Gallagher was versitile sportman before coming across to South Sydney. He started boxing with Jimmy Carruthers in 1938. Then in 1940 he was the NSW amateur heavyweight boxing champion. He also was a Sydney League swimming champion winning 100 yards in 57.2 seconds. He was also a keen sailor sailing 12ft Skiff's and 18-footers. He was graded by South Sydney in 1941, and he made his senior grade club and premiership debut for South Sydney in the 1941 Round 3 Third Grade clash against St George at the Sports Ground. The following week he stepped up into reserve grade in the 1941 Round 4 clash against Canterbury-Bankstown at Belmore Oval. He made his first grade club and premiership debut in the 1942 Round 2 clash against Western Suburbs at St Lukes Oval, Concord.
Gallagher was considered a second rower with promise. In 1942 Gallagher played the whole season for about 60 pounds.
Gallagher only played two seasons with South Sydney between 1941 and 1942. He only played 2 first grade club and premierships games with South Sydney. Overall he played 25 senior grade club and premiership career games with South Sydney.
Gallager played his final first grade club and premiership match in the 1942 Round 6 clash against North Sydney at the Sport Ground. He would play out the year in the reserve grade, playing his final senior grade club and premiership game in the 1942 Reserve Grade Minor Semi-Final clash against North Sydney at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Playing - Height / Weight
6ft 0in / 13st 5lb
Representative Qualification
NSW City
Date of Birth
Sydney - 23rd July 1917 (Died - 1987)
Previous Clubs
Woolloomooloo Police Boys Club (Boxing)
Fitzroy (Juniors)
Playing Career at South Sydney (1941-42)
South Sydney First Grade Debut
1942 May 9 Rd02 StLu v Western Suburbs (24y 290d)
First Grade
Premiership : City Cup : Tour
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
1942 2 2 - - - - - : - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
TOTAL 2 2 - - - - - : - - - - - - - : - - - - - - -
SS FG 2 2 - - - - -
South Sydney Senior Grade Debut
1941 May 3 Rd03 SSG v St George (Third Grade)
1941 May 10 Rd04 BelO v Canterbury-Bankstown (Reserve Grade)
Lower Grades
Reserve Grade : Third Grade
Year M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
1941 3 3 - - - - - : 10 10 - 1 - - 3
1942 10 10 - 4 - - 12 : - - - - - - -
TOTAL 13 13 - 4 - - 12 : 10 10 - 1 - - 3
South Sydney Senior(FG/RG/3G) Grade Career
Premiership : Cup : All Matches
M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts : M S R T G/A FG Pts
CAREER 25 25 - 5 - - 15 : - - - - - - - : 25 25 - 5 - - 15
Captaincy Record at South Sydney
never
Suspension Record at South Sydney
Year Grade v Wk CHARGE 1941 Rd10 3G St George 2 Fighting
Representative Honours at South Sydney
Year Pos Team Versus Match T G/A FG none
After Leaving South Sydney
At the end of the 1942 season Gallagher focused on his professional boxer career. Gallagher said in mid 1943, "I gave up football for boxing because I can earn far more money as a boxer." He went on to win the NSW Heavy Weight title in 1943.
Subsequent Clubs First Grade
M T G FG Pt
Boxing (1942-50) Heavy-Weight (fought in South Africa and England)
North Sydney (1944-45) 14 1 - - 3
First Class Playing Career (1942-45)
M T G FG Pts
Total FG Premiership 16 1 - - 3
Total FG Cup - - - - -
Total FG Club Tour - - - - -
Total Internationals - - - - -
Total State - - - - -
Total Other Representative - - - - -
TOTAL FIRST CLASS 16 1 - - 3
Ref - SH Sun 3 Sep 1950 p15 / BxL / RLP / ANC / FN-46
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