Gallagher, James (1996-2000)

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Personal

Name: James Gallagher
Date of Birth: 13.2.80
Birthplace: Letterkenny
Nationality: Irish
Height: 6' (183cm)
Position: Goalkeeper
Signed: July 1996
Left:
International Caps 0
International Goals 0

Biog

James GallagherA schoolboy goalkeeping prodigy brought to the attention of his fellow Donegal man Pat Bonner as early as 1994. He trained under Bonner's watchful eye when school allowed and also played for the first team of local Junior club Glenea United before moving to Glasgow full-time in July 1996. This was just as Bonner's last protégé from Donegal, Shay Given, was establishing himself as a full internationalist having criminally been let go by Celtic a couple of years previously.

Despite various injury setbacks Gallagher was nevertheless rated by the club and after progressing from youths to reserves actually made the bench for a first team league League match against Dunfermline, a 5-0 home win on 19.12.98.

Notwithstanding this he struggled to overcome some fairly stiff competition from Corr, McCondichie and Morrison amongst others because he underwent seven knee surgery's in his four years at the club. Likewise at Ireland's famous European U18 Championship win in 1998, O'Reilly of West Ham and Delaney of Everton were chosen instead of Gallagher who was recovering from knee surgery,Gallagher had featured in the qualification rounds.He left Celtic in June 2000 under recommendation from the club physio and doctor to take a year out and total break from playing.He was next seen joining St Patrick's Athletic the following summer, publicised as a signing direct from Celtic.

At St. Pat's James struggled to dislodge their highly-rated incumbent custodian, an Englishman named Adamson who later turned out for Sheffield Wednesday and Stockport. This led to a move back to Donegal and Finn Harps FC in 2004 where he enjoyed more luck when winning the eircom First Division trophy for the first time in the clubs history and gained promotion to the eircom Premier Division, A brief spell on loan to Dublin City where he also gained promotion the following season was immediately followed by a prospective move to Glenavon which was aborted at the eleventh hour but Gallagher recovered to reclaim the gloves at Finn Harps.

He continued as the regular netminder until the culmination of the 2008 season when he retired due to his persistent knee injuries and accepted a position as the club's Assistant Manager. In his final season Gallagher had been named player of the year, but this – and even the continued presence of the old warhorse Declan Boyle – could not prevent Harps' relegation to eircom Division One. Gallagher went on to become Manager of Finn Harps in 2009 and was sacked by the club after 7 league games of the 2011 season, Gallagher is currently Goalkeeping Coach at Derry City.

Playing Career

League Appearances League Goals
1995/96 Glenlea United ? ?
1996/97 Celtic 0 0
1997/98 Celtic 0 0
1998/99 Celtic 0 0
1999/00 Celtic 0 0
2000/01
2001/02 St. Patrick's Athletic 2 0
2002/03 St. Patrick's Athletic 3 0
2003 St. Patrick's Athletic 1 0
2004 Finn Harps 33 0
2005 Dublin City (L) 18 0
2006 Finn Harps 30 0
2007 Finn Harps 35 0
2008 Finn Harps 24 0

Awards

Republic of Ireland U15-U18-U19 Internationalist

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