Hughie Gallacher - Retirement and Death

Retirement and Death

Gallacher continued to live in Gateshead trying a number of careers, one of them being a sports journalist, a role that led to him being banned from St James' Park for his outspoken remarks about Newcastle United. However he continued to be a popular character on Tyneside. Gallacher turned out in charity matches even at the age of 52.

With no savings from his footballing days, Gallacher took numerous unremarkable jobs, often menial, to earn a living to support his family. After the sudden death of his wife in December 1950 from a heart complaint, Gallacher became very depressed and lonely.

One evening in May 1957, Hughie went home after a few drinks. His youngest son Mathew aged 14 was at home reading a newspaper. When Mattie, as he was known, ignored him, he picked up a heavy ornament or ashtray and tossed it at the newspaper. It bounced off the top of Mattie's head, drawing blood. Matthew left the house and went to a neighbour's, attempting to find his big brother Hughie Junior. Later when Hughie Junior arrived, he saw the blood and hurtled home to confront his father. An altercation took place and as a result the police were summoned. The police reported the assault on young Mattie to the authorities. Mattie was never taken into care, he simply moved around the corner to stay with his Aunty Dolly. He was prevented from returning home until the assault charge could be resolved. When the effects of the tragedy of his father's suicide had subsided Mattie returned home to stay with his big brother Hughie. He left home in 1965 when he moved to South Africa.

For weeks after the alleged assault, he began wandering the streets. Many people spoke to him including Newcastle players and staff offering support and assuring him that no one would believe the press and their scandalous statements. Many offered to speak on his behalf.

Denied access to his son and with the court appearance looming, Gallacher began to get increasingly irrational. A local reporter friend said he looked like 'a traumatised man walking in a glassy eyed dream'. Gallacher said to a friend, "It’s no good fighting this thing now. They have got me on this one. My life is finished. It’s no use fighting when you know you can’t win". He was summoned to Gateshead Magistrates Court for Wednesday 12 June 1957.

On 11 June, he posted a short message to the Gateshead Coroner expressing his regrets at what he had caused, adding that 'if he had lived to be 100 he would never be able to forgive himself for having hurt Mattie' He then wandered aimlessly through the streets ignoring the greetings of several people.

On the day of his death, two young trainspotters watched him for half an hour pacing backwards and forwards on a footbridge over the London-Edinburgh railway line at Low Fell, Gateshead. He was openly weeping, talking to himself and occasionally pounding the bridge rail with his fists. He stepped down from the bridge and took his life by walking in front of an oncoming express train.