🔗 Share this article

Ethan Galbraith breaks into a smile as he recalls the nail-biting closing stages of Swansea's stunning fightback victory against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup. The game ended with Galbraith picking up a fan's glasses following the post-goal scrum.

During the final moments of stoppage time, Galbraith rattled the woodwork with a long-range effort from 25 yards, and Cameron Burgess promptly converted the loose ball before sprinting toward the crowd to mark the goal, with fans congregating around the players.

Stunning Reversal

This capped an extraordinary comeback given the Welsh side had trailed 2-0 deep into the second half. Amid the euphoria, there was some unintended consequences. Galbraith explained, "There was a supporter trying to get our attention and Josh Key and I were thinking: 'What's he on about here?' Then we spotted the glasses. It was a bit of banter 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."

Manchester City Challenge

The victory secured a fourth-round match at home against Manchester City on Wednesday, a club Galbraith came close against at the equivalent round of the FA Cup with his former club in February. He had arguably the best view when Orient took the lead in remarkable manner, with the attacker's first-time shot from about long distance going in via the crossbar and the opposition keeper. It feels criminal that it was credited as an own goal.

"You would have wished they would've given it to him for having a go from that far out," says Galbraith, who started in midfield before moving to right defensive wing after Orient changed formation. That meant facing off against Jack Grealish, with whom he traded tops, and the player was among the City players who paid tribute to the way the underdogs attacked the game.

Guardiola's System

"Athletically they are exceptional but even the fundamentals and routine actions, they can just execute repeatedly," he explains. "It seems as if they always find their target and they understand how to dictate and slow down a game. You can believe you're holding your own and then suddenly they will just fizz a pass past your midfield without you even seeing. You have to be switched on at all times of the game. It demands a strong mentality and attention just to keep pace."

Swansea Move

The club were keen on Galbraith in January and fought off rivals to sign him in the summer in a seven-figure transfer. He made a name as a crowd pleaser across multiple campaigns at Orient and has quickly replicated that in Wales. At the London club he joined forces once more with Richie Wellens, who previously gave Galbraith his debut prolonged spell in first-team action on loan at Doncaster from Manchester United. Then came a temporary move at lower division the Manchester club, before he departed Old Trafford.

Learning Curve

"I was probably a slightly green going into professional soccer. I think many athletes would say under-23s football is very different. Sometimes it seems the ball is moved without much intensity. There are limited physical contests. Once you start playing men's games you have to adapt rapidly."

National Team Success

He has demonstrated that development for club and country, excelling for his national side, who could still reach the global tournament next summer via the knockout phase and for whom he has featured in the recent fixtures, including home and away games against Germany. Ian Baraclough, Galbraith's ex- international manager, offered the highest praise, saying he was Northern Ireland's "little Iniesta or Xavi" given how he handles the football and his ability to spot a game-changing assist.

Early Days

This represents a remarkable path for the kid from the Queens Park estate in his hometown, just outside Northern Ireland's main city, who grew up watching his father, his father, also a engine room operator, play for Ballyclare Comrades.

Red Devils Debut

The player's only game for United came in Kazakhstan in 2019, a European competition trip to the host city, where they competed on an synthetic surface and the venue ceiling was shut owing to the weather of -15C. "It was a extended travel and it was freezing," he recalls, grinning. "The days leading up, the academy prospects trained together, so that aided our adjustment. Just to join the main group and get a couple of minutes at the end was incredible."

Departing Old Trafford

How difficult was it to move on from Old Trafford, 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 the top level. I'm very appreciative for the time I spent there but it reached a stage where I felt I needed to go my own route, join a smaller club and play professional soccer. Now I'm steadily working my way back up."

Life in Swansea

It is the middle of the day at the team's practice facility but Galbraith has a commitment at 5pm: a road rules assessment, another step towards getting on the road. Prior to relocating to Sketty, the mid-twenties player was a regular in Swansea's nicknamed team minibus, a minibus driven by academy staff, Pete and Howard, which ferries players to and from practice and games.

"It's myself the Portuguese player, Ronald, an Ivorian player – a former passenger used to be in it but has started driving. It's pleasant to spend time with the guys but I'm planning to be the following person to drive independently and on the road. His teammate is known for his humor; he's frequently playing tricks."

Fan Interactions

When he represented his former club, Galbraith would mix with followers on public transport after commuting at his base. "I tried|I attempted|My aim