Wealdstone has announced the signing of experienced midfielder Craig Eastmond on a one-year deal with an option of a further year.
The 33-year-old has signed for the Stones after his contract at Sutton United came to an end having spent nine years at the South London club.
Eastmond’s career to date
Eastmond started his career with Millwall before joining Arsenal’s youth team at the age of 11. He came through the Gunners youth system and was part of the side that won the 2009 FA Youth Cup final alongside the likes of Henri Lansbury, Francis Coquelin and Jack Wilshere.
The midfielder went on to make four appearances for the North London side including a start in a UEFA Champions League game at Shakhtar Donetsk. Eastmond had some loan spells in the EFL with Millwall, Wycombe Wanderers and Colchester United before signing for the latter permanently in 2013.
The 33-year-old went on to make 55 appearances for the Essex side scoring 5 goals before a brief stint at Yeovil Town. Making one appearance for the Glovers he moved to Sutton United in September 2015 where he remained until the end of last season.
His nine years with Sutton were his and the club’s most successful with several achievements. His first season at the club saw him become a key member of the National League South title-winning side.
Success didn’t end with promotion to the fifth tier for the club and Eastmond as an FA Cup run to the fifth round in the 2016-17 season saw him come up against his boyhood club, Arsenal. Having been given the role of captaincy when Matt Gray took over, he led the club to the football league for the first time in their history during the 2020-21 season.
The midfielder made 105 appearances in the three seasons in the EFL including captaining the side at Wembley in the Papa John’s trophy defeat to Rotherham United in 2022. He left the U’s after their relegation back to the National League having made 393 appearances for the side scoring 29 goals.
What does Eastmond bring to Wealdstone?
Having completed the signing of Eastmond, Wealdstone manager Matt Taylor spoke with the club’s media team:
“We are absolutely delighted to sign Craig, he is a natural leader both on the pitch with his performances and off of it with his behaviours. He is fully immersed into the football club and will bring undoubted quality to the squad with his experience and technical ability”.
The midfielder will bring vast levels of experience and leadership to the Wealdstone midfield ahead of the 2024-25 season. Having captained Sutton and taken part in high-pressure games including the Papa John’s Final and the promotion-winning game against Hartlepool United in 2021 he will no doubt be able to share his wisdom with other members of the Stones squad.
Despite playing 23 games last season due to injury, Eastmond’s stats show the positive impact he can have on a side’s midfield. Making on average 1.63 interceptions per 90 minutes and a dribble success rate of 68.4%, Eastmond will undoubtedly provide a defensive solidity to the Wealdstone midfield alongside his ability to be calm under pressure when carrying the ball up the pitch. (stats from fotmob)
Combining this signing with that of defender Adrian Mariappa, the Stones have built themselves a side with an experienced spine and one that could prove hard to break down throughout the upcoming National League season.