Paul Gallacher

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There is another Scottish footballer called Paul Gallagher, with a "g".

Personal information
Paul Gallacher
Full name	Paul Gallacher
Date of birth	August 16, 1979
Place of birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Norwich City
Number	21
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1997-2004 1999-2000 2004- 2004 2005	Dundee United Airdrie United (loan) Norwich City Gillingham (loan) Sheffield Wednesday (loan)	121 (0) 9 (0) 15 (0) 3 (0) 8 (0)
National team**
2002-	Scotland	7 (0)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14/10/2006. ** National team caps and goals correct as of 14/10/2006.

Paul Gallacher (born (16 August 1979) is a Scottish professional football goalkeeper currently playing for Norwich City. He is the son of Jim Gallacher, a goalkeeper who played Scottish League Football for 22 years between 1968 and 1990, firstly with Arbroath and more famously with Clydebank.

Gallacher started his career with Dundee United and spent seven years with the club. He had a short loan spell at Airdrieonians in 1999 but became first choice with Dundee United at the start of 2001.

Gallacher was a regular for Berti Vogts' Scotland teams, winning a 7 caps. Gallacher left Dundee United to join Norwich City in July 2004 on a free transfer. He looked to be second-choice goalkeeper under Robert Green, but just days before the start of the Premiership season, City signed Darren Ward and pushed Gallacher down to third choice.

He had a loan spell at Gillingham in 2004 but was recalled after an injury to Ward. Gallacher was on the bench for City a couple of times but never came on. In March 2005 he joined Paul Sturrock's Sheffield Wednesday on loan and looked solid and capable but he was sent off against Bristol City in his 8th game and soon thereafter lost his place. He did not play in the play-off final win against Hartlepool United, although he was on the bench.

Gallacher played in the last few matches of the 2005-06 season for Norwich following an injury to Robert Green. There was speculation concerning Gallacher's future as his contract was due to expire in the summer of 2006, however his impressive performances at the end of that season led to him being offered a new two year deal, which he subsequently signed.

Green was still unfit at the start of the 2006-7 season, and Gallacher resumed his position between the posts. When Green then signed for Premiership team West Ham, his position as first-choice keeper seemed assumed, but an injury to young understudy Joe Lewis led to the signing of Lee Camp on loan from Derby County F.C. and press comments from Camp and Nigel Worthington along the lines of Camp pushing for a first team spot.

New Norwich manager Peter Grant dropped Gallacher in favour of loan signing Jamie Ashdown for his first home game in charge of the team against Cardiff City on 21 October 2006, although he praised the way that Gallacher handled the disappointment by helping Ashdown prepare for the match in training. Gallacher was restored to the side for the League Cup match against Port Vale on 24 October 2006 due to Ashdown being cup-tied. The match went to penalties after a 0-0 draw and although Gallacher saved Vale's first two penalties, Norwich went on to lose the shoot-out. Ashdown returned to goal to face Stoke in the following game but was sent off during the game which Norwich lost 5-0. Gallagher was then restored to the number one slot in Ashdowns absence and has since gone on to keep two clean sheets in three starts since the Stoke game.