Simon Eastwood

Simon Eastwood

Eastwood playing for Blackburn Rovers in 2015
Personal information
Full name Simon Christopher Eastwood
Date of birth (1989-06-26) 26 June 1989
Place of birth Luton, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Oxford United
Number 1
Youth career
Huddersfield Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2010 Huddersfield Town 1 (0)
2008–2009 → Woking (loan) 12 (0)
2009 → Bradford City (loan) 22 (0)
2010–2011 Oxford United 0 (0)
2011–2012 Halifax Town 41 (0)
2012–2013 Portsmouth 27 (0)
2013–2016 Blackburn Rovers 13 (0)
2016– Oxford United 20 (0)
National team
2007 England U18 1 (0)
2007 England U19 1 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:57, 27 November 2016 (UTC).


Simon Christopher Eastwood (born 26 June 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Oxford United.

Born in Luton, he began his career as a youth player with Huddersfield Town. He went professional in 2006, but struggled to break into the first team and went on loan to Woking in 2009 then moved to Bradford City a year later. He made a permanent transfer to Oxford United in 2010 but did not make a first-team appearance, and in the following years he played for Halifax Town, Portsmouth, and Blackburn Rovers, before returning to Oxford in 2016.

Eastwood has played internationally for England twice at under-18 and under-19 levels.

Club career

Huddersfield Town

Born in Luton, Eastwood was a Huddersfield Town academy goalkeeper who made two appearances on the substitutes' bench in the 2005–06 season at the age of just 16 years old. At the start of the 2006–07 season, he was the third-choice goalkeeper behind Paul Rachubka and new signing Matt Glennon. After Paul Rachubka's departure to Blackpool, Eastwood had been made second-choice goalkeeper behind Matt Glennon.

Eastwood signed his first professional contract at the end of the 2006–07 season for one year. On 16 January 2008, he and fellow Huddersfield youngster Shane Killock signed new one-year contract extensions.[1] This was after he fell behind goalkeeper Alex Smithies in the pecking order. On 27 November 2008, he joined Conference National side Woking. His first appearance for Woking was in their 1–1 draw with Rushden & Diamonds on 9 December 2008. Following Huddersfield's 3–1 defeat by Crewe Alexandra on 21 February 2009, he was recalled by manager Lee Clark following an injury to Matt Glennon. Clark gave Eastwood his full debut on the last day of the 2008–09 season, as regular keeper Alex Smithies had a shoulder injury. The game was Huddersfield's 1–1 draw against Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road on 2 May 2009.

Eastwood was contracted to the club until the summer of 2011. He was officially made available for transfer along with seven other players by Town manager Lee Clark on 24 May 2010. On 4 June 2010 he left Huddersfield, having only made one first-team appearance for the club, to join Oxford United for the 2010–11 season.[2]

Bradford City (loan)

On 25 July, he joined Football League Two side Bradford City on loan until the end of the year. He made his debut in the 5–0 defeat by Notts County at Meadow Lane on 8 August 2009. After 28 appearances (22 in the league) he returned to the Galpharm on 31 December, after Bradford manager Stuart McCall said he needed a more experienced goalkeeper at the club.[3]

Oxford United

On 4 June 2010, Eastwood signed a two-year contract with Oxford United, newly promoted to League Two.[2] However, Eastwood was second-choice goalkeeper behind ever-present Ryan Clarke, who made 50 appearances in the 2010–11 season. After one season at Oxford, having failed to make a first-team appearance, Eastwood was released in May 2011 despite having a year left on his contract.[4]

Halifax Town

On 21 June, Eastwood signed a one-year contract with Conference North club Halifax Town.[5] On 13 August he made his debut, against Corby Town. He won the competition for first-team place against Phil Senior, making 43 appearances (41 in the league), only missing 3 league matches. However, at the end of the season his contract was not renewed and he was released.[6]

Portsmouth

On 8 July 2012, Eastwood agreed a contract with Conference North side Bradford Park Avenue.[7] However, just five days later, after Eastwood chose to take a trial with Portsmouth, his contract with Bradford was rescinded, the club stating that it would not stand in his way.[8] After featuring in all Portsmouth's preseason matches, Eastwood joined Pompey on 13 August 2012, on non-contract terms, one day ahead of their League Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle, in which he made his debut. On the eve of the new league season, Portsmouth signed their entire new squad, including signing Mikkel Andersen from Reading on loan. Andersen secured first place in the team, meaning Eastwood was on the bench.[9][10][11] Eastwood played his second game on 9 October, in a Football League Trophy 2nd round match against Wycombe Wanderers; the club failed to progress after losing 3–1. However, Eastwood managed to save a penalty although the rebound was scored by Wycombe's Dean Morgan.[12]

Due to limited playing time, Eastwood was the main goalkeeper for Portsmouth's development squad. He made his third first-team appearance in a 1st-Round FA Cup match against Notts County, on 3 November.[13] On the following Tuesday, he made his league debut at Fratton Park against Brentford; Pompey lost the League One fixture 1–0.[14] On 20 November 2012, first-choice goalkeeper Andersen made his last appearance for Portsmouth in a 2–3 defeat to Leyton Orient before returning to Premier League club Reading, making Eastwood the only goalkeeper at Portsmouth, and securing his first-team place. Just after Andersen's departure, former Swindon Town goalkeeper Phil Smith was signed, initially as back-up for Eastwood.[15] Eastwood's position was under threat,[16] when former Portsmouth goalkeeper Alan Knight (famous for the most appearances for a Portsmouth player) came in as goalkeeper coach (after the departure of John Keeley).[17] Knight backed Eastwood,[18] and on 2 March 2013 Pompey won their first game in over 4 months (23 games), a 2–1 win at Crewe, Eastwood's first win as a Portsmouth player. In the next month he kept three clean sheets in six games, against Bury, Preston and Tranmere Rovers. Following Portsmouth's relegation, Eastwood said he was determined to remain to stay at the club for the next season.[19] He was offered a new deal with the club.[20]

Blackburn Rovers

Eastwood rejected Portsmouth's offer and on 13 May 2013 agreed a deal in principle to join Championship club Blackburn Rovers.[21] He made his debut for the club on 7 August 2013 in a first-round League Cup tie against Carlisle United, which Blackburn lost on penalties after a 3–3 draw.[22] In December he displaced Jake Kean as first-choice goalkeeper, making his Championship debut for the club on 7 December 2013 in an away game against QPR, putting in an impressive performance and keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw. After seven games as first choice, Eastwood returned to being back-up as Paul Robinson returned from injury and reclaimed his number one spot. On 28 February 2014, Eastwood signed a new contract until the summer of 2016.[23]

Oxford United

In June 2016, Eastwood signed for Oxford United for the second time, on a one-year deal.[24] He was given the number 1 jersey and was ever-present in their opening 15 games.[25]

International career

On 27 March 2007, he received his first call-up to the England U-18 team, where he played in their 4–1 win against Netherlands U-18's at Huish Park. On 30 August 2007, he received his first call-up for the England U-19s in a match against Belarus under-19s at Meadow Lane. He played the whole 90 minutes of the game on 11 September, and kept a clean sheet as England won 4–0.

Career statistics

As of match played 29 October 2016
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other1 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Huddersfield Town 2008–09 10–––10
2009–10 00–––00
Subtotal 10–––10
Woking (loan) 2008–09 120–10–130
Subtotal 120–10–130
Bradford City (loan) 2009–10 220101040280
Subtotal 220101040280
Oxford United 2010–11 00–––00
Subtotal 00–––00
FC Halifax Town 2011–12 41020––430
Subtotal 41020––430
Portsmouth 2012–13 270101010300
Subtotal 270101010300
Blackburn 2013–14 7010100090
2014–15 60500000110
Subtotal 130601000200
Oxford United 2016–17 160002020200
Subtotal 160002020200
Career Total 132010060701550

1 Including the Football League Trophy.

References

  1. ↑ "Terriers youngsters sign on". Sky Sports. 16 January 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Oxford United sign Huddersfield keeper Simon Eastwood". BBC Sport. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  3. ↑ "Bantams let Eastwood go". Sky Sports. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "Oxford United release Midson, Sangare, Hanson, Eastwood". BBC Sport. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Shaymen Sign New Keeper". Football Conference. 21 June 2011.
  6. ↑ "Shaymen release Eastwood". Blue Square Bet Premier. 14 May 2012.
  7. ↑ "Avenue Sign Baldry, Eastwood and Walker". Bradford Park Avenue. 8 July 2012.
  8. ↑ Whiting, Ian (13 July 2012). "We won't stand in Simon Eastwood's way, says Bradford Park Avenue boss John Deacey". Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Pompey Sign Eastwood". Portsmouth F.C. 13 August 2012. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  10. ↑ Wilson, Steve (14 August 2012). "Eastwood arrival prevents old school rules for Blues". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  11. ↑ "Plymouth 3–0 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "Pompey 1 Wycombe 3". Portsmouth F.C. 9 October 2012. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  13. ↑ "Portsmouth 0–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  14. ↑ "Portsmouth 0–1 Brentford". BBC Sport. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  15. ↑ Wilson, Steve (17 November 2012). "Keeper eyes extended run". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  16. ↑ Cross, Jordan (5 December 2012). "Gauntlet thrown down to Pompey keeper". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  17. ↑ Wilson, Steve (25 January 2013). "Knight to make Pompey return". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  18. ↑ Wilson, Steve (26 February 2013). "Legend's backing for Blues keeper". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  19. ↑ Cross, Jordan (2 May 2013). "Eastwood sets his targets". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  20. ↑ Allen, Neil (8 May 2012). "Whittingham lines-up quadruple swoop". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  21. ↑ Allen, Neil (15 May 2013). "Eastwood rejects Pompey deal to join Blackburn". Portsmouth News. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  22. ↑ "Carlisle 3–3 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  23. ↑ "Keeper extends stay". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  24. ↑ "Simon Eastwood: Oxford United sign ex-Blackburn goalkeeper on one-year deal". BBC Sport. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  25. ↑ Pritchard, David (7 October 2016). "Simon Eastwood targets ever-present season for Oxford United". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
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