Career
Callaghan played football for junior club Street Anthony"s before moving into the senior ranks with Third Lanark. He helped Thirds take First Division Aberdeen to a replay in the quarter-final of the 1925-1926 Scottish Cup, was "swift and sharp" in a draw with Bathgate in September 1926, and was often picked out as the best of Thirds" not always top-class forwards. In December, First Division Dunfermline took Callaghan on loan until the end of the season.
He made his debut in a draw with Morton, controlling the ball well and creating two scoring chances that were not taken.
He played regularly, scoring twice in a 4–3 defeat of Dundee, and creating one goal and scoring another in a 4–4 draw with Dundee United a few days later. At the end of the season, Callaghan went south to England, where he signed for Football League First Division club Middlesbrough.
He scored in a friendly against an Army XI, but never managed to break into the league side, and rejoined Third Lanark, who had been promoted in his absence. His return to fitness was not accompanied by a return to the first team
He was in and out of the side for what remained of the season, at the end of which he was transfer-listed at a reduced fee.
His fee was again reduced in the 1930 close season, but with no takers. He played twice in the Third Division North and once in the before losing his place to Charles Coates, and his contract was cancelled in January 1933.
