Club Overview
Ground: Ynys Park
Seasons Played: 1914-1915 and 1919-1921
Position: Centre-half
Known Appearances: To be researched
Known Goals Scored: To be researched
Sources: Ton Pentre Blog, Terence Gallacher’s memoirs, newspaper reports and match coverage.
Patrick Gallacher at Ton Pentre
Patrick Gallacher joined Ton Pentre for the 1914-15 season from Barrow AFC. Upon his arrival he was appointed club captain, an indication of the high regard in which he was already held.
Perhaps the best introduction to Gallacher’s arrival in South Wales came from a report published in his former hometown newspaper.
“I have received a copy of Thomson’s Weekly News, from which I cull the following par relating to ‘Pat’ Gallacher, Barrow’s former captain and centre-half:
‘Pat’ Gallacher, who has been appointed captain of Ton Pentre, is probably the most brainy centre-half in the Second Division Southern League. He was considered to be one of the best half-backs in the Lancashire Combination last season.
Ton Pentre and Mid-Rhondda have yet to begin, and I believe the former club will surprise many. They have made some good captures, and Charlie Murray, the Pontypridd left full-back, considers that ‘Pat’ Gallacher will prove to be the finest centre-half in South Wales.’
Good luck, ‘Pat’; you fought many heroic games for Barrow, and may you do well with your new club.”
The Mail, 19 September 1914.
Patrick quickly established himself in the side and newspaper reports regularly praised his performances.
Following a defeat against Stoke in the Southern League, one report commented:
“The veteran Pat Gallacher played a wonderful game at centre-half for Ton Pentre, and he was ably supported by Chetwynd on his left.”
Birmingham Gazette, 5 October 1914.
War and Football
By October 1914 Britain was already at war with Germany, and many footballers faced difficult decisions about their future. In January 1915, at the age of 33, Patrick Gallacher volunteered for military service.
A contemporary report noted:
“In Pentre last week 103 were enrolled, including Pat Gallacher, the captain of the Ton Pentre AFC.”
Western Mail, 12 January 1915.
Like many professional footballers who enlisted during the First World War, Gallacher attempted to balance military commitments with football whenever circumstances allowed.
Shortly after his enlistment, the South Wales Argus reported:
“Following the lead set by Pat Gallacher (the Ton Pentre AFC captain), Tanner, the clever left-back of the same club, has joined the colours. Both he and Gallacher will continue to assist the Ton Pentre club whenever their military duties will allow them to get away.”
South Wales Argus, 28 January 1915.
Ton Pentre went on to win the Welsh Football League championship for the first time and finished sixth in Division Two of the Southern Football League.
Gallacher would subsequently join the Footballers’ Battalion and serve during the war.
Return to Ton Pentre
Following the war, Patrick returned to Ton Pentre and began a second spell with the club.
As well as continuing to play, he increasingly acted as a scout and recruiter. In 1919 he encouraged former Barrow teammate Ben Ives to join Ton Pentre.
TON PENTRE MAKING READY FOR THE FRAY.
Pat Gallagher, as skipper of the Ton Pentre Association Football Club, has now got quite a useful bunch of well-known and experienced players at his command.
Included in the “first line” are the following:—Goal, Arthur Hanney and Reed; backs, Tanner, Holmes, Roberts, and Hines (Clapton Orient); halves, Gallagher, Bowler (Luton), McGarrity (Airdrieonians), Roseburn (Ross), Fulham; forwards, Jimmy Flynn, Dalrymple (Clapton Orient), Benny Ives (Clapton Orient), Jimmy Jones, Lowdell, Edwin Rees, E. A. Adamson (Marsden), and Bourne (West Ham).
There are rumours of more to come, and Pat Gallagher is prospecting! In addition to the above the Bulldogs will also be assisted by a clever sprinkling of amateurs and in this way an ideal school for talent will be made available for local lads
Western Mail, 9 August 1920
Patrick Gallacher also contacted his friend, Celtic legend Jimmy McMenemy, seeking recommendations for suitable players. McMenemy replied warmly and offered to keep an eye open for promising talent.
One of the most memorable matches of Patrick’s second spell came in November 1919 when Ton Pentre faced fierce rivals Mid-Rhondda in an FA Cup tie at Tonypandy.
Played before a crowd reported as 12,000, with estimates suggesting as many as 20,000 spectators were present, Ton Pentre won 2-1 despite Patrick scoring an own goal during the match.
A Lasting Reputation
Gallacher left Ton Pentre in 1921, but his contribution to the club was not forgotten.
More than thirty years later, his time in South Wales was highlighted in his obituary:
“Coming to Ton Pentre as a professional soccer player, he was given the captaincy and in this capacity, together with his sterling play at centre-half, he brought the team from obscurity to win the championship of the Welsh League and to annex the South Wales and Mon. Cup on several occasions.”
The tribute reflected the esteem in which he continued to be held long after his playing career had ended.
