Brian Easton (footballer)

Brian Easton

Personal information
Full name	Brian Neil Easton
Date of birth	5 March 1988
Place of birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current team	St Johnstone
Number	24
Youth career
000?–2006	Hamilton Academical
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2006–2009	Hamilton Academical	102	(2)
2009–2012	Burnley	33	(1)
2010	→ Hamilton Academical (loan)	12	(0)
2012–2013	Dundee F.C.	17	(0)
2013–	St Johnstone	64	(1)
National team^‡
2008–2010	Scotland U21	2	(0)
2009	Scotland B	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:04, 31 October 2015 (UTC). † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 May 2009 (UTC)

Brian Neil Easton (born 5 March 1988) is a Scottish footballer, who currently plays for St Johnstone. Easton started his career with Hamilton, winning the Scottish First Division championship in 2008. He was sold to English club Burnley in 2009. Easton left Burnley at the end of his contract in 2012 and then signed for Dundee. In June 2013 Easton's contract ended with Dundee FC and he signed a one-year deal with St Johnstone.

Career

Hamilton Academical

Easton started his career with Hamilton, making his debut, coming for Javier Payo as a substitute on the 70th minute, in a 1–0 win over Dundee; on 29 September 2006, Easton received a straight red card in a 1–1 draw against Queen of the South. On 3 March 2008, Easton scored his first goal of his career in a 3–0 win over Airdrie United. Since making his debut, Easton increasingly has been used in the first team throughout his Hamilton's career and made thirty-two appearance.

The next season, Easton continued to be involved in the first team, making thirty-six appearance and in May 2008, Easton was awarded the young player of the month for April.^[1] Shortly after, Easton signed a new three-year contract with Hamilton after impressing during the 2007–08 season, helping his side to the Scottish First Division title.^[2]

The following season, with Hamilton promoted to the Scottish Premier League, Easton made his Scottish Premier League debut, as Hamilton beat Dundee United, giving Hamilton a winning start, on the opening game of the season.^[3] On 25 October 2008, Easton scored his first goal in the Scottish Premier League, against Rangers in a 3–1 loss;^[4] on 22 November 2008, Easton scored an own-goal, as Hamilton drew 1–1 with Dundee United. Easton made his 100th league appearance for Hamilton against Motherwell on 16 May 2009. In the January transfer window, the club's chairman Ronnie MacDonald said he refused to sell his youngsters, especially Easton, as he has attracted interests from clubs in England.^[5] Easton's good form throughout the season attracted the interest of Derby County manager Nigel Clough.^[6] With an interest from Derby, Easton insisted the transfer surrounding didn't affect him.^[7]

On 29 January 2010, Hamilton welcomed back Easton on loan until the end of the 2009–10 season.^[8] One day later, Easton made his debut in a 1–0 loss against Celtic.^[9] After the match, Easton said he could help the club stay in the SPL.^[10] Easton also said his return to Hamilton makes him a better player.^[11] In April, Easton said he wanted to keep his loan spell, until the end of the season.^[12] At the end of the season, Easton has since established himself in the first team, helping the club from relegation and returned to his parent club.^[13]

Burnley

Burnley agreed a fee with Hamilton for Easton's transfer on 13 July 2009.^[14] Easton signed a three-year contract with Burnley the next day.^[15] Easton made his Burnley's debut in a friendly match, in a 5–0 win over VC Fusion.^[16] Easton made his League Cup debut, in the second round, as Burnley win 2–1 over Hartlepool United. However, Easton had yet to make his Premier League debut, having his first-team opportunities limited and was loaned to Hamilton. Despite lack of first team, Easton says he didn't got a good start at Burnley, like he expected and taking his chance at Burnley when it comes.^[17] At the end of the season, Easton says he vowed to become a regular player next season, with the club relegated back to the Championship.^[18]

Upon his return, Easton was continuous be left out of the squad from the start of the season until October, when Easton made his league debut for Burnley on 19 October 2010 against Barnsley after stepping in for the injured Danny Fox. He scored his first goal for Burnley in a 3–2 defeat to Leeds United on 11 December 2010.^[19] After the match, Leeds United manager Simon Grayson described Burnley win as "a great result".^[20] However, Easton first-team opportunities limited still continued during the season, having been unused substitute in the matches.

Ahead of a new season, Easton's playing time rose, playing in the left-back position, after Fox left for Southampton and says he is expected to earn his chance in the first team.^[21] Later in the season, Easton established himself in the first team for the first half; however, Easton first team soon went down, due to arrival of Daniel Lafferty and good forms of Kieran Trippier and Ben Mee. In May 2012, Easton was released by the club after the expiry of his contract.^[22] Previously, Manager Eddie Howe said Easton will leave the club and will not be offered a new deal when his current deal expires, having no future at Burnley.^[23]

Dundee

Easton signed for Scottish Premier League club Dundee on 6 September 2012.^[24] After joining Dundee, Easton revealed that Kevin McDonald played the role of Easton joining Dundee, having found himself in limbo.^[25]

Having been unused substitute in the last three matches, Easton finally made his debut, making his first start and playing 90 minutes, as Dundee lose 3–0 against Hibernian. Soon after, Easton suffered a hamstring injury, during a 2–0 loss against Aberdeen, having come-off in an early minute and the injury ruled him out for two months.^[26] Despite making only seventeen appearance, Easton was released along with ten players following Dundee's relegation.^[27]

St Johnstone

On 8 July 2013, Easton signed a one-year contract with St Johnstone after being released by Dundee.^[28] After the move, Easton has vowed to hard his way to the first team.^[29]

Easton made his debut, playing in the left midfield, in a 0–0 draw against Kilmarnock, where he make his first start before coming off in the second half.^[30] Easton would established himself in the left back position, making an impressive display. In late-December 2013, Easton sustained a hamstring injury during a match against Dundee United and was out for a few weeks.^[31] Having made sixteen appearance so far, it announced Easton, along with Tam Scobbie, have signed a new contract extension at the end of the 2014–15 season.^[32] Towards the end of the season, Easton would be often used in first team ins and out, due to his injury concern.^[33] Easton made his return on 29 March 2014, in a 1–1 draw against Partick Thistle.^[34]

In the Scottish Cup Final, Easton started as a left-back when St Johnstone beat Dundee United 2–0 to win the Scottish Cup in their first-ever Scottish Cup Final win in their 130-year history.^[35]

International

Easton made his debut for Scotland's under-21s against Northern Ireland, at New Douglas Park, in November 2008.^[36][37] He then represented the Scotland B side in May 2009 against the same nation.^[38]

Honours

Hamilton Academical

• Scottish Football League First Division: 2007–08

Career statistics

As of 24 June 2014^[39]

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Hamilton Academical	2006–07[40]	Scottish First Division	31	1	1	0	1	0	2[lower-alpha 1]	0	35	1
	2007–08[41]	Scottish First Division	36	0	2	0	3	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	42	0
	2008–09[42]	Scottish Premier League	35	1	3	0	3	0	—		41	1
	Total		102	2	6	0	7	0	3	0	118	2
Burnley	2009–10[43]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2010–11[44]	Championship	12	1	0	0	1	0	—		13	1
	2011–12[45]	Championship	21	0	1	0	3	0	—		25	0
	Total		33	1	1	0	5	0	—		39	1
Hamilton Academical (loan)	2009–10[46]	Scottish Premier League	12	0	0	0	0	0	—		12	0
Dundee	2012–13[47]	Scottish Premier League	17	0	2	0	0	0	—		19	0
St Johnstone	2013–14[48]	Scottish Premiership	22	0	5	0	3	0	1[lower-alpha 2]	0	30	0
Career totals			182	3	12	0	15	0	4	0	213	3

1. Appearance(s) in Scottish League Challenge Cup
2. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

References

1. "Double April award for Hamilton". BBC News. 3 May 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
2. "McCarthy extends stay with Accies". BBC News. 17 May 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
3. "Hamilton Accies 3–1 Dundee United". BBC News. 11 August 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
4. "Hamilton Accies 1–3 Rangers". BBC News. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
5. "Accies refuse to sell young stars". BBC News. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
6. "Clough eyes Hamilton left-back Brian Easton". Retrieved 26 May 2009.
7. "Easton plays down link to Derby". BBC News. 1 March 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
8. "Burnley defender Brian Easton rejoins Hamilton on loan". Football. BBC Sport. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
9. "Hamilton 0–1 Celtic". BBC News. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
10. "Brian Easton hopes to make impact with Accies after loan return". Daily Record. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
11. "I've come back to Hamilton a better player than when I left, says Brian Easton". Daily Record. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
12. "Hamilton keen to retain on-loan defender Brian Easton". BBC News. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
13. "Hamilton Accies part with 11 players". BBC News. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
14. "Football | Premier League | News | Burnley agree Easton fee". Sky Sports. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
15. "Burnley tie up Easton transfer". BBC Sport. 14 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
16. "FULL-TIME: VC Fusion 0 Burnley 5". Lancashire Telegraph. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
17. "Brian Easton: I'm prepared to take my time and take my chance at Burnley when it comes". Daily Record. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
18. "Brian Easton: I want to establish myself as Burnley first-team star in Championship". Daily Record. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
19. "Burnley 2 – 3 Leeds United". BBC. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
20. "Leeds United turn ugly to see off Burnley". Lancashire Telegraph. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
21. "Easton ready to take his chance with Burnley". Lancashire Telegraph. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
22. "New Deals For Quartet As Three Leave Turf Moor". Burnley F.C. 18 May 2012.
23. "Eddie Howe says Brian Easton is set to leave Burnley". BBC Sport. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
24. "Dundee: Former Burnley defender Brian Easton signs at Dens". BBC Sport (BBC). 6 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
25. "Dundee's Brian Easton admits he has old pal to thank for securing move to Dens Park". Daily Record. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
26. "Dundee defender Brian Easton ruled out of action for two months". Sky Sports. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
27. "Dundee boss John Brown wields axe to squad". The Courier. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
28. "St Johnstone sign keeper Steve Banks & defender Brian Easton". BBC Sport. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
29. "Brian Easton determined to make his mark at St Johnstone". The Courier. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
30. "Kilmarnock 0 St Johnstone 0: One hard-earned point for hungover Saints side". The Courier. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
31. "Injured Easton to miss out for St Johnstone at Motherwell". Evening Telegraph. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
32. "SPFL: Tam Scobbie and Brian Easton sign new St Johnstone deals". Sky Sports. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
33. "Miller eyes top six". The Courier. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
34. "St Johnstone 1–1 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
35. "Scottish Cup Final: St Johnstone 2 – 0 Dundee United". BBC Sport. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
36. "Scotland Under 21 News". Hamilton Accies FC. 18 November 2008.
37. "Stark names new-look U21s squad". BBC News. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
38. "Scotland B 3 – 0 N Ireland B : Debutant Boyd shines as Scotland B outing proves worthwhile for Burley". The Scotsman (Johnston Press). 7 May 2009.
39. Brian Easton career statistics at Soccerbase
40. "Hamilton 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
41. "Hamilton 2007/2008 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
42. "Hamilton 2008/2009 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
43. "Burnley 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
44. "Burnley 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
45. "Burnley 2011/2012 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
46. "Hamilton 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
47. "Dundee 2012/2013 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
48. "St Johnstone 2013/2014 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2013-12-17.

External links

• Brian Easton career statistics at Soccerbase