- Craig Easton
-
Craig Easton 
Personal information Full name Craig Easton Date of birth 26 February 1979 Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Playing position Central midfield Club information Current club Dunfermline Athletic Number 26 Youth career 1995–1996 Dundee United Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1996–2004 Dundee United 221 (12) 2004–2005 Livingston 30 (3) 2005–2007 Leyton Orient 71 (5) 2007–2010 Swindon Town 75 (8) 2010–2011 Southend United 31 (4) 2011– Dunfermline Athletic 3 (0) National team‡ 1998–2001 Scotland U21 22 (2) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 November 2011.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 26 March 2010Craig Easton (born 26 February 1979 in Bellshill, Scotland) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Dunfermline Athletic.
Contents
Career
Dundee United
Easton began his career with Dundee United, signing full-time terms at the start of the 1996–97 season and making two league appearances in his first season. In 1997–98, Easton was more of a first team regular, featuring in thirty-five matches, with notable firsts including playing in a UEFA Cup match and scoring his first goal in the League Cup semi-final win over Aberdeen. The following season, Easton continued to play in the majority of matches and repeated this trend over the next few seasons.
In 2003–04, Easton played fewer games, with manager Ian McCall – in his first full season as United manager – demoting his squad number from 7 to 18. In April 2004, McCall announced Easton's contract would be allowed to expire at the season's end, although Easton had made the same decision a few months earlier.[1]
Livingston
Livingston was to be Easton's new club with the midfielder joining the West Lothian club on a one-year deal in July,[2] scoring on his début a month later.[3] Although Easton played regularly during his season at Almondvale, his contract was not renewed. He scored the goal which secured SPL football for Livingston and sent Dundee F.C down to division one.[4]
Leyton Orient
Despite interest from Motherwell,[5] moved to English side Leyton Orient on a two-year deal in July 2005.[6] Six months after joining Orient, Easton scored the opening goal in the shock 2–1 FA Cup win over Premier League side Fulham when his "deflected shot looped high into the top corner".[7] Three days afterwards, Easton reflected on his short time in England, saying the "new challenge" had "worked out".[8] Easton went on to score on the final day of the season as Orient won promotion to League One.[9] Easton played the majority of games for Orient during the following season.
“ I would put that down as my greatest achievement and also my most enjoyable moment in football so far. ” —Easton after helping Leyton Orient beat Fulham in the FA Cup, BBC Sport website
Swindon Town
Easton refused a new contract with Orient to sign for Swindon Town in June 2007 on a two-year deal,[10] reuniting him with manager Paul Sturrock who previously managed Easton whilst at Dundee United. Subsequent to Sturrock's departure in late 2007, Easton was reunited with another former Dundee United colleague when Maurice Malpas was appointed as Swindon manager. Easton was a regular fixture in Town's side throughout the season, making 40 league appearances and was named runner-up in the Player of the Year awards.
The following season was less of a success and Easton found himself in and out of the side being utilised in a number of different positions. With his two year deal set to expire at the end of the season Easton was one of only four players offered a contract extension.[11] In June 2009 he signed a one year contract extension at the club.[12] At the end of the 2009–10 season, Easton rejected the offer of a new contract and left the club.
Southend United
On 16 July 2010, Easton signed a pre-contract agreement with Southend United and was named club captain. When the clubs transfer embargo was lifted on the eve of the new season Easton's registration was submitted to the FA and he was eligible to make his debut against Stockport County on 7 August 2010.
Easton scored his first goal for the club against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the League Cup on 24 August 2010. His first league goal came against Chesterfield on 8 January 2011.
Easton failed to agree a new deal with Southend and became a free agent when his contract expired on 30 June 2011.
Dunfermline Athletic
He joined Dunfermline Athletic on 26 August 2011, on an initial six month contract, as cover for the midfield.[13]
Career statistics
After 31 July 2009
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total 1996–97 Dundee United Scottish Premier Division 2 0 - - - 2 0 1997–98 29 1 1 0 4 1 1 0 35 2 1998–99 Scottish Premier League 30 1 6 0 - - 36 1 1999–00 31 1 3 0 3 1 - 37 2 2000–01 34 5 4 1 1 0 - 39 6 2001–02 36 3 4 1 3 1 - 43 5 2002–03 36 1 1 0 4 0 - 41 1 2003–04 23 0 1 0 1 0 - 25 0 2004–05 Livingston 30 3 2 1 3 1 - 35 5 England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total 2005–06 Leyton Orient Football League Two 41 4 3 1 1 0 - 45 5 2006–07 Football League One 30 1 3 0 1 0 - 34 1 2007–08 Swindon Town 40 6 3 0 1 0 - 44 6 2008–09 23 2 0 0 1 0 - 24 2 Total Scotland 251 15 22 3 19 4 1 0 293 22 Total England 134 13 9 1 4 0 0 0 147 14 Career total 385 28 31 4 23 4 1 0 426 36 References
- ^ "Easton to leave Tannadice". BBC Sport website. 2004-04-27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/3665007.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ "Double signing for Livi". BBC Sport website. 2004-07-03. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/livingston/3862799.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ "Livingston 3–0 Inverness". BBC Sport website. 2004-08-07. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/3538100.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ "McKenzie re-signs for Livingston". BBC Sport website. 2005-05-27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/livingston/4588545.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ "Butcher to lose out on signings". BBC Sport website. 2005-07-10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/4669617.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ "Easton completes move to Orient". BBC Sport website. 2005-07-13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leyton_orient/4671295.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ "Fulham 1–2 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport website. 2006-01-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/4565032.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ Bevan, Chris (2006-01-11). "Easton still aiming high with O's". BBC Sport website. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leyton_orient/4601974.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ "Oxford United 2–3 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport website. 2006-05-06. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/4957574.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ "Swindon sign Easton from Orient". BBC Sport website. 2007-06-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/6741489.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ "THIRTEEN PLAYERS RELEASED". Official site. 2009-05-05. http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10341~1649145,00.html. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
- ^ "Trio sign new contracts". Swindon Advertiser. 2009-06-16. http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/search/4439420.Trio_sign_new_contracts. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- ^ . Official site. 2011-08-26. http://www.dafc.co.uk/articles/20110826/pars-make-a-signing_2207955_2433122. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
External links
Dunfermline Athletic F.C. – current squad 1 Gallacher · 2 J. Thomson · 3 McCann · 4 Mason · 5 Rutkiewicz · 6 Keddie · 7 Cardle · 8 Hardie · 9 Barrowman · 10 Kirk · 11 Graham · 12 McDougall · 13 Boyle · 14 Phinn · 15 Dowie · 16 Potter · 17 Burns · 18 Bell · 19 Buchanan · 20 Smith · 21 Clarke · 22 Willis · 23 R. Thomson · 26 Easton · 31 Leslie · 32 Schiavone · 34 Byrne · 39 Young · Manager: McIntyre
Categories:- 1979 births
- Living people
- Scottish footballers
- Scottish Premier League players
- Scottish Football League players
- The Football League players
- Dundee United F.C. players
- Livingston F.C. players
- Leyton Orient F.C. players
- Swindon Town F.C. players
- Southend United F.C. players
- Scotland under-21 international footballers
- Association football midfielders
- People from Bellshill
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