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12 Facts About Sam Gilligan

1.

Samuel Anderson Gilligan was a Scottish professional association football player in the years prior to the First World War who played as a forward.

2.

Sam Gilligan made over 200 appearances in The Football League for Bristol City and Liverpool, and a smaller number of appearances in the Scottish Football League with Dundee and Celtic.

3.

Sam Gilligan began his career at Belmont Athletic and then Dundee Violet before moving up to Dundee FC in 1902.

4.

Sam Gilligan played in only nine matches, scoring three times and played in three Scottish FA Cup matches.

5.

Sam Gilligan losing out to the preferred forward and future star Jimmy Quinn, despite his 15 goals in 14 league appearances including a hat-trick against Port Glasgow Athletic.

6.

Sam Gilligan played in the Glasgow Cup Final and the replay which Celtic lost against Third Lanark.

7.

Sam Gilligan moved south to play for English second division side Bristol City, becoming a huge success and a fans favourite.

8.

The outbreak of the First World War ended his UK football career; although some records show a Gilligan played for Dundee Hibernians and Forfar, later reports make no mention of these clubs as it seems unlikely to be the same player.

9.

Sam Gilligan worked as an attendant at the Butler Institute of American Art while waiting for his wife and children to join him.

10.

Sam Gilligan continued playing football until 1932, aged 50 and was still involved in the game until the outbreak of the Second World War.

11.

Sam Gilligan was one of four brothers who were professional footballers, the others being Sandy, Billy and John.

12.

Sam Gilligan was the only brother not to play for East Craigie, opting for Dundee Violet instead.