By the end of the 1906/07 season, Patrick Gallacher’s football career appeared to have stalled. An injury against New Brompton in December 1906 was followed by a lengthy absence from the first team, and he made only three further appearances for the reserves before leaving Luton Town in the summer of 1907.
The reasons for his omission from the side are unclear. However, what must have seemed a disappointing end to his time in Bedfordshire would soon be followed by a remarkable revival in Scotland.
At the end of his first season with Luton Town, he re-signed for a second season. The end of his time at Luton would have been a frustrating; he was resident in Luton and married Alice in September 1906 and by Patrick’s last game with Luton Town, they would have known a baby was on the way too.
Patrick signed for Partick Thistle, it was announced in the local press in August 1907:
“Partick Thistle have not been idle during the close season, and Manager Easton expects to fix up a back and a forward from the South Country during the course of the next few days. Gallacher, of Luton, who formerly played with Duntocher Hibs, is expected to do well at centre half.”
It didn’t take long for Patrick to make an impression, catching the reporters eye from their opening match of the season against Morton.
“Gallocher, from Luton, figured at centre-half with great credit. He was originally a forward with Duntocher Hibs, but has thickened out considerably since then. Once he becomes better acquainted at Meadowside he shoud be even more successful than he was on Saturday.”
Scottish Referee 19 August 1907
The following week against Dundee away, he was still gaining plaudits:
“Patrick Thistle have a splendid centre-half in Gallacher. He did the work of two players, and was a master at breaking up combination. He was continually on the track of “sailor” Hunter, and this had a lot to do with the ineffectiveness of the local pivot and his famous head twisters.”
Dundee Courier, 26 August 1907.
After the defeat to Third Lanark in the Glasgow Cup, in an interview Partick goalkeeper Willie Howden talked about Patrick Gallacher:
“We have also in Gallacher, a centre half who is without his superior in Scotland, bar Charlie Thomson”.
Dundee Weekly, 28 September 1907
This was extraordinary praise. Thomson was not only Hearts’ centre-half but also a Scottish international, widely regarded as one of the finest players in the country.
Within little more than a month, Gallacher had progressed from a promising new signing to being compared with one of Scotland’s finest players.
What had seemed a disappointing end at Luton became the beginning of a new phase in Patrick’s career. At Partick Thistle he not only restored his reputation at a higher level of football, but also established himself in the position that would define the rest of his playing days. From this point forward, Patrick Gallacher would be known as a centre-half.
