Jermaine Easter

Jermaine Easter
Personal information
Full nameJermaine Maurice Easter[1]
Date of birth15 January 1982
Place of birthCardiff, Wales
Height1.77 m (5 ft 9 12 in)
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current team
Bristol Rovers
Number16
Youth career
1999–2001Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2001–2004Hartlepool United29(2)
2004Cambridge United (loan)15(2)
2004–2005Cambridge United24(6)
2005Boston United9(3)
2005–2006Stockport County19(8)
2006–2008Wycombe Wanderers61(21)
2007–2008Plymouth Argyle (loan)14(2)
2008–2009Plymouth Argyle22(4)
2008Millwall (loan)5(1)
2008Colchester United (loan)5(2)
2009–2011Milton Keynes Dons50(15)
2010–2011Swansea City (loan)6(1)
2011–2013Crystal Palace55(8)
2013Millwall (loan)9(1)
2013–2015Millwall29(4)
2015–Bristol Rovers1(1)
National team
2007–Wales12(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:31, 31 January 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17:00, 5 June 2014 (UTC)

Jermaine Maurice Easter (born 15 January 1982 in Cardiff) is a Welsh international footballer currently playing as a striker for Bristol Rovers.

Early career

Easter started his career as a trainee at Wolverhampton Wanderers, before being released, and joining Hartlepool in March 2001.

In May 2003, Easter, still yet to start a first-team game for Hartlepool, signed a new two-year contract.[2]

In February 2004, Easter joined Cambridge United on loan, following a short trial, for 2 months. This was later extended to a third and final month. On his return to Hartlepool, Easter had the final year of his contract cancelled by mutual consent, and promptly rejoined Cambridge, on a one-year contract.[3]

In March 2005, Easter was allowed to leave Cambridge early, and join Boston United on a free transfer. He signed a short contract, running until the end of the season.[4]

Easter chose not to extend his stay with Boston, instead signing for Stockport County, where he joined up with his former manager at Hartlepool; Chris Turner.

Wycombe Wanderers

Easter joined Wycombe on 31 January 2006 from Stockport, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal. Earlier in the month, Easter had turned down moves to Oxford United and failed to reach an agreement of terms with manager Gary Johnson when meeting with Bristol City.[5]

Easter made ten starting appearances and one substitute appearance for Wycombe in the remainder of the 2005–06 season. He managed only two goals, possibly being overshadowed by star striker Tommy Mooney.

The striker claimed his first league hat-trick in the 2006–07 season against Bury, on 19 August. It is the fastest league hat-trick scored by a Wycombe player, timed at 22 minutes, beating Nathan Tyson's 25-minute hat-trick against Lincoln City in 2004.

He scored the only goal of the game for Wycombe in their win over Charlton Athletic in the quarter-finals of the Football League Cup. He also scored to help Wycombe to a 1st-leg draw in the League Cup semi-finals in a momentous match for Wycombe against Chelsea. This meant that he had scored in every round so far and had ended Chelsea's run of clean sheets in the competition.

On 22 January 2007, Easter was subject of transfer speculation regarding a possible move to Premier League sides Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers,[6] however, he remained at Wycombe, and was named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year for the 2006–07 season.[7] During the 2006–07 season Easter also won the players player of the year award.

Plymouth Argyle

In October 2007, Easter joined Plymouth Argyle on loan, with a view to a permanent move.[8] He made his debut for the club on 28 October 2007, coming on as a substitute for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in a 2–0 defeat to Preston North End. Easter scored his first goal for Plymouth after coming on as a substitute, in the 2–1 loss at home to West Brom, and made his first start three games later, at home to Bristol City.

On 4 January 2008, Easter joined Plymouth permanently, for an estimated fee of £210,000.

In August, Easter handed in a transfer request to Plymouth, citing "personal problems" as his reason for wanting to leave.[9] He subsequently asked to be taken off the transfer list and decided to stay with Argyle.

On 25 September, Easter joined Millwall on a one-month loan.[10] He made his debut for the club on 28 September, scoring a goal in a 2–1 win away to Swindon, a match in which he was also sent off.[11] On 21 November 2008 Easter left Millwall having scored just 1 goal in 6 games to join Colchester United on loan until the end of the year. Easter then suffered a medial ligament injury, which saw him return to Argyle on 18 December after scoring 2 goals in 5 appearances he also decided to stay at Argyle and fight for his place rather than move elsewhere.

Milton Keynes Dons

On 14 July 2009, Easter joined Milton Keynes Dons on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee and became Paul Ince's second signing since returning to the club.[12] He scored his first goal for MK Dons, a penalty, in a first round League Cup tie at home to Swindon Town, with the Dons eventually going on to lose 4–1.[13] Easter scored his second Dons goal, also a penalty, at home to former loan club Colchester United, with the Dons going on to win the game 2–1. Easter would go on to score 20 goals in all competitions for MK Dons during his first season at the club, with 15 of those coming in league games. In his first year at the club Easter won the sports writers player of the year award as well as the club's leading scorer award at the annual awards dinner.

Swansea City

On 25 November 2010, Easter moved to Championship side Swansea City on loan, with the loan spell due to expire on 31 January 2011. Despite being Cardiff-born, Easter revealed the move to his hometown club's fierce south Wales rivals was a no-brainer; "My contract at MK Dons ends at the end of the season and I've made it clear that I want to play Championship football and have international aspirations. So the opportunity to come here was perfect for me. Swansea keep the ball well and have lots of possession. Hopefully I can work off the midfielders and the wingers and get myself some goals."[14] Easter scored his first goal on his first start for Swansea against Barnsley on 28 December 2010.[15] Although the striker revealed his desire to make the move to south Wales permanent,[16] he returned to Milton Keynes at the request of his parent club on 13 January,[17] having made seven league and cup appearances for the Swans, with five of those coming from the bench.

Crystal Palace

Just 24 hours after leaving Swansea to return to Milton Keynes, Easter joined Championship side Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee, signing a two and a half-year deal.[17] Easter was handed the number 19 shirt by Dougie Freedman, becoming the Scot's second signing (after Alex Marrow) since taking over the managerial reins at Selhurst Park. He made his debut for his new club during an away fixture against Swansea City on 15 January, less than two days after having his loan stint at the south Wales club cut short by MK Dons.[18] He scored his first goal for Palace in a 3–3 draw with Reading on 26 February 2011.[19] On 25 January 2012 Easter missed a penalty in the League Cup semi final second leg shootout against Cardiff City, who progressed to the final at Palace's expense.[20]

Millwall

On 15 March 2013, Easter joined Millwall on loan until the end of the season.[21] He made his debut the following day in a 2–0 win over Charlton Athletic, scoring with his first touch of the ball after coming on as a substitute.[22] On 28 May 2013, it was announced that Easter would link up permanently with Millwall in July 2013, signing a one-year contract.[23]

Bristol Rovers

On 12 January 2015, Easter signed on a permanent deal for Bristol Rovers subject to a medical.[24]

Club career statistics

Club Season League Cup[25] Europe Play-Offs Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Hartlepool United 2000–01 600000000---600
Hartlepool United 2001–02 1220000000---1220
Hartlepool United 2002–03 800100------900
Hartlepool United 2003–04 300000------300
Total2001–20042920100------3020
Cambridge United (loan) 2003–04 1520---------1520
Cambridge United 2004–05 2460410------2870
Total2003–20053980410------4390
Boston United 2004–05 930000------930
Total2005–2006930000------930
Stockport County 2005–06 1980430------23110
Total2006–20071980430------23110
Wycombe Wanderers 2005–06 1720000------1720
Wycombe Wanderers 2006–07 38171971------47242
Wycombe Wanderers 2007–08 620310------930
Total2005–2008612111280------73292
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2007–08 1420000------1420
Plymouth Argyle 2007–08 1840200------2040
Plymouth Argyle 2008–09 400100------500
Total2007–20093660300------3960
Millwall (loan) 2008–09 510100------610
Total2008–2009510100------610
Colchester United (loan) 2008–09 520000------520
Total2008–2009520000------520
Milton Keynes Dons 2009–10 36153850------44203
Milton Keynes Dons 2010–11 1401422------1823
Total2009–2011501541272------62226
Swansea City (loan) 2010–11 610100------710
Total2010–2011610100------710
Crystal Palace 2010–11 1420000------1420
Crystal Palace 2011–12 3353310------3663
Crystal Palace 2012–13 810310------1120
Total2011–20135583620------61103
Millwall (loan) 2012–13 910000------000
Millwall 2013–14 2130200------000
Millwall 2014–15 910200------000
Total2013–20153950000------000
Bristol Rovers 2014–15 000000------000
Total2015–present000000------000
Career totals 35385847203------35710011

International career

On 26 January 2007, Easter received his first call-up to the Welsh national team from manager John Toshack for the friendly against Northern Ireland, and made his debut as a substitute in the game on 6 February.[26] On 28 March he made his first start for Wales against San Marino.

Personal life

Jermaine has a brother, Jamal, who is also a footballer. Jermaine married Wife Teresa in June 2010, the wedding took place in Ravello, on the Amalfi coast, Italy.

Honours

Individual

Club

References

  1. "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 78. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  2. "Easter deal boosts Newell". BBC Sport. 12 May 2003. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  3. "Cambridge seal Easter deal". BBC Sport. 25 May 2004. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  4. "Striker Easter agrees Boston deal". BBC Sport. 15 March 2005. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  5. "Stockport striker Jermaine Easter has joined the Chairboys for an undisclosed fee". fansfc.com. 31 January 2006. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
  6. Prem Interest in Easter
  7. "Ronaldo secures PFA awards double". BBC Sport. 22 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-19.
  8. "Striker Easter moves to Plymouth". BBC Sport. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
  9. "Easter wants Pilgrims exit". Sky Sports. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  10. "Easter seals Millwall loan move". BBC Sport. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  11. "Swindon 1–2 Millwall". BBC Sport. 28 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  12. "Easter leaves Argyle for MK Dons". BBC Sport. 14 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
  13. "MK Dons 1–4 Swindon". BBC. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  14. "Swansea bring in MK Dons' Easter". BBC News. 25 November 2010.
  15. "Swansea 1–0 Barnsley". BBC News. 28 December 2010.
  16. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-News-MK-Dons-Jermaine-Easter-wants-to-make-loan-spell-at-Cardiff-permanent-article660745.html
  17. 17.0 17.1 "Palace sign Easter from MK Dons". BBC News. 14 January 2011.
  18. "Swansea 3–0 Crystal Palace". BBC News. 15 January 2011.
  19. "Crystal Palace 3 – 3 Reading". BBC. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  20. "Cardiff 1 – 0 Crystal Palace". BBC. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  21. BBC Sport. 15 March 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21792036. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. "Charlton 0 – 2 Millwall". BBC Sport. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  23. http://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/article/easter-set-to-sign-836451.aspx
  24. "ROVERS SIGN JERMAINE EASTER". Bristol Rovers Official Website (bristolrovers.co.uk). 12 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  25. Includes FA Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield
  26. Easter pleased with Wales bow
  27. "Individual Awards". Coludaybyday.co.uk.

External links