view Easton's match-by-match record
 
Craig EASTON

A former Scottish under-21 international, Easton signed a two year deal at Swindon in June 2007, joining up again with manager Paul Sturrock, whom he played for whilst at Dundee United. After surprisingly sitting out the opening day of the season on the bench, Easton made his debut for the Town in a Carling Cup match against Charlton, and then marked his League debut with a last-gasp winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Luton - when after originally being named as a substitute, an injury to Steve Adams handed him a place in the starting eleven.

From then on, Easton was the Town's most regular player - missing a total of just six league games throughout the season - the other five coming in January, when a calf injury kept him out for a month. When he returned, new boss Maurice Malpas began to utilise Easton as an extra midfielder in his controversial "4-3½-2½" formation, where though Easton played on the right-side, he had less of an attacking role than a usual wide man. Despite the perceived odd formation, the move seemed to work well for Easton in terms of goals, as he netted three times from his new position, including a brace as nine-man Town beat Huddersfield in March. Though Easton returned to the centre before the season was out, another goal in a 6-0 drubbing of Port Vale took his tally for the season to six - and Easton was named as runner-up in the Adver's Player of the Year awards.

Despite this, 2008/09 was not a happy season for Easton. Initially consigned to the bench by the arrival of Lilian Nalis, Easton was introduced on the right side again at the end of August, before a move to the centre prompted his first goal of the season - a curled effort at Stockport. After being named as stand-in captain during mid-October though, his second goal - a late consolation in a woeful 3-1 home defeat by Huddersfield - proved to be the start of a frustrating period where he found himself in and out of the side, competing with Michael Pook for a starting place. During this time, with manager Malpas now sacked, caretaker boss experimented in using Easton on the left side of a tighter midfield four. When this didn't work either, Easton found himself on the bench again, recalled for the Christmas period, when new manager Danny Wilson took over.

Easton didn't last long in the side, and was benched again by the middle of January, before a calf injury kept him out during February and March. When Owain Tudur-Jones arrived on loan from Swansea, Easton started just two more games before the end of the season - and with his contract up for renewal, it appeared as though his days might be numbered, but he was one of only four players offered terms.

He signed a one-year extension, but the 2009/10 campaign proved a frustrating one for Easton, as he started just two league games - kept out of the side by the new midfield pairing of Jonathan Douglas and Simon Ferry, and Michael Timlin seemingly being preferred by Wilson as backup. It was therefore a surprise when Easton was offered another one-year extension - perhaps less so when he rejected the offer in search of first team football.

PLAYING RECORD:

Season LEAGUE FA CUP LEAGUE CUP OTHER TOTAL
Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls
'09/'10 2 (+10) - (+1) - 1 - 1 - 4 (+11) -
'08/'09 14 (+9) 2 - - (+1) - 3 - 17 (+10) 2
'07/'08 40 6 3 - 1 - 1 - 45 6
TOTAL 56 (+19) 8 3 (+1) - 2 (+1) - 5 - 66 (+21) 8


TRANSFER INFORMATION:

DATE IN/OUT TRANSFER DETAIL
11 JUN 2007 IN Leyton Orient
(Bosman free transfer)
2 JUL 2010 OUT (released)


full name

Craig Easton


 SCOTLAND
U-21 international apps

21 apps
youth international apps



date of birth
26 February 1979


             
             
           
             
             
             

usual positions
central midfield

youth career
Dundee United 

senior career
Dundee United 
Livingston 
Leyton Orient
SWINDON TOWN
Southend United
Dunfermline Athletic 
Torquay United
PLAYER
youth coach

Raith Rovers 
youth coach
player-youth coach

Dundee United 
reserve team manager

Cowdenbeath 
player-assistant manager

website links
Twitter