On this day (May 18) in 1990, Hughie Gallacher scored two goals for Scotland in their 2-0 win over France. But at the same time, Newcastle United were conspiring behind the scenes to sell him to Chelsea.
Gallacher impressed so much in the friendly against France that chants of ‘Viva La Gallacher’ were heard among the 25,000 supporters at the Stade De Colombes in Paris. It was one of Scotland’s first trips abroad and ended in dream fashion.
Scotland opened the scoring against France minutes before half time and doubled their lead in the dying minutes of the second half. Gallacher’s brace against Les Blues took his international tally to 24 goals in 20 games (1924 – 1935), but he failed to add to his tally in the five years that followed.
His time at Newcastle ended not long after that brace too. The Magpies sold Gallacher to Chelsea that same summer after five years of service. He scored 143 goals in 174 appearances and boasted the most prolific striker rate (82%) in Newcastle’s history.
In other news, this is when Newcastle thrashed Sheffield United at home and Peter Beardsley shone
