claimed
their fourth (and last), League
Championship. Not for the first time
in English football, Gallacher would
race out of the blocks. None however
would be as prolific as this opener
when, on August 29th, the wee
Scotsman would smash all four in a
4-0 home rout of Aston Villa in front
of 36,000 spectators.
It was definitely the start of
what was to be a special season for a
player who, surprisingly, had
replaced club legend Frank
Hudspeth, as captain. Albeit a
decision that caused many
doubts, Gallacher rose to the
challenge with incredible ease
and emphatically. United’s attack
would also be brought to
question as to whether they were
actually good enough. Some 93
goals were netted between a
quartet of Gallacher (39),
McDonald (23), Seymour (19)
and McKay (11), answering the
question and pretty much putting
those doubts to rest.
Overall in the
championship-winning season
Gallacher would be seen to score
some five braces, four hat-tricks,
and the opening day haul of four
goals. North London rivals
Tottenham (won 3-1 away on
November 27th) and Arsenal
(won 6-1 at home on April 6th)
was to be on the receiving end of
a Gallacher treble. He would also
be seen to do the same to
Everton at home in a 7-3 league
victory and against Notts County
in the FA Cup.
HUGHIE
14
15
Cont. on pg 16