Patsy didn't go to war ... but he kept up the moral of the Irish during the dark days !! Patrick Gallagher was born in Milford, County Donegal. He was a soccer interna-tional and joined Glasgow Celtic at the age of seventeen. He won four Scottish Cup medals and six Scottish League Championship medals with Glasgow Celtic. Between 1911 and 1926 he scored one hundred and eighty-four goals in four hundred and thirty-six matches. He later played for Falkirk from 1926 to 1932. He won eleven caps for Northern Ireland between 1920 and 1927 and also a cap for the Irish Free State. Ramelton, home of Swilly Rovers, re-affirmed its soccer roots when another plaque was unveiled at a house just off the Cross on Main Street, next to where once stood the humble cottage in which Patsy Gallagher was born. Unlike his Presbyterian neighbour, Patsy Gallagher (1891-1953) was born into desperate poverty, emigrating to Clydebank, Glasgow, with his family at the age of eight. Despite his thin, frail appearance, he quickly gained a reputation as a skilled footballer, making his debut for Celtic at Parkhead in 1911. Earning the nickname "The Mighty Atom", he scored 192 goals in 569 appearances with the club, to earn sixth place in Celtic's all-time scoring records. Patsy Gallagher – The Mighty Atom Born in No.1, Bridge St., Ramelton, Co. Donegal in 1893 Served his time as a shipwright In 1911 Joined Celtic Played at No.8, inside right. Scored 187 goals in 432 appearances. Transferred from Celtic to Falkirk in 1926 for £1500 as Celtic thought he was “past it” and only offered him the minimum wage. Last played with Falkirk 1932. Patsy Gallagher –The Maradonna of His Age Celtic, Scottish Cup Winners 1914 Patsy Gallagher’s Scottish Honours List Scottish Cup 1911, 1913, 1922, 1924 ------------------------- League Championship 1913,1914,1915, 1916, 1918, 1921, 1925 ----------------------------------------------- Glasgow Cup !911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917, 1919,19201923,1925 ----------------------- Patsy in Action Patsy's Irish International Honours Caps v. Scotland 1920,1922, 1923,1924,1925,1927. v. England 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925. v. Wales 1923, 1924, 1925. --------------- Irish Free State v. Spain, 1931 --------------- Scottish Tour in Canada, 1927 Magic Moments in the Scottish Cup Final 1925 from “The World’s Greatest Soccer Player, Patsy Gallagher” “Dundee were leading 1-0 and despondency was creeping into the fans when Patsy, as so often before, produced a moment of pure elation. Getting the ball just inside the Dundee half, he rolled past challenge after challenge, sometimes appearing in danger of toppling over as he swerved and swayed dangerously close to the ground. No Dundee boot or body could stop him completely as he veered, sure foot as a young deer, towards their goalmouth. Finally a heavy, desperate tackle grounded him inside the six-yard box. Patsy hit the ground and for an instant his brave effort seemed to be at an end. But Patsy had not yet parted company with the ball, which remained between his feet. A quick somersault and both Patsy and the ball ended up entangled in the Dundee net for the most unorthodox goal in a Scottish Cup Final. ‘There was something magical, “out of this world”, about it’ the Dundee players said. It was the greatest feat of skill and determination they had ever seen on a football field.’” He was then aged 32.“Anyone who treated Gallagher badly got his own medicine back, nor did it matter the size, the bigger they were, the harder they fell.” http://www.gallagherclan.org/sporting_soccer_patsy.aspx
