Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he recalls the nail-biting final moments of Swansea's epic comeback win against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup. The game ended with Galbraith temporarily wearing a supporter's spectacles following the pitch-side pile-on.
As the match entered added time, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a long-range effort from outside the box, and his teammate immediately slammed home the rebound before racing off toward the East Stand to revel in the moment, with fans mobbing the players.
The result completed an unbelievable turnaround given the Welsh side had been behind 2-0 midway through the second half. Amid the celebrations, there was some unintended consequences. The midfielder recalled, "There was a fan trying to get our attention and we were thinking: 'What's he on about here?' Then we spotted the glasses. It was a light-hearted moment putting them on. We are on the pitch as players but we're people, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."
The result booked a upcoming fixture at home against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday, a team Galbraith came close against at the comparable phase of the FA Cup with his former club in February. He had a prime vantage point when the underdogs took the lead in spectacular fashion, with the attacker's first-time shot from about 45 yards going in via the crossbar and the City goalkeeper. It feels criminal that it was recorded as an own goal.
"You would have wished they would've awarded it to him for attempting the shot from that range," stated Galbraith, who played in the middle before switching to right flank after Orient changed shape. That meant getting to grips with the England international, with whom he exchanged jerseys, and the player was among the City players who complimented the way the underdogs played positively.
"Fitness-wise they are outstanding but even the fundamentals and simple things, they can just do it over and over again," the midfielder notes. "It feels like they complete every delivery and they understand how to dictate and take the sting out of a game. You can believe you're holding your own and then suddenly they will just thread a ball between defenders without you even seeing. You have to be focused throughout of the game. It takes a resilient mindset and concentration just to keep pace."
Swansea pushed to sign Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to sign him in the summer in a significant move. He established himself as a crowd pleaser across a couple of years at Orient and has quickly replicated that in his new home. At Orient he reunited with the coach, who earlier gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in professional games on loan at Doncaster from United. Then came a spell at fourth-tier Salford City, before he departed Old Trafford.
"I was likely a somewhat inexperienced going into professional soccer. I think many athletes would say under-23s football is entirely separate. Sometimes it feels like possession is exchanged without much intensity. There's not many physical contests. Once you start playing professional matches you have to adjust fast."
His progress reflects that growth for both domestically and internationally, shining for the Green and White Army, who remain in contention for the World Cup next summer via the playoffs and for whom he has been selected in the past five games, including both legs games against the German national team. Ian Baraclough, Galbraith's ex- international manager, gave him the supreme accolade, saying he was Northern Ireland's "little Iniesta or Xavi" given how he handles the football and his eye for a game-changing assist.
It has been a remarkable path for the player from the Queens Park estate in his hometown, just outside Belfast, who was raised observing his father, Stuart, also a engine room operator, play for a local club.
The player's sole appearance for Manchester United came in the away trip in 2019, a Europa League trip to Astana, where they played on an plastic turf and the venue ceiling was sealed owing to the weather of bitter cold. "It was a long trip and it was chilly," he says, chuckling. "The days leading up, myself and quite a few of the young lads worked out jointly, so that aided our adjustment. Just to join the main group and make an appearance at the end was unbelievable."
How difficult was it to leave United, the club he joined from Linfield aged his mid-teens? "This turned out relatively straightforward, because I reached the point where I knew I couldn't establish myself at the senior squad. I'm very appreciative for the time I spent there but it got to the point where I thought I needed to go my own route, move to a lower level and play first-team games. Now I'm slowly progressing again."
It is mid-afternoon at the club's training ground but Galbraith has somewhere to be at 5pm: a driving theory test, another step towards getting on the road. Before his recent move to Sketty, the mid-twenties player was a constant rider in Swansea's nicknamed player transport, a small coach driven by academy staff, Pete and Howard, which ferries players to and from practice and games.
"I travel with Gonçalo Franco, another squad member, an Ivorian player – Melker Widell used to be in it but has begun using his own car. It's nice to spend time with the lads but I'm planning to be the subsequent individual to drive independently and driving. Franco likes to pull a few pranks; he's always up to all sorts."
While playing for Orient, Galbraith would mix with fans on London's Central line after starting his journey at Brentwood. "I tried|I attempted|My aim
Maya Chen is a freelance writer and urban enthusiast with a passion for documenting city life and cultural shifts.
