Craig Easton

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Craig Easton

| image = CraigEaston.jpg

| upright = 0.9

| caption = Easton with Southend United in 2010

| alt =

| fullname = Craig Easton{{Hugman|22921|accessdate=30 March 2017}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|2|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bellshill, Scotland

| height =

| position = Central midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1995–1996

| youthclubs1 = Dundee United

| years1 = 1996–2004

| years2 = 2004–2005

| years3 = 2005–2007

| years4 = 2007–2010

| years5 = 2010–2011

| years6 = 2011–2012

| years7 = 2012–2013

| years8 = 2016–2018

| years9 = 2020–2021

| clubs1 = Dundee United

| clubs2 = Livingston

| clubs3 = Leyton Orient

| clubs4 = Swindon Town

| clubs5 = Southend United

| clubs6 = Dunfermline Athletic

| clubs7 = Torquay United

| clubs8 = Raith Rovers

| clubs9 = Cowdenbeath

| caps1 = 221

| goals1 = 12

| caps2 = 30

| goals2 = 3

| caps3 = 71

| goals3 = 5

| caps4 = 75

| goals4 = 8

| caps5 = 31

| goals5 = 4

| caps6 = 3

| goals6 = 0

| caps7 = 21

| goals7 = 0

| caps8 = 0

| goals8 = 0

| caps9 = 0

| goals9 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 1998–2001

| nationalteam1 = Scotland U21

| nationalcaps1 = 22

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| club-update = 23:01, 31 August 2016 (UTC)

| ntupdate = 26 March 2010

}}

Craig Easton (born 26 February 1979) is a Scottish football former player and coach. He began his playing career with Dundee United in 1996 and went on to play over 200 first team matches, before leaving the club in 2004. He subsequently played for Livingston, Leyton Orient, Swindon Town, Southend United, Dunfermline Athletic and Torquay United before retiring as a player in 2013. After becoming a coach at Raith Rovers in July 2016, Easton decided to re-register as a player. Easton also represented the Scotland under-21 team between 1998 and 2001, making 22 appearances.

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.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/3665007.stm|title=Easton to leave Tannadice|date=27 April 2004|publisher=BBC Sport website|accessdate=2 June 2008}}

=Livingston=

Livingston was to be Easton's new club with the midfielder joining the West Lothian club on a one-year deal in July,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/livingston/3862799.stm|title=Double signing for Livi|date=3 July 2004|publisher=BBC Sport website|accessdate=2 June 2008}} scoring on his début a month later.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/3538100.stm|title=Livingston 3–0 Inverness|date=7 August 2004|publisher=BBC Sport website|accessdate=2 June 2008}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/livingston/4588545.stm|title=McKenzie re-signs for Livingston |date=27 May 2005|publisher=BBC Sport website|accessdate=2 June 2008}}

=Leyton Orient=

Despite interest from Motherwell,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/4669617.stm|title=Butcher to lose out on signings |date=10 July 2005|publisher=BBC Sport website|accessdate=2 June 2008}} moved to English side Leyton Orient on a two-year deal in July 2005.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leyton_orient/4671295.stm|title=Easton completes move to Orient |date=13 July 2005|publisher=BBC Sport website|accessdate=2 June 2008}} 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".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/4565032.stm|title=Fulham 1–2 Leyton Orient |date=8 January 2006|publisher=BBC Sport website|accessdate=2 June 2008}} Three days afterwards, Easton reflected on his short time in England, saying the "new challenge" had "worked out".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leyton_orient/4601974.stm|title=Easton still aiming high with O's |last=Bevan|first=Chris|date=11 January 2006|publisher=BBC Sport website|accessdate=2 June 2008}} Easton went on to score on the final day of the season as Orient won promotion to League One.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/4957574.stm|title=Oxford United 2–3 Leyton Orient |date=6 May 2006|publisher=BBC Sport website|accessdate=2 June 2008}} Easton played the majority of games for Orient during the following season.{{Rquote|left|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,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swindon_town/6741489.stm|title=Swindon sign Easton from Orient |date=11 June 2007|publisher=BBC Sport website|accessdate=2 June 2008}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10341~1649145,00.html |title=THIRTEEN PLAYERS RELEASED |date=5 May 2009 |publisher=Official site |accessdate=31 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509084020/http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10341~1649145%2C00.html |archivedate=9 May 2009 }} In June 2009 he signed a one-year contract extension at the club.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/search/4439420.Trio_sign_new_contracts|title=Trio sign new contracts|date=16 June 2009|publisher=Swindon Advertiser|accessdate=31 July 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218052922/http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/search/4439420.Trio_sign_new_contracts/|archivedate=18 February 2012}} 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=

Easton joined Dunfermline Athletic on 26 August 2011, on an initial six-month contract.{{cite news|url=http://www.dafc.co.uk/articles/20110826/pars-make-a-signing_2207955_2433122|title=Pars make a signing|date=26 August 2011|publisher=Official site|accessdate=26 August 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928005155/http://www.dafc.co.uk/articles/20110826/pars-make-a-signing_2207955_2433122|archivedate=28 September 2011}} After three league appearances, Easton's contract ended at the end of January and he became a free agent.

=Torquay United=

On 26 June 2012, Easton signed for Torquay United on a free transfer, having completed a two-week trial with the club.{{Cite news |url=http://www.torquayunited.com/page/News/0,,10445~2822721,00.html |title=Easton on Board |work=Torquay United FC |date=26 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628132126/http://www.torquayunited.com/page/News/0%2C%2C10445~2822721%2C00.html |archivedate=28 June 2012 }} Manager Martin Ling claimed Easton was a perfect addition to his squad.{{cite news|title=Ling happy to bring in Easton|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/7842738/Ling-happy-to-bring-in-Easton|publisher=Sky Sports|date=26 June 2012|accessdate=5 July 2012}} The pair had previously worked together at Leyton Orient. In May 2013, Torquay confirmed that Easton was one of seven players who had been released by new manager Alan Knill.

Coaching career

=Raith Rovers=

In July 2016, Easton was appointed head coach of the Raith Rovers development team.{{cite news|title=Raith Rovers confirm Craig Easton youth appointment - The Courier|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/scottish-championship/220039/raith-rovers-confirm-craig-easton-youth-appointment/|accessdate=27 July 2016|work=The Courier|date=7 July 2016|location=Dundee}} Easton was also registered as a player at the club, to fill in where needed in development matches.{{cite news|title=Deadline Day Departures…plus Breaking News – a golden oldie registers as a player|url=http://www.raithrovers.net/26576/22-00-hrs-breaking-news-deadline-day-departures.htm|accessdate=31 August 2016|work=Raith Rovers FC|date=31 August 2016|location=Kirkcaldy}} Easton guided Raith Rovers U20s to consecutive SPFL Development League East titles in 2016–17 and 2017–18.

=Dundee United=

On 1 June 2018, it was announced that Easton had returned to Dundee United to take the new position of Reserve Team Manager. He said that while the decision to leave Raith Rovers was difficult, "the opportunity to come back to the place where it all began for me and to take on a new challenge at an exciting time for everyone involved, was one I couldn't turn down."{{cite web |title=Craig Easton Appointed Reserve Team Manager |url=https://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/news/5648/CRAIG-EASTON-APPOINTED-RESERVE-TEAM-MANAGER.html |website=dundeeunitedfc.co.uk |publisher=Dundee United Football Club |accessdate=1 June 2018 |date=1 June 2018}}

=Cowdenbeath=

Easton was appointed assistant manager at Cowdenbeath in August 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.centralfifetimes.com/sport/17813994.craig-easton-looking-forward-cowdenbeath-role/|title = New assistant boss welcomed aboard}} In October 2020, he registered as a player.

He left the club in October 2021 when manager Gary Bollan left the club by mutual consent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59025954|title =Cowdenbeath: Manager Gary Bollan leaves Scottish League 2 bottom club|publisher=BBC|date=23 October 2021}}

Montserrat National Team

Easton was an Assistant Coach for Montserrat's National Team in their CONCACAF Nations League games against Haiti and Guyana in March 2023. {{Cite web |last=Temple |first=Alan |title=EXCLUSIVE: Former Dundee United ace Craig Easton opens up on shock international adventure in the Caribbean — alongside ex-Dens Park hero |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-united/4284316/dundee-united-ace-craig-easton-montserrat-caribbean-matt-lockwood-david-preece/ |access-date=2023-04-16 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup{{efn\|Includes Scottish Cup, FA Cup}} !colspan="2"\|League cup{{efn\|Includes Scottish League Cup, Football League Cup}} !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="9"\|Dundee United \|1996–97 \|rowspan="2"\|Scottish Premier Division \|2	0	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	2	0
1997–98 \|29	1	1	0	4	1	1	0	35	2
1998–99 \|rowspan="6"\|Scottish Premier League \|30	1	6	0	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	36	1
1999–00 \|31	1	3	0	3	1	colspan="2"\|–	37	2
2000–01 \|34	5	4	1	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	39	6
2001–02 \|36	3	4	1	3	1	colspan="2"\|–	43	5
2002–03 \|36	1	1	0	4	0	colspan="2"\|–	41	1
2003–04 \|23	0	1	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	25	0
colspan="2"\|Total !221	12	20	2	16	3	1	0	258	17
Livingston \|2004–05 \|Scottish Premier League \|30	3	2	1	3	1	colspan="2"\|–	35	5
rowspan="3"\|Leyton Orient \|2005–06 \|Football League Two \|41	4	3	1	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	45	5
2006–07 \|Football League One \|30	1	3	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	34	1
colspan="2"\|Total !71	5	6	1	2	0	0	0	79	6
rowspan="3"\|Swindon Town \|2007–08 \|rowspan="2"\|Football League One \|40	6	3	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	44	6
2008–09 \|23	2	0	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	24	2
colspan="2"\|Total !63	8	3	0	2	0	0	0	68	8
colspan="3"\|Career total !385	28	31	4	23	4	1	0	440	36