Simon Eastwood

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

Eastwood started his career as a youth player with Huddersfield Town. He went professional in 2007, but struggled to break into the first team and went on loan to Woking in 2008 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 F.C. 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, Bedfordshire, 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. At the start of the 2006–07 season, he was the third-choice goalkeeper behind Paul Rachubka and new signing Matt Glennon. After Rachubka's departure to Blackpool, Eastwood became second-choice goalkeeper behind Glennon.

Eastwood signed his first professional contract in the summer of 2007. 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 Premier club 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 match 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 offici