Jackie Gallagher (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Jackie Gallagher


fullname = John Christopher Gallagher
height = height|ft=5|in=11
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1958|04|06|df=y
cityofbirth = Wisbech
countryofbirth = England
position = Forward
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1975–1978
1978–1979
1978–1980
1980–1981
1981–1982
1982–1983
1983–1984
1984–1985
1985–1987
1987–1989
1988–1989
1988–1989
1989–1990
1989–1992
1991–1992

1993–1994

1995–1998(?)
1999–2000
2000–2008
clubs =Lincoln City
King's Lynn
Wisbech Town
Peterborough United
Eastern AA
Torquay United
Drogheda United
Wisbech Town
Peterborough United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
→ Wisbech Town (loan)
→ Kettering Town (loan)
Boston United
King's Lynn
Grantham Town
Diss Town
King's Lynn
Fakenham Town
Wisbech Town
Chatteris Town
Wisbech Town
caps(goals) = 001 0(0)
"00? 0(1)"
013 0(1)
042 0(7)
082 (20)
027 0(4)
"017 0(0)"
"00? (24)"
"001 0(0)"
"00? 0(4)"
manageryears = 2003–2004
managerclubs = Wisbech Town

John Christopher Gallagher (born 6 April 1958 in Wisbech) is an English former professional footballer who played 165 games in the lower division of the Football League, scoring 32 goals.

He is currently the Under-18 team manager of non-league Wisbech Town, a club for whom he made first team appearances for during his teenage years, his 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.

Career

Gallagher, a forward, began his career in the youth team at Guyhirn where an impressive appearance in a youth cup final against Wisbech Town in 1973 saw him switch clubs to the Fenmen, making his first-team debut at the end of the 1973-74 season in the first leg of the county cup final against Willingham. [cite web
url=http://www.fenlandcitizen.co.uk/sport/Jackie-to-take-a-final.4030440.jp?articlepage=1
title=Jackie to taka a final bow
publisher=Fenland Citizen
date=30 April, 2008
accessdate=2008-06-11] He moved on to March Town United before joining Lincoln City in February 1976. His league debut came the following season, but turned out to be his only league appearance for the "Imps" and he returned to non-league football, joining King's Lynn.

He moved to Wisbech Town in 1978, from where he joined Peterborough United in April 1980. However, he played only 13 league games for Peterborough and left league football again, playing in Hong Kong with Eastern AA alongside Bobby Moore.

In August 1982 he joined Bruce Rioch's Torquay United on non-contract terms following his return to the UK. He was rewarded with a one year contract, scoring seven times in 42 league games as well as the winning goal in the FA Cup tie at home to Oxford United that saw the Gulls through to the Fourth Round for only the fourth time in their history. Despite a successful season, he left at the end of it, joining Irish side Drogheda United.

After returning to Wisbech Town, he rejoined another of his former clubs, Peterborough United, in August 1985. His second spell proved his most strongest in league football, as he netted 20 goals in 82 league games, earning a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers in June 1987. He found opportunities limited at Molineux due to the prolific partnership of Steve Bull and Andy Mutch, but did play at Wembley in their victory in the Sherpa Van Trophy in May 1988. He was loaned to both Wisbech Town and Kettering Town during the following season before being released in September 1989, and joining Conference side Boston United.

He made his Conference debut on 27 September 1989 at home to Enfield and remained with Boston until 1990. He subsequently went on to play for King's Lynn, Grantham Town, Diss Town, Fakenham Town. He linked up with Chatteris Town scoring on his debut in the 2-1 away defeat to Whitton United on 4 March 2000. [cite web
url=http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/NONLEAGUE-ROUNDUP.426738.jp
title=Non-league round-up
publisher=The Evening Telegraph
date=6 March, 2000
accessdate=2008-06-11]

He returned to Wisbech Town in 2000, where he was also reserve team manager. He was promoted to manager of Wisbech Town in June 2003, [cite web
url=http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/NONLEAGUE-Gallagher-is-new-Wisbech.551474.jp
title=Gallagher is new Wisbech boss
publisher=The Evening Telegraph
date=27 June, 2003
accessdate=2008-06-11] but was sacked in October 2004 after Wisbech had gone nine games without a win. He later returned to the coaching staff at Wisbech and played his last match for Wisbech in 2005, in the reserves. At the age of 50, Jackie made a celebratory final appearance for Wisbech, coming on for the final five minutes of the 2-1 home victory over Woodbridge Town on 3 May, 2008. [cite web
url=http://www.fenlandcitizen.co.uk/sport/Jackie39s-special-day.4053602.jp
title=Jackie's special day
date=7 May, 2008
publisher=Fenland Citizen
accessdate=2008-06-11]

References

External links

* [http://www.redimps.com/archive3/index.mv?cat=players&drop=playerdetsdrop&play=gall02 Lincoln City F.C. Official Archive Profile]
* [http://www.thegingerbreads.co.uk/gtfcstats/player.php?id=272 Grantham Town F.C. Profile]
* [http://www.wolvesheroes.com/2008/09/24/a-jack-of-all-trades/ Wolves feature]