Tony Ralston yesterday became the latest Celtic player to extend his contract. Tony put pen to paper on a new deal that will see him tied to the club until 2027.
Ralston has of course been at the club since he was a young boy and indeed made his mark in the first team under Brendan Rodgers during his first spell at the club, after making his debut up at McDiarmid Park in Ronny Deila’s final away match as Celtic manager.
He’s hardly been a regular starter finding a regular first team berth hard to nail down, plus he’s had loan spells at Queen’s Park, Dundee United and also at St Johnstone. But Tony has been a steady performer whenever called upon and at one stage even looked like he was surplus to requirements until enjoying something of a renaissance under Ange Postecoglou.
He showed terrific mental strength to fight for a place in the side when it looked as if he had no future at the club. He was given an opportunity by Ange, who had little choice as Tony Ralston was the only right back at the club at that point, and he grasped it with both hands to earn the new manager’s respect and also earn himself a new contract
Even though he’s faced stern competition the past couple of years in Josip Juranovic and Alistair Johnston – both star performers at the World Cup Finals in Qatar last year – he’s never complained and always got on with his job and done it professionally and to the best of his ability.
And when an opportunity came along to represent his country, Ralston grasped that with both hands and even scored for his country.
Tony might not be the most flashy of players but he’s been solid, reliable, dependable and more that good enough for both Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers, so that’ll do for me and fI reckon for Most Celtic supporters.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
