Simon Eastwood

Simon Eastwood served a suspension for nearly three years. A red card in an EFL Trophy tie against AFC Wimbledon in January 2024 carried a ban that Oxford United's promotion turned into a long wait. The club moved up a division and out of that competition, and the goalkeeper missed their first EFL Trophy fixture in that period.

Eastwood came through the academy at Huddersfield Town and made his senior debut in 2007. Loan spells at Woking and Bradford City followed, then a first stay at Oxford in 2010 that ended a year later without a league appearance. He dropped into non-league football with FC Halifax Town, and Portsmouth came next. In 2013 he joined Blackburn Rovers and was the first-choice goalkeeper in the Championship until Paul Robinson returned.

He came back to Oxford in 2016, and that is where his career took hold. In 2016–17 he played every minute of all 62 first-team matches. Oxford reached the EFL Trophy Final and lost it, and Eastwood took both the Supporters' and Players' Player of the Year awards. He then strung together 93 consecutive league appearances, a run that ended with a broken finger in August 2018.

Among the nights supporters recall is the FA Cup in 2017–18, when he kept a clean sheet against Newcastle United. In 2024 he was in goal as Oxford won the League One play-offs and secured promotion to the Championship. He has played for England at U18 and U19 levels. His contract runs until June 2026.