José Gallego (footballer born 1923)
Encyclopedia
José Augustin Gallego is a retired Spanish footballer who played as an outside forward
for various clubs in the English Football League in the 1940s and 1950s.
in the Basque Country
in Spain
. His father was a Spanish government worker who fled to England as a refugee in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War
. Gallego arrived in England as a 14-year old along with his three sisters and his younger brother, Antonio, who was also to have a short career as a professional footballer, as a goalkeeper with Norwich City
.
The family settled in Cambridge
where José first played football with Cambridge City
in 1942. In 1945, he was joined by Antonio in the Cambridge City side, now coached by former West Ham United
, Southampton
and England
forward Vic Watson
and in 1946 the team won the East Anglian Cup.
In January 1947, Gallego moved to Brentford
of the Football League Second Division
, where he stayed for a season and a half, making six league appearances.
In the summer of 1948, he moved to fellow Second Division club, Southampton
. Although he scored on his debut for the reserve team, he made only one first-team appearance when he replaced the injured Wilf Grant
at outside-left in a 3–0 defeat at Barnsley
on 2 October 1948. Gallego was the seventh player that season to have worn the No. 11 shirt, before Grant returned for the next match. Although his debut was described as "most promising" and "deserving another try", Gallego suffered from a cracked ankle after being given a "hard time" by the Barnsley full-back and decided to quit full-time professional football.
Southampton tried to sell him to Exeter City
in the summer of 1950, but Gallego refused and instead joined Colchester United
along with his Southampton team–mate Bill Rochford
. Colchester were embarking on their first season in the Football League, but Gallego only made four appearances before dropping down to non-league football
.
He then enjoyed six seasons of part-time football back at Cambridge, this time with Cambridge United
and played minor league football until after his 50th birthday.
Outside forward
Outside forward is a position in association football which refers to a footballer who plays as an advanced forward on the right or left wing - as an outside right or outside left. Typically as part of a 2-3-5 formation or one of its variants...
for various clubs in the English Football League in the 1940s and 1950s.
Football career
Gallego was born in ErrenteriaErrenteria
Errenteria is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community, North of Spain, near the French border. The river Oiartzun cuts its way through the town, one that has undergone severe pollution up to recent times on its lower...
in the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. His father was a Spanish government worker who fled to England as a refugee in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. Gallego arrived in England as a 14-year old along with his three sisters and his younger brother, Antonio, who was also to have a short career as a professional footballer, as a goalkeeper with Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
.
The family settled in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
where José first played football with Cambridge City
Cambridge City F.C.
Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...
in 1942. In 1945, he was joined by Antonio in the Cambridge City side, now coached by former West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
forward Vic Watson
Vic Watson
Victor Martin Watson was an English footballer who played most of his club football for West Ham United....
and in 1946 the team won the East Anglian Cup.
In January 1947, Gallego moved to Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
of the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, where he stayed for a season and a half, making six league appearances.
In the summer of 1948, he moved to fellow Second Division club, Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. Although he scored on his debut for the reserve team, he made only one first-team appearance when he replaced the injured Wilf Grant
Wilf Grant
Wilfred Grant was an English professional footballer who played as a forward for Southampton, Cardiff City and Ipswich Town.-Early career:...
at outside-left in a 3–0 defeat at Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
on 2 October 1948. Gallego was the seventh player that season to have worn the No. 11 shirt, before Grant returned for the next match. Although his debut was described as "most promising" and "deserving another try", Gallego suffered from a cracked ankle after being given a "hard time" by the Barnsley full-back and decided to quit full-time professional football.
Southampton tried to sell him to Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in the summer of 1950, but Gallego refused and instead joined Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
along with his Southampton team–mate Bill Rochford
Bill Rochford
William "Bill" Rochford was a member of the Portsmouth team that won the 1939 FA Cup. He played over 100 matches for Portsmouth and for their south coast rivals, Southampton.-Playing career:...
. Colchester were embarking on their first season in the Football League, but Gallego only made four appearances before dropping down to non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
.
He then enjoyed six seasons of part-time football back at Cambridge, this time with Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
and played minor league football until after his 50th birthday.