Cowboy

Hughie Gallacher was a Scottish footballer. Born in Bellshill (as I was) he went on to score 387 goals in 545 league appearances and 24 international goals in just 20 games for Scotland. An unlikely centre forward as he was only 5 foot 5 inches tall. He started his professional career at Airdrieonians, nicknamed “The Diamonds”, moved to Newcastle United (where he was known as “The King”) and then on to Chelsea for a reputed £5000 fee! He was one of the original Wembley Wizards, so called because they were unfancied to beat England at Wembley stadium in 1928 but won 1 – 5. Always anti-authoritarian Hughie found himself in trouble and summonsed to court after a domestic incident involving his son Hughie took his own life by walking in front of an express train. He was just 54. Other teams he played for were; Queen of the South; Derby County; Notts County; Grimsby Town and Gateshead. Wee Hughie Was A Diamond Have you heard the rumour? It’s goin’ roon and roon They say they’ve sold Wee Hughie And he’s heading for the Toon The boys are in an uproar Say they’ll burn the whole place doon They say the sold Wee Hughie And he’s heading for the Toon But Wee Hughie was a Diamond And a Wizard and The King From Lanarkshire tae the Gallowgate You could hear the people sing For Hughie Have you read the papers? It’s there in black and white They say they’ve sold Wee Hughie And he’s heading South tonight They’ve made a pretty penny But that doesn’t make it right They say they’ve sold Wee Hughie And he’s heading South tonight But Wee Hughie was a Diamond And a Wizard and The King From Lanarkshire tae the Gallowgate You could hear the people sing For Hughie Have you heard the story? Of the brave wee boys in blue The papers gie’d them no chance But what do the papers know? Wee Hughie and the Wizards They waved their magic wands The papers gie’d them no chance But the papers aye are wrong But Wee Hughie was a Diamond And a Wizard and The King From Lanarkshire tae the Gallowgate You could hear the people sing For Hughie Have you heard the rumour? It’s goin’ roon and roon They say they saw Wee Hughie Just traipsing through the toon He didnae speak to no-one He just wandered on alone They say they saw Wee Hughie Driftin’ goalless on his own But Wee Hughie was a Diamond And a Wizard and The King From Lanarkshire tae the Gallowgate You could hear the people sing For Hughie Poor wee Hughie