The late Bob Paisley managed Liverpool when they dominated at home and abroad, winning 20 trophies during his nine years in charge at Anfield, including six First Division titles.
At the conclusion of another successful campaign, he walked into the dressing room with a box containing championship medals and told his squad full of international stars: “Take one — but only if you deserve it.”
Until fairly recently, footballers needed to have represented their club in a quarter of their league fixtures in order to earn a medal if their team finished in pole position, but nowadays they are handed out to players who have made only a handful of appearances.
Celtic full back Tony Ralston has a winner’s medal from his club’s successful campaigns in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 even though he featured in only three, four and two games respectively during those terms.
Should they manage to maintain their position at the pinnacle of the cinch Premiership until May — they are one point clear of champions Rangers with 12 matches remaining — then the 23-year-old would certainly pass the Paisley test.
Ralston is enjoying the best season of his Celtic career under the management of Ange Postecoglou. His 36 outings (19 in the league) are more than he amassed in the six seasons since he made his debut in 2016 and, unlike before, he now feels he is an important cog in the wheel of a successful team. “In the years where we won the title and I played in some of the games, I managed to get a medal,” he said. “We just look at the next game but I think everyone knows that our aim is to be the champions.
“From a personal point of view, it’s been a good season for myself and I’ve enjoyed it. It’s probably my first proper season in terms of the number of appearances I’ve made, but we’re only just past the halfway stage and there’s a lot of football still to play. As a result, I’m concentrating on maintaining that progress. It won’t be until May that we find out how good a season this will have been, from my own opinion or from an outsider’s point of view.
“When I first came into the side my main aim was to play in as many games as I can, but now it’s not about whether it’s me or Jura [Josip Juranovic] at right back but whatever is best for the team.”
Having lifted the Premier Sports Cup in December (his first cup final, though he was not in the starting XI), Celtic are the only club who can win a treble but Ralston is refusing to contemplate that possibility.
“We don’t look too far ahead of ourselves,” he said. “Our feet are firmly on the ground but we’re hoping for more success by the end of the season.”
Ralston played in Sunday’s 4-0 Scottish Cup victory over Raith Rovers and, more pertinently, has started 11 of the club’s 12 European ties this season. With Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt next up at Celtic Park tomorrow night for the first leg of their play-off for the Europa Conference League knock-out stages, there is a belief at Lennoxtown that Celtic can finally win a knock-out tie in a continental competition for the first time since they eliminated Barcelona from the Uefa Cup in 2004 and, while taking nothing for granted, Ralston argues that Postecoglou’s men can go deeper into this tournament.
“We’re looking forward to the game and there will be a great atmosphere,” he said. “The Europa Conference League is another competition we can compete and do well in.
“Everyone here knows about the qualities Bodo/Glimt possess; we know that they beat Roma 6-1 earlier in the season. But it’ll be down to us and our football and how we approach the game. We want to win every competition we’re involved in and this is no different. Our mentality won’t change. We’ll face them as a team, ready to take them head-on.”
The Scotland manager Steve Clarke recognised the improvement in Ralston’s form when he awarded him a first senior cap in the World Cup qualifying victory over Denmark three months ago, and the full back would love to be involved again when it comes to next month’s play-off semi-final against Ukraine.
“That’s football: it’s all about ups and downs and how you deal with the lows, but I’m delighted with how things have gone so far this season and getting recognition from my country was a proud moment for myself and my family,” he said.
“It’s important that I focus on Celtic at the minute and, if I can continue to perform for them, I’ll maybe be called up again. That’s what every player is striving for in their careers, after all.”
Postecoglou expressed his faith in the player by awarding him a new contract which should see him remain at Parkhead until 2025.
“That was another proud moment in my career, another achievement this season,” said Ralston. “I’ve committed myself to the club for another three years and I just want to keep up the good work and contribute as much as I can.”
When it was suggested that, at this rate, he could end up qualifying for a testimonial, the straight bat was immediately brought back into play. “Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves . . .”
