Crane leap signalled end of Brian’s days at Thistle
PARTICK THISTLE entertain Aberdeen on Tuesday night and it’s a vital fixture for both clubs.
The Jags are desperate to keep clear of the relegation zone, while the Dons look to move within one point of Celtic at the top.
Thistle midfielder Steven Lawless has been linked with a move away from the club at the end of the season but has said he’s in no rush to make a decision about his future.
Things were a bit different for players of an earlier era.
Brian Gallagher burst on to the scene as a 17-year-old Partick Thistle scoring sensation in 1964.
Four years later he was on his way out of Firhill – after leaping 35 feet off a crane to save his life.
He recalled: “We used to get our cards every summer so that we could work during the close season and make a few bob.
“I was working at Anderson’s sawmill in Dumbarton when I was nearly hit by a giant hook on a crane. “I jumped off and landed on my feet. “My feet were black and blue for weeks and I damaged my knee cartilage.
“Scott Symon had taken over from Willie Thornton as manager at Thistle and that was the end of my time at the club.
“I was able to get myself fit again and stayed in the First Division with Morton.”
Brian first came to the attention of the footballing public when he played two games in 24 hours.
He went on: “I scored two goals past Frank Haffey in a 4-2 win over Celtic reserves on the Friday and was then put into the first team the following day.
“Within 17 minutes I’d scored on my debut to put us 1-0 up against Motherwell.
“Unfortunately, they came back and got two goals to win the match.”
Two years later, the former Drumchapel Amateurs outside- right became the Jags’ first-ever substitute.
Players’ preparation was very different in the ’60s.
Brian said: “Sometimes we’d be warming up in the tunnel and the physio would hand out a cigarette.
“It would then be passed back down the line. I never smoked and I remember our captain Davie McParland not being pleased, but quite a few players were smokers then.
“If it was an especially cold day we’d get a couple of double brandies to warm us up before kick-off.
“We were always looking to make a bit of extra money in those days.
“I had a friend who would sit outside Firhill in my Isetta bubble car assembling clocks for me to sell.
“I remember my dad going to see Willie Thornton to get an update on my progress.
“After the meeting he told me my attitude was great but I should put on a bit of weight.
“My dad then advised me to stop selling the clocks because I was now in a high- profile position and the club wouldn’t like it.
“He didn’t know the manager had just bought a dozen from me!”
Brian left Firhill with a winner’s medal from a five- a- side tournament as his only honour.
He was part of a club quiz team ( pictured above) but recalls most of the brains being in their feet.
He spent a year with Morton playing alongside the likes of Bobby Collins and Joe Harper.
Following two seasons with Dumbarton, he played Junior football and worked in a whisky bond.