Celtic hero and Lisbon Lion Charlie Gallagher has passed away this morning, the club have confirmed.
Charlie made 106 league appearances in the inside forward position for Celtic, scoring 17 goals along the way and picking up three consecutive league titles, a Scottish Cup and a League Cup in the process, the former in which he got the winning assist. However, it will be his exploits in the famous 1966-67 European Cup win which Charlie will be most remembered for; crowning Celtic as the first British team to win the prestigious tournament and remaining the only Scottish side to win the tournament.
Born in Glasgow to parents from Donegal, Ireland, this made Gallagher eligible for both the Scottish and Irish national teams; choosing the latter, Charlie became the first Scottish-born player to make the switch over the Irish Sea – and made 2 appearances for the Boys in Green in the same year he won the European Cup under Jock Stein.
After a 12-year spell at Celtic, in which the club signed him from Yoker Athletic, Gallagher saw out his playing days at Dumbarton, where he scored 29 league goals in 70 games before retiring aged 33 after a more than fruitful playing career.
Our thoughts are with Charlie’s wife, Mary and his family at this terrible news – here’s to remembering a club legend.
