Paul Gallacher

Paul Gallacher

Gallacher playing for St. Mirren
Personal information
Full name	Paul Gallacher
Date of birth	(1979-08-16) 16 August 1979
Place of birth	Deaconsbank, Glasgow, Scotland
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Partick Thistle
Number	12
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1997–2004	Dundee United	121	(0)
1999–2000	→ Airdrieonians (loan)	9	(0)
2004–2007	Norwich City	31	(0)
2004	→ Gillingham (loan)	3	(0)
2005	→ Sheffield Wednesday (loan)	12	(0)
2007	→ Dunfermline Athletic (loan)	13	(0)
2008–2009	Dunfermline Athletic	53	(0)
2009–2011	St. Mirren	62	(0)
2011–2013	Dunfermline Athletic	46	(0)
2013	Ross County	1	(0)
2013–	Partick Thistle	3	(0)
National team‡
1999–2000	Scotland under-21	12	(0)
2002–2007	Scotland B	5	(0)
2002–	Scotland	7	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 March 2013. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 February 2011

Paul Gallacher born in Deaconsbank, Glasgow (16 August 1979) is a Scottish professional football goalkeeper currently playing for Partick Thistle. He also made seven appearances for the Scottish national team. He is the son of Jim Gallacher, a goalkeeper who played in the Scottish Football League for 22 years, firstly with Arbroath and more famously with Clydebank.^[1]

Career

Dundee United

Gallacher started his career with Gleniffer Thistle Boys Club, then signed S Form with Dundee United after he left school in 1996 and spent eight years with the club. He had a short loan spell at Lochee United and Airdrieonians in 1999 but became first choice with Dundee United at the start of 2001, replacing Alan Combe in the team. Gallacher was highly regarded by United supporters, who claimed at the time that he was 'Scotland's Number One' goalkeeper. Gallacher was a regular for Berti Vogts' Scotland teams, winning 7 caps.

Norwich

Gallacher left Dundee United to join Norwich City in July 2004 on a free transfer. The Canaries had just been promoted to the Premiership. He looked to be second-choice goalkeeper under Robert Green, but just days before the start of the Premiership season Gallacher got injured and 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 performed well but was sent off against Bristol City in his eighth 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 2006–07 season, and Gallacher retained his place in the side. When Green then signed for Premiership team West Ham, his position as first-choice keeper seemed assumed.

Previous manager Nigel Worthington was sacked in October. Peter Grant was installed as the new manager and when watching his first city game from the stands against QPR, Gallacher was at fault for a last minute QPR equaliser. This led to Grant signing Jamie Ashdown on loan for a month. However Ashdown was sent off in his second game and Gallacher regained his place after this. Gallacher injured his foot against Hull and Lee Camp on loan from Derby came in for three games.

In January 2007 in the 3–1 defeat against Plymouth Gallacher was at fault for two of the goals. After this Grant once again brought in another keeper on loan in Scotland international David Marshall. Marshall was supposed to be at City for the rest of the season but in the 4–0 FA cup defeat to Chelsea Marshall was injured and ruled out for the rest of the season. Once again Gallacher was first choice keeper. However after three games Gallacher made another mistake in the match against Luton. Tony Warner was brought in on loan and he became Cities fifth goalkeeper of the season. Warner went on to play in the remaining games of the season.

Gallacher was fourth choice keeper going into the 2007–08 season and his future at Norwich looked very bleak. He was loaned out to Dunfermline until January but in January his City contract was terminated by mutual consent.

Dunfermline Athletic

On 20 August 2007, Gallacher moved on loan to Scottish First Division side Dunfermline Athletic.^[2] He helped them earn valuable points with stunning penalty saves against Dundee and Queen of the South. On 31 December 2007, Gallacher's contract with Norwich City was terminated by mutual consent with immediate effect.^[3] One day later, it was officially announced that Gallacher had joined Dunfermline Athletic until the end of the season.^[4] After being arguably the best keeper in the division for most of the season, Gallacher signed a new contract with the Pars.^[5][6]

St Mirren

St. Mirren signed Gallacher on a two-year deal in 2009, which allowed Gallacher to play in the Scottish Premier League. Following an excellent start to the 2009–10 season, Gallacher was called up to the Scotland squad for the friendly match against Wales. He went on to make 77 appearances in all competitions for St Mirren.

Dunfermline Athletic (return)

On 9 June 2011 Gallacher signed a 2-year contract with Dunfermline Athletic.^[7][8] Gallacher had a very good start to the 2011–12 season, saving penalty kicks against St. Mirren and St. Johnstone, which earned him the SPL player of the month award for July / August 2011.^[9] He continued to play regularly for Dunfermline until a shoulder injury suffered in December, which has ruled him out for the rest of the season.^[10]

Partick Thistle

Paul Gallacher signed for Scottish Premiership side Partick Thistle in May 2013, on a one year deal with the offer of a further extension. As well as a squad player, he joined as a Goalkeeping Coach.^[11] He made his competitive debut for Thistle on the 28th September 2013, during a 1-1 at St. Johnstone. He had to wait a further four months to make his home debut, during a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock on the 18th January 2014.^[12]

Career statistics

After 11 October 2008

References

External links

• Paul Gallacher career stats at Soccerbase
• Profile at dafc.co.uk