Callaghan played football for junior club St Anthony's[4] before moving into the senior ranks with Third Lanark in June 1924.
[1] He represented the club in off-season five-a-side tournaments,[5] was in their Second Division team by September 1925,[6] scored in a 4–3 win against Dunfermline Athletic in November,[7] and later that month, "spelt danger every time he got away" as Thirds beat Armadale 3–0.
[14] He scored in a friendly against an Army XI,[15] but never managed to break into the league side,[16] and rejoined Third Lanark,[17] who had been promoted in his absence.
He went straight into the first team for the new season,[18] scored in a 4–0 win against Airdrie in early September,[19] and soon afterwards sustained an injury sufficiently serious for his club to sign a replacement.
He was one of several Scottish players to help Glentoran win the 1930–31 Irish League title,[24] and eventually he returned to England, where he signed for Darlington in November 1932.