Ethan Galbraith can't help but smile as he recalls the dramatic closing stages of his team's epic comeback victory against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup. The game ended with Galbraith temporarily wearing a spectator's eyewear following the pitch-side pile-on.
During the final moments of stoppage time, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a powerful shot from 25 yards, and his teammate quickly slammed home the loose ball before racing off toward the home end to mark the goal, with the crowd mobbing the players.
Extraordinary Turnaround
This sealed an incredible recovery given Swansea had found themselves down 2-0 during the second half. Amid the celebrations, there was some collateral damage. The midfielder recalled, "There was a spectator sort of calling out and myself and Keysy [Josh Key] were wondering: 'What's he on about here?' Then we saw the glasses. It was a light-hearted moment putting them on. We are on the pitch as athletes but we're people, too, so to have a bit of craic with the fans is always good."
Premier League Giants
The victory earned a next round fixture at home against Manchester City on Wednesday, a club Galbraith pushed hard at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with the London side in February. Galbraith had a prime vantage point when his former team took the lead in remarkable manner, with Jamie Donley's first-time shot from about way out going in via the woodwork and the opposition keeper. It seems unfair that it was recorded as an own goal.
"You would have wished they would've given it to him for attempting the shot from that range," says Galbraith, who played in the middle before shifting to right wing-back after Orient changed shape. That meant competing with City's winger, with whom he swapped shirts, and the player was among the opposition who paid tribute to the way his former team approached the match.
Guardiola's System
"Physically they are outstanding but even the fundamentals and basic skills, they can just do it over and over again," the midfielder notes. "It feels like they complete every delivery and they are adept at manage and take the sting out of a game. You can feel you're holding your own and then abruptly they will just thread a ball past your midfield without you even spotting it. You have to be switched on every second of the game. It demands a tough attitude and focus just to keep pace."
Swansea Move
Swansea sought to acquire Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to bring him in in the summer in a £1.5m deal. He established himself as a fans' favourite across two seasons at his former club and has swiftly achieved similar status in Wales. At Orient he linked up again with Richie Wellens, who previously gave Galbraith his first extended run in first-team action on loan at a League One side from United. Then came a loan at League Two Salford, before he permanently left Old Trafford.
Growth Journey
"I was likely a slightly green going into men's football. I think a lot of players would say youth team games is entirely separate. Sometimes it feels like the ball is moved without real physicality. You see few hard challenges. Once you start playing first-team football you have to adjust fast."
Country Call-ups
He has shown that maturation for both domestically and internationally, excelling for Northern Ireland, who remain in contention for the global tournament next summer via the qualifying rounds and for whom he has featured in the recent fixtures, including two matches fixtures against a football powerhouse. The ex-coach, Galbraith's previous international manager, gave him the highest praise, saying he was Northern Ireland's "creative maestro" given how he controls possession and his eye for a killer pass.
Humble Beginnings
This represents an incredible journey for the kid from the Queens Park estate in the Belfast suburb, just outside Northern Ireland's main city, who used to see his dad, his father, also a midfielder, play for a local club.
Manchester United Experience
Galbraith's sole appearance for United came in the away trip in 2019, a continental tournament trip to Astana, where they featured on an plastic turf and the venue ceiling was shut owing to conditions of -15C. "That proved to be a extended travel and it was cold out there," he recalls, grinning. "The week before, the academy prospects trained together, so that helped us acclimatise. Just to travel with the first team and get a couple of minutes at the end was incredible."
Moving On
How difficult was it to leave United, the club he joined from Linfield aged his mid-teens? "The decision proved fairly simple, because I reached the point where I knew I wouldn't break through at first-team level. I'm extremely thankful for the experience gained but it got to the point where I believed I had to take a different path, drop down the leagues and play professional soccer. Now I'm slowly working my way back up."
Life in Swansea
It is mid-afternoon at the club's training ground but Galbraith has somewhere to be at the early evening: a driving theory test, another step towards getting on the road. Prior to relocating to the local area, the mid-twenties player was a frequent passenger in Swansea's nicknamed team minibus, a minibus driven by club employees, the transport team, which ferries players to and from practice and games.
"I travel with a teammate, Ronald, an Ivorian player – a former passenger used to be in it but has begun using his own car. It's pleasant to socialize with the lads but I'm hoping to be the following person out of the minibus and behind the wheel. Franco enjoys practical jokes; he's always up to all sorts."
Supporter Connections
When he represented Orient, Galbraith would travel alongside fans on the Tube after starting his journey at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim
