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36 Goals ~ Hughie Gallagher

Keith Armstrong

Monday, March 16th, 2015

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 (in memory of Hughie Gallacher, Newcastle United’s record goalscorer in 1926-7, who committed suicide in 1957)

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Thirty six goals,
more than one way to skin a halfback.
Thirty six snapshots
of a legend
framed in Tyneside pubs.
That’s how we remember you Hughie,
for the good things in life.
Thirty six steps to fame
and a sprinking of treasured ashes
in a football boot.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 You put us on the map for a season.
A thirty six gun salute
is the least we can do
for a man
with poetry in his feet,
a bottle of Brown in his pocket,
and a championship medal
round his neck.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 You kicked us
into ecstasy,
into the Blue Star yonder.
You were a magic dribbler
and stocky with it.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 So, keep your feet still Hughie hinny.
They’ll never drive
those bonny dreams away.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 KEITH ARMSTRONG

Notes

Hugh Kilpatrick “Hughie” Gallacher (2 February 1903 – 11 June 1957) was a Scottish football player in the 1920s and 1930s. In 624 senior games, Gallacher scored 463 times.

Along the way he played for Queen of the South, Airdrieonians, Newcastle United, Chelsea,
Derby County, Notts County, Grimsby Town, Gateshead & Scotland/ Scottish League XI.

Poignant article here courtesy of the Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/20/seven-deadly-sins-football-gluttony-hughie-gallacher

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Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/36-goals-hughie-gallagher/