Anthony Ralston addresses bricklayer chat in entertaining Celtic interview

By Euan Davidson

February 24, 2022

When Anthony Ralston signed a new deal with Celtic earlier this season, the club hinted at it with an animated GIF of a brick wall [Celtic FC].

That’s because Ralston has been known to many as ‘The Holy Brickie’. However, any plans for a career in construction have been halted, with Ralston breaking into the Celtic first-team and playing excellently. With 5 goals and 7 assists, the right-back has been this year’s surprise package [Transfermarkt].

Would he actually be a bricklayer if he wasn’t playing for Celtic, though? For the first time, Ralston has addressed this chat head-on, and his verdict?

Well, no. Instead, Celtic star Ralston fancies himself as a businessman more than a bricklayer.

In an entertaining Q+A with Celtic’s YouTube channel, Ralston said [Celtic YouTube]: “I know everyone behind this camera is wanting me to say brickie, which I’m not saying, because I wouldn’t be!

“I like the idea of business. That’d be something I’d be interested in. Don’t have a clue what I’d be doing, right enough, but it’d be something along they lines.

“Maybe starting my own, or joining up with someone, something along they lines. See what the future holds.”

So, you’re more likely to see Anthony Ralston on The Apprentice than DIY SOS once he’s hung up his boots. But that’s a long, long way off yet.

Celtic star Anthony Ralston; not a bricklayer, but hoping to do the business for Bhoys

It’s quite funny to see players address the patter that often follows their name, provided it’s all in jest. For example, when Jota talked about his striking resemblance to George Michael.

This group of players seem personable, game for a laugh (even at their own expense) and, of course, are very talented players. Arguably, nobody embodies the spirit of the Ange era more than Anthony Ralston; the Holy Brickie has been outstanding, after being something of a squad afterthought.

Harsh as it might sound, there wasn’t really enough to suggest from loan spells at St Johnstone and Dundee United that he’d be a regular for Celtic. But he’s absolutely thriving, and his assist on Sunday for Giorgos Giakoumakis pointed to the confidence he’s playing with.

Obviously, Celtic added Croatia international Josip Juranovic to the squad, and he’s been outstanding. Ralston, though, is an excellent second option, who can move at pace, is strong in the tackle and an underrated distributor of the ball. He’s been a revelation, in every sense.

So, he will need to put his business aspirations on hold for a while yet. The fact is, the Hoops need him.

And that’s not for any Celtic construction projects, now we’re certain Ralston is not a bricklayer.

Read more: Celtic veteran Nir Bitton and his case for starting spot against Bodo/Glimt