Tekel Towers » Craig Easton Q+A - Thursday 16th April 8.30-9.30pm

huntedbyafreak · 16/4/2015 7:49 pm

Why do you like Kasabian?

stobievulture · 16/4/2015 7:50 pm

your avatar pic mate, that your last game? remember you getting a pretty emotional send off...not been many like that since

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 7:50 pm

PatReilly wrote:
That booking against Dunfermline which led to the sending off (2000): was it the most malicious booking you ever received. I'm sure you'll remember you were booked for scoring and celebrating to the same extent as many OF players who were never booked for the same.

Absolute nonsense! I think I went off the pitch 3 yards max and the tackle probably wasn't even a booking - in those days

Tek · 16/4/2015 7:50 pm

I remember your famous left foot volley v Aberdeen in a televised Sunday 5-0 win.

Was that the best goal you scored in your career ?

lifesanocean · 16/4/2015 7:50 pm

Hi Craig, there was a huge turnover of players during your time at Utd. What did you make of the brief experiment with the Hondurans? Any insight as to what went on behind the scenes at that time?

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 7:51 pm

arabugsy wrote:
Craig Easton wrote:
TEK wrote:
Craig,i see you're now online mate.

Welcome to the forum mate.I hope we find you in good health Sir.

My first question is what do you do with yourself these days and why did you never make the move into management do you think (and would you ever consider it in future)?
Hi mate, all good thanks.

I'm coaching at Torquay United. Head Coach of the under 16s and the Development Squad so I'm learning my trade. My ambition is to manage at the top level and I'm getting plenty of experience working with the youth at the moment, but would certainly jump at the chance if a job arose.
Is that following the Luggy path, on the English riviera?

Pure coincidence - he almost followed me to Torquay last week. Appointed as technical director before he left for Yeovil 4 days later!

Tek · 16/4/2015 7:52 pm

Craig Easton wrote:
[

Against - No question, Gazza

We've had previous Q+A's with Danny Cadamarteri and Sieb Dijkstra and they both gave the same answer mate.

PatReilly · 16/4/2015 7:54 pm

Ian McCall: do you feel he let you go too early in your career? Just mid twenties when you left United.

As an aside, I NEVER wanted McCall anywhere near Tannadice.

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 7:55 pm

Sieb22 wrote:
Hi Craig, thanks again for joining us.

When you first broke into the first team, am I remembering it wrong or did you play and score for the youths, reserves and the first team all in the same calendar week?

Have a vague memory of you having to wash Both of the McLeans brothers cars on Sportscene as part of your apprenticeship and getting interviewed, and this was talked about or was I dreaming?

It's a pleasure pal

I think you're probably right. In those days there was a good transition from youth to reserve to first team - you weren't under any illusion that you'd made it before you had. It also helped your development playing with experienced players like Owen Coyle and Dave Bowman in the ressies

Still have nightmares about cleaning those minibuses and the coaching staff's cars. Me and Thommo still washed them long after breaking into the first team

Tek · 16/4/2015 7:55 pm

Why do you think things never worked for Luggy at Utd as Manager?

He's been successful everywhere else.

Wanted success TOO much perhaps?

huntedbyafreak · 16/4/2015 7:55 pm

How good was it relegating Dundee?

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 7:56 pm

stobievulture wrote:
daftest team mate at utd?

Got to be Bowman - https://eastonblog.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/dave-bowman/

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 7:57 pm

huntedbyafreak wrote:
Why do you like Kasabian?

Best live band I've ever seen

Not a fan???

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 8:00 pm

stobievulture wrote:
your avatar pic mate, that your last game? remember you getting a pretty emotional send off...not been many like that since

Yes

It was really emotional - I still get goosebumps thinking about it. I was really taken aback at the reception I got from the fans, it was pretty overwhelming.

Getting a little presentation from Eddie Thompson et al on the pitch was very special. Lots of good memories!

Sieb22 · 16/4/2015 8:00 pm

As well as coaching am I right in thinking you are doing some journalism as well? Also I think you share the same passion and taste in music as a lot of the guys here, so what is your favourite album of all time?

huntedbyafreak · 16/4/2015 8:02 pm

Craig Easton wrote:
huntedbyafreak wrote:
Why do you like Kasabian?
Best live band I've ever seen

Not a fan???

1st album was decent. Saw them live at the release and they were decent. Went rapidly downhill IMO

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 8:02 pm

TEK wrote:
I remember your famous left foot volley v Aberdeen in a televised Sunday 5-0 win.

Was that the best goal you scored in your career ?

Not the best one, but it was pretty decent! Nice wee ball from Swiggy.

Toss up for the best between a 40 yarder for Leyton Orient against Rushden & Diamonds in my first season there or the one where we beat Celtic 2-1 at Tannadice.

Tek · 16/4/2015 8:02 pm

You were part of a Utd team that won the U21 league coming through with guys like Paul Gallagher,Steven Thompson and Jim Paterson.

Do you still keep in touch with any of the guys from that era?

stobievulture · 16/4/2015 8:03 pm

Craig Easton wrote:
stobievulture wrote:
daftest team mate at utd?
Got to be Bowman - https://eastonblog.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/dave-bowman/

Haha! class read mate, great stuff

David partridge must have been another? the happy Hammer

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 8:04 pm

lifesanocean wrote:
Hi Craig, there was a huge turnover of players during your time at Utd. What did you make of the brief experiment with the Hondurans? Any insight as to what went on behind the scenes at that time?

Hmmm it was a strange time!

I was never against foreign players coming in because we had so many good signings (e.g. the Scandinavians) but these boys weren't good enough - no idea what was going on there

arabugsy · 16/4/2015 8:05 pm

Craig Easton wrote:
stobievulture wrote:
daftest team mate at utd?
Got to be Bowman - https://eastonblog.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/dave-bowman/

This Q&A was worth it for that link alone.

huntedbyafreak · 16/4/2015 8:05 pm

Your blog is a decent read. You're obviously brighter than your usual futba player. What would you have done if you had made it as a pro?

Mr_Jerry_Kerr · 16/4/2015 8:07 pm

Just registered here guys to say what a gent this man is and will always be a united legend in my mind.

Remember being a young lad and just back from one of the most exciting games of football I had been at. 3-2 St Johnstone game to ensure we stayed up. And once back on hallowed ground that was the top of the hilltown, I seen Craig go into Luigi's - which I believe was a regular Saturday stop off???? Anyway once in and started to tell him what that day meant to a teenage united fan he then paid for my bag of chips and can of coke. Never forget how pleased he was that we had won that day and something you'll never forget.

Nevertheless I proceeded to tell everyone who would listen to me about this including friends. Well turns out my best man in 2011 gets in touch with Craig who duly sent up a photo of him in his missus wedding vail with a message wishing me and the wife all the best. Never a man can go higher up in my estimation.

Anyway my question......

What was your favourite pizza from Luigi's ;-)

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 8:08 pm

TEK wrote:
Craig Easton wrote:
[

Against - No question, Gazza
We've had previous Q+A's with Danny Cadamarteri and Sieb Dijkstra and they both gave the same answer mate.

Not surprising! Almost impossible to play against - didn't know whether to go tight to him because he had good body strength, but couldn't give him too much space because he'd kill you with his passing range

Smashed him early doors at Ibrox in maybe my 3rd game and he did the same to me 5 mins later - I bounced up and he said "that's one all lad". After that he was different class, and even though we got pumped 5-1, he kept encouraging me and helped me through the game. He also remembered my name every time we played after. Class act.

Sieb22 · 16/4/2015 8:10 pm

Mr_Jerry_Kerr wrote:
Just registered here guys to say what a gent this man is and will always be a united legend in my mind.

Remember being a young lad and just back from one of the most exciting games of football I had been at. 3-2 St Johnstone game to ensure we stayed up. And once back on hallowed ground that was the top of the hilltown, I seen Craig go into Luigi's - which I believe was a regular Saturday stop off???? Anyway once in and started to tell him what that day meant to a teenage united fan he then paid for my bag of chips and can of coke. Never forget how pleased he was that we had won that day and something you'll never forget.

Nevertheless I proceeded to tell everyone who would listen to me about this including friends. Well turns out my best man in 2011 gets in touch with Craig who duly sent up a photo of him in his missus wedding vail with a message wishing me and the wife all the best. Never a man can go higher up in my estimation.

Anyway my question......

What was your favourite pizza from Luigi's ;-)

Welcome to the forum Jerry. Great story!