Walter Galbraith
Encyclopedia
Walter Galbraith was a Scottish
association football player and manager
. He played as a defender
for Queen's Park
, Clyde
, New Brighton
and Grimsby Town
. He then managed Accrington Stanley
, Bradford Park Avenue
, New Brighton
, Tranmere Rovers
, Hibernian
, Stockport County
and Berwick Rangers
.
Like most players of his generation, Galbraith's league career was delayed by the Second World War, which meant that league football in both England
and Scotland
was not held from 1939 until the start of the 1946–47 season. Galbraith played for Clyde
for two seasons before moving to Merseyside
club New Brighton
, for who he made over 100 league appearances in three seasons. He then moved to Grimsby Town
, where he stayed for two seasons.
Galbraith was then appointed as player-manager of Accrington Stanley
in 1953, making 21 league appearances in the 1953–1954 season before ending his playing career. As manager, Galbraith took Accrington to their highest ever finishing position in the Football League
, as they narrowly missed out on promotion to Division Two. He once selected a team of eleven Scots for Accrington in a Football League match, and fans joked that players wouldn't be selected unless they were Scottish. Galbraith resigned in August 1958 after the club's directors advised him that they would be cutting his budget for players.
Galbraith had stints as manager of Bradford Park Avenue
and New Brighton
. This was followed by a short, unsuccessful stint as Tranmere Rovers manager in 1961. The club was relegated to Division Four and were eliminated from the FA Cup by non-league opposition. Galbraith left Tranmere near the end of the year, when Hibs
were seeking to replace Hugh Shaw
, who had resigned in November. Bobby Brown and Jock Stein
were the preferred choices of the Hibs board, but Brown did not want the job and Dunfermline
refused to allow Stein to move. Galbraith was the next choice for Hibs, who had signed Gerry Baker
from Manchester City
while the club did not have a manager.
Hibs just avoided relegation in both seasons that Galbraith managed the club, but he introduced Pat Stanton
into the team and signed players such as Neil Martin
, Pat Quinn
, John Parke
and Willie Hamilton
. Galbraith resigned from his position after the club had secured their Division One status near the end of the 1963–64 season
, without acrimony or lining up another club. Galbraith was unsuccessful as Hibs manager, but the relative success of his successors (Jock Stein
and Bob Shankly
) was due to the players mentioned above. In fact, Stein only signed one player (John McNamee
) before the start of the 1964–65 season, as he was able to make a good team out of the good players Galbraith had introduced.
After leaving Hibs, Galbraith had brief spells in charge of Stockport County
and Berwick Rangers
. He died in 1995.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
association football player and manager
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. He played as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
, Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
, New Brighton
New Brighton A.F.C.
-Revived club:New Brighton A.F.C. were reborn in 1993, and joined the Birkenhead and Wirral League, which they won in their first season. In 1995 the club switched to the South Wirral League. After upgrading their new ground, the club were admitted to the Second Division of the West Cheshire League...
and Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
. He then managed Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C. (1891)
Accrington Stanley was an English football club based in Accrington, Lancashire. Established in 1891, the club played in the Football League between 1921 and 1962, when the club became only the second ever to resign from the League mid-season. The club went into liquidation in 1966...
, Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
, New Brighton
New Brighton A.F.C.
-Revived club:New Brighton A.F.C. were reborn in 1993, and joined the Birkenhead and Wirral League, which they won in their first season. In 1995 the club switched to the South Wirral League. After upgrading their new ground, the club were admitted to the Second Division of the West Cheshire League...
, Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
, Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
and Berwick Rangers
Berwick Rangers F.C.
Berwick Rangers Football Club are a football team based in the English Border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, although they play in the Scottish Football League Third Division...
.
Like most players of his generation, Galbraith's league career was delayed by the Second World War, which meant that league football in both England
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and Scotland
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
was not held from 1939 until the start of the 1946–47 season. Galbraith played for Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
for two seasons before moving to Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
club New Brighton
New Brighton A.F.C.
-Revived club:New Brighton A.F.C. were reborn in 1993, and joined the Birkenhead and Wirral League, which they won in their first season. In 1995 the club switched to the South Wirral League. After upgrading their new ground, the club were admitted to the Second Division of the West Cheshire League...
, for who he made over 100 league appearances in three seasons. He then moved to Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
, where he stayed for two seasons.
Galbraith was then appointed as player-manager of Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C. (1891)
Accrington Stanley was an English football club based in Accrington, Lancashire. Established in 1891, the club played in the Football League between 1921 and 1962, when the club became only the second ever to resign from the League mid-season. The club went into liquidation in 1966...
in 1953, making 21 league appearances in the 1953–1954 season before ending his playing career. As manager, Galbraith took Accrington to their highest ever finishing position in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, as they narrowly missed out on promotion to Division Two. He once selected a team of eleven Scots for Accrington in a Football League match, and fans joked that players wouldn't be selected unless they were Scottish. Galbraith resigned in August 1958 after the club's directors advised him that they would be cutting his budget for players.
Galbraith had stints as manager of Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
and New Brighton
New Brighton A.F.C.
-Revived club:New Brighton A.F.C. were reborn in 1993, and joined the Birkenhead and Wirral League, which they won in their first season. In 1995 the club switched to the South Wirral League. After upgrading their new ground, the club were admitted to the Second Division of the West Cheshire League...
. This was followed by a short, unsuccessful stint as Tranmere Rovers manager in 1961. The club was relegated to Division Four and were eliminated from the FA Cup by non-league opposition. Galbraith left Tranmere near the end of the year, when Hibs
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
were seeking to replace Hugh Shaw
Hugh Shaw (footballer)
Hugh Shaw was a Scottish association football player and manager, most notably with Hibernian. He played for Hibs during the interwar period, making his debut during the 1918–19 season...
, who had resigned in November. Bobby Brown and Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
were the preferred choices of the Hibs board, but Brown did not want the job and Dunfermline
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
refused to allow Stein to move. Galbraith was the next choice for Hibs, who had signed Gerry Baker
Gerry Baker
Gerard Austin "Gerry" Baker was an American-born British football player. From 1955 until 1970, he played sixteen seasons in either the Scottish or English first division. He also earned seven caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S...
from Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
while the club did not have a manager.
Hibs just avoided relegation in both seasons that Galbraith managed the club, but he introduced Pat Stanton
Pat Stanton
Patrick Gordon Stanton is a Scottish former football player and manager.He joined Hibs from Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic in 1963 and made his debut for the club against Motherwell in October that year. He quickly established himself in the first team, playing in defence or midfield...
into the team and signed players such as Neil Martin
Neil Martin
Neil Martin is a Scottish former football player, who scored 100 league goals in both Scotland and England and won three full international caps for Scotland in the 1960s and 1970s. Known for his strength, power, bravery and commitment, Martin scored consistently in a journeyman career...
, Pat Quinn
Pat Quinn (footballer)
Pat Quinn is a Scottish former professional association football player and manager.Quinn began his career in League football at Motherwell under the management of Bobby Ancell where he would play alongside other "Ancell's Babes" such as Ian St. John. Quinn would establish himself as a scheming...
, John Parke
John Parke (footballer)
John Parke was a Northern Irish association football player who played for , , Sunderland, KV Mechelen and the Northern Ireland national football team as a full back.-Club career:...
and Willie Hamilton
Willie Hamilton (footballer)
William Murdoch Hamilton was a professional footballer with Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian and Aston Villa, and gained one cap for Scotland. He became known for his wild lifestyle which overshadowed his playing ability...
. Galbraith resigned from his position after the club had secured their Division One status near the end of the 1963–64 season
1963-64 in Scottish football
The 1963–64 season was the 67th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Queen of the South, East Stirlingshire-Scottish League Division Two:...
, without acrimony or lining up another club. Galbraith was unsuccessful as Hibs manager, but the relative success of his successors (Jock Stein
Jock Stein
John 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
and Bob Shankly
Bob Shankly
Robert "Bob" Shankly was a professional football player and manager. from the village of Glenbuck in Ayrshire, Scotland....
) was due to the players mentioned above. In fact, Stein only signed one player (John McNamee
John McNamee
John McNamee is a Scottish formerprofessional football player who played in more than 50 league games as a defender for Hibernian, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers....
) before the start of the 1964–65 season, as he was able to make a good team out of the good players Galbraith had introduced.
After leaving Hibs, Galbraith had brief spells in charge of Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
and Berwick Rangers
Berwick Rangers F.C.
Berwick Rangers Football Club are a football team based in the English Border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, although they play in the Scottish Football League Third Division...
. He died in 1995.