By Dave Eadevic
December 12 2009

Newcastle United has had many great number nines. My first number nine hero was Supermac, who my Granddad never ceased telling me was no where near as good as Milburn. I remember telling people that Cole wasn't as good as MacDonald and realistically up until Shearer, if you asked 5 Geordies of different ages who was the best, you would probably get five different answers.

It was 1925 when Newcastle paid six and a half grand to Aidrieonians for Hughie Gallagher, in his first season he netted 23 times in 19 games and going on to net 36 times in 38 the following season as he led us to the first Division title, the top scorer in each of the next three seasons on Tyneside Hughie marked his status as a hero.

However life was never straight forward for the little Scot, he liked a drink, and was not adverse to a punch up and a pretty face either all of which combined to cause him a lifetime's worth of trouble.

After meeting a 17 year old daughter of a pub landlord, he found himself in court after thumping her brother, who had objected to his sister seeing a married man.

Hughie eventually divorced his wife to be with the younger woman, but the divorce left him almost bankrupt. He decided that the best way out of his mess would be a transfer to Chelsea.

Problems with alcohol continued no matter where he was though; he was once accused of being drunk on the pitch, which he denied stating he had merely used a whiskey mouth-wash.

A 54 year old Gallagher was due in front of Gateshead magistrates; it was an appointment he would never keep, as the day before he has threw himself under a train, ending what was undoubted a flawed life, but a life of arguably the best centre forward to lay for Newcastle.

Flawed Genius!

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 12/12/2009 21:00

TyneTalk
12/12/2009 21:00

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senyabtoon
12/12/2009 22:14

first class bit of info on Hughie i never knew.
i did know of his prolific goal record but not of his tainted personal life nice little piece this

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TOONTILLIDIE
15/12/2009 18:04

Enjoyed the read, but a shame he had to had that life outside football

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