Mixed feelings of Son v Sons

Paul Gallacher created conflicting family favours at Dumbarton on Saturday

When Jim Gallacher watched his son Paul keep goal for Dunfermline on Saturday it was for the first time in a while. This time as goalkeeping coach at Dumbarton, he could not avoid the challenging experience that he endures when he watches his son.  Speaking exclusively to dafc.co.uk, he said:-

"It was a bit nerve racking for me. Obviously I wanted Dumbarton to win but I wanted everybody round about Dunfermline to lose."

Jim Gallacher, also a keeper, played for Arbroath and Clydebank. He made over 600 league appearances for Clydebank in a career that spanned four decades (late 1960s to early 1990s). Now he puts all his energies into Dumbarton Football Club and he was keen that the newly promoted side got off the mark against the Pars:-

"I would have taken any goal because we need goals. Having said that I get so nervous watching Paul that I do not go to watch him a lot. When he was at Dundee United and in the early stages at Dunfermline I got so nervous that I stopped going and he knows that."

Paul's gloves worn by father Jim

Paul Gallacher told the website that he was at the match when Dumbarton's promotion was clinched and realised then that he would be playing against his father's team this season. He described the mixed family feelings:-

"They have been on edge not knowing who to cheer or who to support. They sat in the middle not knowing what to do. Thankfully from my perspective we won; I thought we won comfortably and from my personal point of view it was good in the first half to put in a couple of saves. That eased me into things but in the second half I had a couple of poor kicks and a cross I could have done better with so it was a bit nervy."

Paul's father never forced Paul to 'slip' into his gloves but was always there for help, advice and constructive criticism. Dad had a go at Paul after the game revealed the Pars keeper:-

"I deserved it because of the sloppy things I did in the second half. I can imagine how my dad was feeling sitting in the opposite dugout wanting his team to win but wanting me to do alright. Their manager was joking that I was trying to get them a goal in the second half; that maybe eased my dad's nerves or maybe just made them worse, I don't know.  It was certainly a strange day in the Gallacher household but I was thankful to come out on top." 

Father Jim continued:-

"When I shook his hand at the end of the game I said 'thank God that is over'. I wanted my team to win but my son Stephen and daughter Louise wanted Dunfermline to win. We had a wee twenty minute spell and our keeper kept us in the game. That should have given us impetus to get something.

"Paul had a poor second half by his standards, I think he would be honest and tell you that. He misjudged a cross near the end when our boys were looking for a corner but we were clutching at straws by that stage."

It had been a harrowing afternoon for the 61 year old coach and with the prospect of another three similar afternoons in the course of the season he joked:-

"That's the first one over, maybe I will play next time!"