Simon Eastwood
Encyclopedia
Simon Christopher Eastwood (born 26 June 1989) is a professional
footballer with Conference North
side FC Halifax Town
.
, 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
. Since 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. 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. This was due to regular keeper Alex Smithies
having 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 mangier Lee Clark on 24 May 2010. He then left the club after an agreement had been reached allowing he will join Oxford United
for the 2010–11 season on 4 June 2010 after only making one first team appearance for the club.
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. He returned to the Galpharm on 31 December, after Bradford manager Stuart McCall
said he was needing a more experienced goalkeeper than Eastwood at the club.
, where he played in their 4–1 win against Holland U-18's at Huish Park
. On 30 August 2007, he received his first call-up for the England U-19
's in a match against Belarus under-19's 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.
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer with Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
side FC Halifax Town
F.C. Halifax Town
Football Club Halifax Town, otherwise known as FC Halifax Town are an English football team who currently play in the Conference North. The club replaced Halifax Town A.F.C. who went into administration during the 2007–08 season.-Formation:...
.
Huddersfield Town
Born in LutonLuton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
, Eastwood was a Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
academy goalkeeper who made two appearances on the substitutes bench in the 2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
season at the age of just 16 years old. At the start of the 2006–07
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...
season, he was the third choice goalkeeper behind Paul Rachubka
Paul Rachubka
Paul Stephen Rachubka is an American-English professional Association football goalkeeper who plays for Leeds United after joining the club from Blackpool ....
and new signing Matt Glennon
Matt Glennon
Matthew William "Matt" Glennon is an English football goalkeeper who plays for Conference National club Stockport County....
. Since Paul Rachubka's departure to Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, 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
Shane Killock
Shane Adam Killock is an English footballer who plays for AFC Telford United as a defender. He played in the Football League for Huddersfield Town.-Career:...
signed new one-year contract extensions. This was after he fell behind goalkeeper Alex Smithies
Alex Smithies
Alexander "Alex" Smithies is a professional footballer with League One side Huddersfield Town. An academy goalkeeper who first came into prominence during the 2007–08 season, after second choice goalkeeper Simon Eastwood injured his foot.-Early life:Smithies grew up in Golcar, in the Colne Valley...
in the pecking order. On 27 November 2008, he joined Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
. His first appearance for Woking was in their 1–1 draw with Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
on 9 December 2008. Following Huddersfield's 3–1 defeat by Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
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. This was due to regular keeper Alex Smithies
Alex Smithies
Alexander "Alex" Smithies is a professional footballer with League One side Huddersfield Town. An academy goalkeeper who first came into prominence during the 2007–08 season, after second choice goalkeeper Simon Eastwood injured his foot.-Early life:Smithies grew up in Golcar, in the Colne Valley...
having a shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
injury. The game was Huddersfield's 1–1 draw against 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...
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 mangier Lee Clark on 24 May 2010. He then left the club after an agreement had been reached allowing he will join Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
for the 2010–11 season on 4 June 2010 after only making one first team appearance for the club.
Bradford City
On 25 July, he joined Football League TwoFootball League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
on loan until the end of the year. He made his debut in the 5–0 defeat by Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
at Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
on 8 August 2009. He returned to the Galpharm on 31 December, after Bradford manager Stuart McCall
Stuart McCall
Andrew Stuart Murray McCall , usually known as Stuart McCall, is a former footballer who played in central midfield. He played a total of 763 league games during his career, the 13th highest of all British footballers...
said he was needing a more experienced goalkeeper than Eastwood at the club.
Oxford United
On 4 June 2010, Eastwood signed for newly promoted Oxford United, after an agreement had been reached between the Oxford and Huddersfield.International career
On 27 March 2007, he received his first call-up to the England U-18 teamEngland national under-18 football team
-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Slovakia.-Recent call-ups:The following players have also been called up to the England under-18 squad and remain eligible.-References:...
, where he played in their 4–1 win against Holland U-18's at Huish Park
Huish Park
Huish Park is a football ground in the suburbs of Yeovil, Somerset, England and is the home ground of Yeovil Town Football Club. The stadium replaced the club's previous ground, The Huish famous for numerous FA Cup giant-killings was officially opened on 4 August 1990, with a match against then...
. On 30 August 2007, he received his first call-up for the England U-19
England national under-19 football team
-Other matches:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Denmark.- Recent call-ups :The following players have also been called up to the England under-19 squad and remain eligible.-Past squads:...
's in a match against Belarus under-19's at Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
. He played the whole 90 minutes of the game on 11 September, and kept a clean sheet as England won 4–0.