Joe Gallagher - The big interview

The amiable defender, who spent time with both Wolves and Monday’s opponents

West Ham following a tremendous career making his name at Birmingham City, departed Molineux in somewhat acrimonious circumstances towards the end of 1982.

Circumstances which bely his personality as a gentle giant who has always had time for everyone and always been ready to enjoy plenty of footballing chat and company, both during his career and since hanging up his boots.

It’s a story that has to be read to be believed, hailing from very different times!

So, the tale goes, midway through the promotion-winning 1982/83 season, Gallagher’s second at Molineux, he turned up at training one morning to find his team-mates sat around and not showing any inclination to get changed in preparation for training.

They had been asked to take their places for a team picture for new sponsors Tatung but, given the commercial focus of the activity, felt they should be recompensed in some way.

Former striker and chairman Derek Dougan was none too pleased, and the players eventually relented, with the exception of Gallagher, who felt they should have waited it out to see how the situation developed.

“Being stubborn, I stayed in the dressing room before going into the groundsman’s room to look through the window as the photo was taken on the pitch,” Gallagher reports.

“Not much else was said that morning but when I arrived for training the next day, Jim Barron (assistant to manager Graham Hawkins) told me to pop up to the secretary’s office where I was given a letter, and told I was in breach of contract by not appearing on an official team photo.

“And that was the end of my time at Wolves.”

Gallagher was effectively dismissed for not appearing in a team photograph. Imagine that happening today!

Perhaps the backdrop behind the scenes that he was one of the highest earners at Molineux at the time, and had lost his place in the team, might also have played its part.

Regrets? There are certainly a few.

“I was stupid and 100 per cent to blame,” he reflected. “I had always been a good boy and never liked confrontation.

“One thing I will say though, I would never ever have refused to play a game of football – there wasn’t a cat in hell’s chance of that happening.”

It had all started so well at Wolves for Gallagher, being named captain and helping his new team beat all-conquering Liverpool thanks to a Mick Matthews goal on the opening day of the 1981/82 season.

Gallagher had been born and bred in Liverpool. And made in Birmingham, where he built his career and still, living in Solihull today, has made the Midlands his home.

It could all have been so different, mind you. Growing up and representing Liverpool schoolboys, the one day, training at Penny

Lane, Gallagher and his friend Billy broke the age-old vow of not getting in a car with a stranger.

“It was bad what we did,” Gallagher recalls.

“But a chappie who said he was a scout watched us in training and asked us if we wanted to play for Liverpool.

“Well of course that’s what we wanted to do.

“He took us both home, and spoke to both of our sets of parents with all the details.

“And yet, nothing ever came of it, because a week later I had a letter arrive from Dan Dorman, the chief scout at Birmingham City, who were offering me a clear pathway at the club.

“I went down there, started training, and eventually got a professional contract, and played under the manager Freddie Goodwin.

“I was in digs in Sheldon, not too far from where I still live now, and would spend 11 years at Birmingham, which I thoroughly enjoyed.”

Gallagher made his debut against Arsenal at Highbury as a 17-year-old. 

A couple of years later, in a Blues side featuring previous Wolves striker Bob Hatton and future

Wolves assistant manager Garry Pendrey, he notched the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Fulham in an FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough. A potential Wembley appearance, however, was scuppered by a 1-0 defeat in the replay at Maine Road.

At just 19, Gallagher had been made captain at Blues, and, as mentioned, he would later take the armband at Wolves. Both that, and representing four clubs with sizeable and passionate fanbases as Burnley completed the set after West Ham, never held any fears.

“I enjoyed the leadership side and I enjoyed being captain,” he explains.

“A lot of players enjoy that responsibility and, playing in the centre of defence, it was ideal as I could see everything that was happening around me.

“Playing for big clubs was also a challenge that I relished.

“You had to be a strong character to play in front of a lot of fans and that is something I felt I was able to be.”

All but one of Gallagher’s seasons in the Second City were spent in the topflight and, when they did get relegated, he was part of the team who helped them bounce immediately back.

It was in the summer of ’81 that he made the move to Wolves, and recalls being driven by Blues boss Jim Smith to meet his Molineux counterpart John Barnwell in a

Birmingham hotel. The deal was done and, and a time when Wolves had been in the market for striker Ally McCoist, it was Gallagher and winger Alan Birch who arrived through the entrance door.

The fee was £350,000, the feeling being Blues had to sell to bring in much-needed revenue, the irony being that Wolves themselves nearly went out of business the following summer.

Gallagher enjoyed the fresh start and, even though Wolves were relegated, there were other highlights beyond that opening day success against Liverpool.

He scored in a League Cup tie against Aston Villa - always good for a former Bluenose - and also returned to St Andrew’s to play his part in a 3-0 win for his new team.

There are plenty of fond memories of his team-mates, recalling playing alongside Colin Brazier and George Berry in the heart of the defence, having Geoff Palmer and

Derek Parkin on either side as full backs with Paul Bradshaw in goal behind, Willie Carr and Kenny Hibbitt in midfield, and a forward threat featuring Andy Gray, John Richards and Wayne Clarke.

“I had actually played with Kenny’s brother Terry at Birmingham,” he remembers.

“All those lads were great and made me feel really welcome right from the start.

“I got on with everybody and we had some very good players, I can’t believe we were actually relegated.

“I would love to have been at Wolves for longer and played a lot more games, and I really didn’t want to leave at all.”

That team photo drama came with Wolves enroute to an immediate return to the top-flight with Gallagher on the sidelines in the reserves.

Whilst ready and willing to try and fight his way back into Hawkins’ plans, he has noqualms with being initially relegated to the sidelines due to loss of form, which meant his Molineux career would come to a close on just 34 appearances, and that one goal.

“The big regret I have is that I just didn’t play a lot better – simple as that,” he reveals.

“I really enjoyed my time at Wolves but I regret not improving and making them a better team.

“I tried my best and it just didn’t work out, and I never had any arguments with anyone on the football side.

“I had been really pleased about joining the club, but just didn’t do anything like as well as I wanted to.

“I think I signed a four-year contract when I joined, but didn’t get anywhere near to staying for that length of time.

“But I found Wolverhampton a great place to be, and I loved the supporters, who were all very friendly to me.”

Having departed Molineux, Gallagher actually found himself out of work before being snapped up by West Ham boss John Lyall for a short stay at Upton Park in which he made 11 appearances as the Hammers finished eighth in the top division.

Then, moving on to Burnley, he barely played for several years until a strong contribution in the 1986/87 season, when, in making 45 appearances, he helped keep the club in the Football League.

He then retired, a year before Burnley reached the final of the Sherpa Van Trophy to be beaten by Wolves, going on to manage at non-league level in the Midlands as well as working for a spell as a community liaison officer with Birmingham and a longer stint with Jaguar Land Rover, all coupled with providing statistics for the Press

Association at various local stadiums, including Molineux.

Throughout all that, he remained a smiling and friendly face, with the Press

Association gig providing a welcome bit of additional pocket money but also the opportunity to stay connected with the game which he still loves.

“I loved going to the matches across the Midlands, it was just great to carry on watching football,” he explains.

“I would always try and hang around after the game and chat to the players as well, time goes so quickly and it was just nice to stay in touch.

“But I loved Jaguar Land Rover just as much.

“I knew nothing about cars but I lived nearby and worked there for many years.

“It was absolutely fantastic.”

For now, fully retired, life for Gallagher is pursued at a more leisurely pace including precious time with children and grandchildren, and returning to his native Liverpool to catch up with other family.

Time to reflect on different careers well spent, including landing an England ‘B’ cap against Australia, and securing a place in Birmingham’s Hall of Fame.

“Everyone always says and feels they could have done better and I’m probably no different but I’m still really happy with my career,” he declares.

His spell at Wolves may have been far shorter and less successful than others, but still carries fond memories, even with the notable and dramatic exception of the way it all ended. 

A time when he was already out of focus, and then the Molineux shutters came down.

In January, he will turn 70, another of life’s milestones. And he’ll happily pose for any picture.