For decades, countless young Irish footballers took the well-trodden path of crossing the Irish Sea in the hope of carving out a career in England.
But by age 15, Dundalk native Jon Gallagher had lived in four different countries due to his father’s job with Guinness. Although football was key in helping him acclimatise to new surroundings growing up in the United States, Jamaica and Singapore, it made it difficult to settle in various youth teams and make a name.
So he took matters into his own hands and embarked on the road less travelled. “I left Dundalk when I was nine years old. My dad worked for Guinness for 26 years, so we spent a lot of time moving around the world,” Gallagher told the Irish Independent, from Texas, where he has begun his third season with MLS side Austin FC.
While in Singapore, Gallagher decided to leave his family, at 15, and travel over 10,000 kilometres to England to achieve his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
A brave step for the young boy, who secured trials at Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers.
“I left Singapore and went to school in England by myself,” said the 27-year-old. “Did I take it into my own hands? Yeah. I gave myself no option but to make it. I hated school, but I was desperate to get my career started.
“I had a few trials at academies like Newcastle and Blackburn, but they didn’t work out. My dad suggested we look at a scholarship in the United States. I reached out to a few friends in America, who told me to make a highlight tape and email it to as many universities as I could.
“It’s hard for kids in the UK to get a scholarship, but one email from Notre Dame arrived. They had never recruited a player from outside the country before. I got a few offers after a training camp and decided to go to Notre Dame.”
On the pitch, Gallagher excelled while at the Indiana university, scoring 39 goals in 84 games for the aptly named, ‘Fighting Irish’ soccer team before graduating with a business degree in 2017.
His form caught the eye of Atlanta United, who signed him in the 2018 MLS draft, as he featured with Newcastle United star Miguel Almiron.
“It’s so hard for college players to get drafted into the MLS. Thankfully, Atalanta took a chance on me. I would say I’m definitely a late bloomer. In my first season I was training with guys like Miguel Almrion, and to see what he’s doing now in the Premier League is amazing.”
Gallagher made 38 appearances for Atlanta’s second team but wanted regular, first-team football. A loan spell at Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen followed in July 2019, where he made 31 appearances, including six starts in Europa League qualifying, and a strike against Rangers.
“I have seen so many guys get stuck down with the second team and not get a chance. I needed to make something happen,” Gallagher added.
“I was thrown in the deep end, from playing in front of no fans to 20,000 people in a Europa League qualifier.
“Celtic and Rangers held the first two spots obviously, but we were very competitive, and I’m super thankful for my time there.”
Gallagher returned to the United States just before the Covid-19 pandemic – and although 16 first-team appearances followed with Atlanta, Gallagher was traded to the newly created Austin FC in December 2020, and hasn’t looked back since.
“I was buzzing, it was a brand new team with a lot of hype around the club,” he added, after signing a new four-year extension last November.
“I had never been to Texas before, so I didn’t know what the atmosphere would be like. The stadium is amazing, and the ground is packed every game with 20,000 fans.
“We did really well last year, made it to the Conference play-off and lost out to LAFC, Gareth Bale’s team. I had my hands full marking Bale at full-back, but it was a good experience. There is no place I would rather be in the MLS.”
Gallagher still has a burning ambition to represent the country he left as a nine-year-old. A broken foot prevented him from training with Noel King’s U-21s before, but he hopes his MLS form earns him a senior call-up.
“Ireland has always been home,” said Gallagher. “I would love to play at international level. I never got an under-age cap, it was difficult living so far away from home. .
“I just have to play well and put myself in a position where Ireland would want to have a look. If I keep doing well, hopefully I’ll get recognised. A call-up would make my family so proud, they would love it.”