Cont. from pg 15
That day would see both
Gallacher and McDonald
register hat-tricks in what was
ONE OF THE FIRST victory. It
an impressive 8-1 PLAYERS
TO was only the DON A time this
NOT ONLY second BLACK
& WHITE JERSEY, BUT ALSO
particular feat had been
THE FAMED NUMBERbrief
achieved in United’s NINE,
WAS TO BE THE WEE being in
history, the previous
SCOTSMAN HIMSELF,Division
the opening, Second
HUGHIE GALLACHER. against
campaign, of 1893-94,
The diminutive (Wallace
Woolwich Arsenaladdition to
the United frontline arrived on in a
and Thompson the scorers
Tyneside from Scottish side
6-0 win).
Airdrieonians in separate spells
Two 1925. By the time
he left five toe championship season,
during years later the £6500 fee
paidOctoberbe an absolute bargain as
would 30th to December 25th
the striker matches) he was known to
(eight did what and March 5th to
do best, tear apart matches), would
April 5th (six the opposition.
see Gallacher’s time with the
Gallacher net ten times over
Magpies would see him top the
each. The second of those
scoring charts in each of thosesee him
scoring sequences would five
seasons, eventually amassing an
net the only goal in the Tyneincrediblederby, at home, in174 of
Wear 143 goals in just front
appearances, including nettingof his
what was a seasonal high on
debut and the start of every season.
67,211 spectators.
The debut, against of those on
For all Everton goalDecember 12th, would see ‘wee
scoring exploits though the
Hughie’ net a brace in a match that
Scotsman would be seen to
would finish level at 3-3 (Stan
manage just three goals in the
Seymour would score the other). He
final six matches of the season,
would finish the ‘season’ with 25
United claiming the title by five
goals in just 22 games.
points from second-placed
Huddersfield.
THE NUMBER
Although that season would
Including the title success
see Gallacher’s only debut double on
Gallacher would be seen flowed and,
Tyneside, the goals still to score
seventhe remaining three seasons he
over times in his first four matches,
and seventeen in the first eleven of
would open each campaign with a
his United career. The Scotsman
goal, or three. However , the
running the English defencescould
highest league position that ragged
in every way. during his remaining
be registered
time atWithin hiswas to haul for the
the club, early be ninth, in
club there would netting with aon
1928, Gallacher be a hat-trick hatChristmas Day as the Magpies fellon
trick against Huddersfield, going to
a crushing 6-3 defeat wasMerseyside
to score 21 times. It on to be his
to Liverpool. He followed that treble
only treble of a season that would
up with ajust two braces, atDay at to
also see brace on Boxing home
home against the sameas United
Sheffield Wednesday side.
As the goal thriller, and
edged a sevenNew Year dawned,
January 2nd would see the number
again on New Year’s Eve, again
nine put visiting Bolton to theat
over Huddersfield, this time sword,
scoring four times as United notched
home but losing 3-2.
up a 5-1United though was fast first
win. The reminder of his
season would see United’s newof
becoming reliant on the goals goalmachine carry on in the same vein as
Gallacher and he would account for
there a third (24 doubles against West
near were to be of 70) during the
Ham, Leicester and Bury in the of
1928-29 season, close to half (34
league hiswell as Aberdare Athletic in
71) in as final season when on
the FA Cup on January 19th.
league duty. Again though Hughie
The 23rd, 24th and 25th goals
would score in each of the season’s
of what was a prolific start to his
openers, the first in a 1-1 draw
career not only in United colours, but
when at home to Cardiff and a hatEnglish football as a whole, came on
trick in a 4-1 home win over
the final day of the season. May 1st
Manchester United.
9
S
The latter wouldn’t be the first treble
he would Gallacher’s new employers
would see score against Manchester
sides. tenth the 1928-29 campaign
claim aDuringplaced finish courtesy of
Gallacher win over relegated
a 3-2 homewould hit both Manchester
City (away City. The frontman and
Manchester on November 10th)would
Manchester United (home side as
score all three for the home on February
9th) for three. The win over the
they finished with an impressive Red
Devils avenged a best return since
ninety goals (their 5-0 rout from earlier
in the the third of the same score.
1906), season with which would be a
century A further highlightrelegated
conceded by their for
Gallacher
visitors. during his spell with the
Magpies seasonal best intake black &
A would see him the a brace,
including a penalty, in what was a
white of United would be registered
derby thriller season for the club,
in his first full at St. James’ Park,
United claiming a 4-3 victory in their
1926-27, as the Magpies claimed front
of a 66,275 crowd.
fourth (and last), League
During his for in a black &
Championship. Notspellthe first time
white shirt the Magpies would net
in English football, Gallacher would
more than the goals, None however
race out of 400blocks. Gallacher would
weigh in with 143 as this including
would be as prolificof them,opener
on his final match for the wee
when, on August 29th, the club, scoring
the only would smash all four in West
Scotsmangoal in a 1-0 win against a
4-0 home rout of Astonclub has front
Ham. His tally for the Villa in only
of 36,000 spectators.
been surpassed by three other players,
It was itself considering of
impressive in