While many of his Celtic teammates took their Premier Sports Cup celebrations to the boisterous atmosphere of the Ally Pally darts, Anthony Ralston chose a more tranquil way to mark the triumph.
Instead of joining the revelry following the thrilling penalty shootout win over Rangers, Ralston had his sights set on a different stage: his daughter’s nativity play.
For the 26-year-old defender, the chance to witness his four-year-old daughter star in her Christmas performance was more important than extending the cup final festivities. After putting in a shift on the pitch and lifting the trophy, Ralston opted for an early night to ensure he was front and centre the following morning.
Reflecting on his decision to skip the celebrations, Ralston explained: [RecordSport]
“Aye, the majority of the boys did! I had my wee girl’s nursery nativity at 9am in the morning. I was watching her be a wee angel in her Christmas show. I cut my party short! But the lads took it in and enjoyed it, which is important you do in these moments in your career.
“She was smiling ear to ear when she saw me in the front row.
“Her and the rest of her class were brilliant, it was a really well put together show.
“I was buzzing with it. I tried to take her to Smyths for a wee toy afterwards but I think she was knackered!”
It’s a choice that perfectly encapsulates the right-back’s grounded nature and dedication to both his professional and personal life. While his teammates let their hair down and soaked in the post-Hampden buzz, Ralston’s focus was on creating memories with his family.
With the cup final celebrations behind him, Ralston has turned his attention back to Celtic’s Premiership title race, if you can call it that.. The festive period is notoriously hectic in Scottish football, with fixtures coming thick and fast. Ralston will be keen to play his part in maintaining Celtic’s momentum and ensuring the Hoops stay at the top of the table.
After a demanding cup final that went all the way to penalties, Brendan Rodgers’ squad know they’ll need to be at their sharpest as they tackle the busy schedule. Ralston could be in line for more minutes, with Alistair Johnston struggling with a knock.
