Craig Easton
Encyclopedia
Craig Easton is a Scottish footballer
who plays as a midfielder
for Dunfermline Athletic
.
, 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.
was to be Easton's new club with the midfielder joining the West Lothian
club on a one-year deal in July
, scoring on his début a month later. 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.
, moved to English
side Leyton Orient
on a two-year deal in July 2005. 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". Three days afterwards, Easton reflected on his short time in England, saying the "new challenge" had "worked out". Easton went on to score on the final day of the season as Orient won promotion
to League One. Easton played the majority of games for Orient during the following season
.
in June 2007 on a two-year deal, 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. In June 2009 he signed a one year contract extension at the club. At the end of the 2009–10 season, Easton rejected the offer of a new contract and left the club.
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.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
.
Dundee United
Easton began his career with Dundee UnitedDundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
, signing full-time terms at the start of the 1996–97 season
1996-97 in Scottish football
The 1996–97 season was the 100th season of competitive football in Scotland. This season seen a playoff system introduced between the 2nd bottom club in the Premier Division and the 2nd top club in Division One.-Scottish Premier Division:...
and making two league appearances in his first season. In 1997–98
1997-98 in Scottish football
The 1997–98 season was the 101st season of competitive football in Scotland. Celtic halted Rangers in their bid for a record 10-in-a-row.-Scottish Premier Division:-Top scorers:-Table:-Top scorers:-Table:-Top scorers:-Table:...
, Easton was more of a first team regular, featuring in thirty-five matches, with notable firsts including playing in a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
match and scoring his first goal in the League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
semi-final win over Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
. The following season
1998-99 in Scottish football
The 1998–99 season was the 102nd season of Scottish league football.-Summary:The 1998–99 SPL season was one that ended in success for Rangers. Dutchman Dick Advocaat was brought in to replace Walter Smith at Rangers and made major changes, bringing in many players.Rangers were...
, Easton continued to play in the majority of matches and repeated this trend over the next few seasons.
In 2003–04
2003-04 in Scottish football
The 2003–04 season was the 107th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2003–04 Scottish Premier League season was won by Celtic with 98 points, 17 points ahead of closest challengers Rangers. Both Rangers and Celtic therefore gained the two UEFA...
, Easton played fewer games, with manager Ian McCall
Ian McCall
Ian Holland McCall is a Scottish former footballer and is currently without a job having resigned as the manager of First Division side Partick Thistle.-Playing career:...
– 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.
Livingston
LivingstonLivingston F.C.
Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
was to be Easton's new club with the midfielder joining the West Lothian
West Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
club on a one-year deal in July
July 2004
July 2004: January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December-Events:July 2004: January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December-Events:...
, scoring on his début a month later. 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.
Leyton Orient
Despite interest from MotherwellMotherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
, moved to English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
side Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
on a two-year deal in July 2005. Six months after joining Orient, Easton scored the opening goal in the shock 2–1 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
win over Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
side Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
when his "deflected shot looped high into the top corner". Three days afterwards, Easton reflected on his short time in England, saying the "new challenge" had "worked out". Easton went on to score on the final day of the season as Orient won promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to League One. Easton played the majority of games for Orient during the following season
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
.
Swindon Town
Easton refused a new contract with Orient to sign for Swindon TownSwindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
in June 2007 on a two-year deal, reuniting him with manager Paul Sturrock
Paul Sturrock
Paul Whitehead Sturrock is a Scottish football manager who, since July 2010, is the manager of Southend United. Until this appointment, Sturrock had most recently been at English League 1 club Plymouth Argyle in a business support role, having been relieved of his managerial duties, until he quit...
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
Maurice Malpas
Maurice Daniel Robert Malpas is an ex-footballer and the assistant manager at Inverness Caledonian Thistle having joined the club on 27 January 2009 along with their new manager Terry Butcher...
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. In June 2009 he signed a one year contract extension at the club. 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 UnitedSouthend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
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
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
and he was eligible to make his debut against Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
on 7 August 2010.
Easton scored his first goal for the club against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
on 24 August 2010. His first league goal came against Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
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.