It was more of a case of, not appearing on photo, Wolves career at a finish.
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.