Craig Easton Player Profile

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Player Details

  • Full Name: Craig Easton
  • Born: February 26th, 1979 (Bellshill)
  • Height: 5' 10
  • Position: Midfielder
  • Signed: January 1st, 1995
  • First Manager: Ivan Golac
  • Career Totals: 259 appearances, 17 goals
  • Also Played For: Dunfermline Athletic, Leyton Orient, Livingston, Southend United, Swindon Town, Torquay United


Playing History

Season Win % Draw % Loss %
2003-04 12 (12) 0 2 0 25.0% 25.0% 50.0%
2002-03 39 (2) 1 9 0 24.4% 26.8% 48.8%
2001-02 40 (3) 5 4 0 34.9% 23.3% 41.9%
2000-01 33 (6) 6 6 2 28.2% 17.9% 53.8%
1999-00 27 (11) 2 4 1 36.8% 18.4% 44.7%
1998-99 35 (2) 1 2 0 29.7% 24.3% 45.9%
1997-98 22 (13) 2 3 0 28.6% 31.4% 40.0%
1996-97 1 (1) 0 1 0 100.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Totals: 209 (50) 17


 Apps = First Team Appearances (Sub Appearances) | Gls = Goals
 GtGR = Goals to Games Ratio | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in
 Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals

 Recent First Team Starts
 16/05/04 SPL vs. Celtic (A) 1 - 2
 01/05/04 SPL vs. Hearts (H) 0 - 2
 17/04/04 SPL vs. Dunfermline (A) 1 - 1
 11/04/04 SPL vs. Dundee (H) 2 - 2
 10/01/04 3rd Round vs. Dunfermline (A) 1 - 3

 Recent First Team Goals
 01/03/03 SPL vs. Dunfermline (H) 3 - 0
 12/05/02 SPL vs. Kilmarnock (A) 2 - 2
 23/02/02 5th Round vs. Ayr Utd (H) 2 - 2
 15/12/01 SPL vs. Aberdeen (H) 1 - 1
 27/10/01 SPL vs. Motherwell (H) 1 - 1

 List of Goals Scored (click to expand)
 01/03/03 SPL vs. Dunfermline (H)  3 - 0
 12/05/02 SPL vs. Kilmarnock (A)  2 - 2
 23/02/02 5th Round vs. Ayr Utd (H)  2 - 2
 15/12/01 SPL vs. Aberdeen (H)  1 - 1
 27/10/01 SPL vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 1
 25/09/01 2nd Round vs. Dumbarton (H)  3 - 0
 12/05/01 SPL vs. St Johnstone (A)  3 - 2
 17/02/01 4th Round vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 0
 31/01/01 SPL vs. Dundee (A)  3 - 2
 02/01/01 SPL vs. Motherwell (H)  2 - 0
 25/11/00 SPL vs. Dunfermline (H)  3 - 2
 23/09/00 SPL vs. Aberdeen (H)  3 - 5
 01/12/99 Quarter Final vs. Motherwell (H)  3 - 2
 15/08/99 SPL vs. Celtic (H)  2 - 1
 28/11/98 SPL vs. Aberdeen (A)  3 - 0
 09/11/97 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  5 - 0
 15/10/97 Semi Final vs. Aberdeen (N)  3 - 1

 List of Games Played
Sorry, there are too many games to display for this player.


Biography

The Scotland schools, Under-16 and youth international midfielder developed through United's youth programme and was playing in the reserves by the 1995-96 season. Experiencing first team action during a pre-season tour of Denmark in July 1996, Craig made his competitive debut as a substitute in a 4-0 win over Aberdeen in January 1997, aged seventeen.

After being part of the United team that won the Youth League in 1996-97, he made the breakthrough into the starting eleven during the 1997-98 season, making a UEFA Cup appearance as a substitute in the home leg against CE Principat. He scored his first goal for the Club in the League Cup semi-final win over Aberdeen at Tynecastle – five of his 17 goals during his United career would come against the Pittodrie side. He collected a League Cup runners-up medal after the final against Celtic at Ibrox Stadium in November.

Craig remained a regular in the United first team line-up for six years and was a fixture in the Scotland Under-21 side, eventually becoming the fourth most capped player at that level. He scored his most memorable goal for United in a 2-1 win over Celtic at Tannadice in August 1999 and was an important member of the side that escaped relegation at the end of the 2000-01 season, scoring the equaliser in the vital 3-2 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in the second last game of the season, as United came back from two goals down. By 2004 Craig had moved into the top 30 list of player appearances for the Club, but under new manager Ian McCall he featured less frequently throughout that season, and at the end of the campaign he left United when his contract expired.

He joined Livingston on a one-year deal in July 2004 and scored the goal which secured the West Lothian clubs SPL status whilst sending Dundee down to the First Division. Craig moved to Leyton Orient in July 2005, helping the League two side defeat Premiership Fulham in the FA Cup and win promotion to League One. In June 2007 he was reunited with former United manager Paul Sturrock at Swindon Town, where he spent three seasons before following Sturrock to Southend United. He then had short spells with Dunfermline Athletic, Torquay United and Raith Rovers, where he was appointed head coach of the development team. He made a return to Tannadice for a spell as reserve team manager in June 2018.

Squad Numbers

11

Season:
1998-99

7

Season:
1999-00

7

Season:
2000-01

7

Season:
2001-02

7

Season:
2002-03

18

Season:
2003-04





Debut (as sub)

January 1st, 1997
Dundee United 4 - 0 Aberdeen

League (Premier Division)

Full Debut

May 3rd, 1997
Dundee United 1 - 0 Heart of Midlothian

League (Premier Division)


Timeline

  • Date of Birth


    Craig was born on this date in Bellshill.

    Monday, February 26th, 1979

  • Signed For Dundee United

    Sunday, January 1st, 1995

  • First Non-Competitive Appearance (Friendly)

    AGF Aarhus 1 - 2 Dundee United
    Friendly

    Given Scotland's poor record in Europe, particularly away from home this was an impressive start against the Danish Cup holders and European Cup Winner's Cup representatives. Remember too that the Dan

    Thursday, July 18th, 1996

  • First Non-Competitive Appearance (Res/Dev)

    Dundee United Res. - Celtic Res.
    SPFL Reserve League

    Friday, December 20th, 1996

  • First Team Debut

    Dundee United 4 - 0 Aberdeen
    League (Premier Division)

    United s biggest win of the season to date enabled them to leap-frog Aberdeen into fourth place. Robbie Winters opened the scoring after Walker directed the ball to him after slipping as he took a goa

    Wednesday, January 1st, 1997

  • First Goal

    Aberdeen 1 - 3 Dundee United
    League Cup (Semi Final)

    Three superb strikes killed off our north-east opponents. Robbie Winters first half opener was negated by Windass early in the second period but a magnificenfly worked and executed goal by Craig Easto

    Wednesday, October 15th, 1997

  • First League Goal

    Dundee United 5 - 0 Aberdeen
    League (Premier Division)

    The visitors were eclipsed in a five minute spell during which we scored three times and at the end of which the Dons were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Windass. But for Leighton in th

    Sunday, November 9th, 1997

  • 50th Appearance

    Dunfermline 2 - 1 Dundee United
    League (SPL)

    Even the boost of a third minute goal from Alex Mathie failed to enable us to take anything from this highly entertaining encounter for the Sky television audience at a packed East End Park. Dunfermli

    Sunday, November 15th, 1998

  • 50th League Appearance

    Dundee 1 - 3 Dundee United
    League (SPL)

    Victory was imperative and came thanks to a resilient display. After going two goals up through Billy Dodds angular strike and a deflected Steve Thompson effort, Dundee roared back. McSkimming pulled

    Saturday, January 2nd, 1999

  • 100th Appearance

    St Johnstone 2 - 0 Dundee United
    League (SPL)

    Saturday, February 26th, 2000

  • 100th League Appearance

    Dundee United 0 - 0 St Mirren
    League (SPL)

    Stephane Leoni and Mvondo Atangana made their home debuts as United looked to turn their woeful start around against St Mirren at Tannadice. Partnering Atangana up front was Alphonse Tchami ensuring a

    Saturday, September 16th, 2000

  • 200th Appearance

    Aberdeen 1 - 2 Dundee United
    League (SPL)

    Alex Smith brought eighteen year old midfielder Mark Wilson into the starting eleven, along with Derek Lilley, to make two changes to the team who started the Dundee derby last week. Jim McIntyre and

    Wednesday, September 11th, 2002

  • Last Goal

    Dundee United 3 - 0 Dunfermline
    League (SPL)

    Boss Ian McCall fielded a side with only two personnel changes from the team which went down to Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the SPL game two weeks ago. Mark Wilson was out through injury and Billy Dodds

    Saturday, March 1st, 2003

  • 200th League Appearance

    Celtic 5 - 0 Dundee United
    League (SPL)

    A miserable day all round at Celtic Park for United. Celtic took the lead through Sean Maloney. He played a one-two with Henrik Larsson and unleashed a left-footed shot from 6 yards. The lead i

    Saturday, August 16th, 2003

  • Last Appearance

    Celtic 2 - 1 Dundee United
    League (SPL)

    Sunday, May 16th, 2004