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George Edward EasthamEnglish footballer
Date of Birth: 23.09.1936
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Family Background
George Eastham was born into a footballing family: his father, George Richard Eastham, played for Bolton Wanderers, Brentford, Blackpool, and the England national team, while his uncle, Harry Eastham, played for Liverpool, Tranmere Rovers, and Accrington Stanley.
Club Career
Ard, Newcastle United, and ArsenalEastham began his career at the Northern Irish club Ards, where his father was the manager. In 1956, he joined Newcastle United, making his debut on October 6th against Luton Town. During his four seasons with the club, he scored 29 goals in 124 appearances.
In 1960, Eastham signed for Arsenal, debuting against Bolton Wanderers on December 10th and scoring two goals. He played 223 matches for the Gunners, scoring 41 times, and captained the team from 1963 to 1966. However, his time at Arsenal ended after the club finished 14th in the 1965-66 season.
Stoke City
In August 1966, Eastham joined Stoke City for £35,000. He played 194 matches for the club, scoring 4 goals, and won the 1971-72 Football League Cup, scoring the winning goal in the final against Chelsea. He retired from playing in 1974.
International Career
Eastham represented England 19 times between 1963 and 1966, making his debut against Brazil on May 8th, 1963. He was included in the squad for the 1966 World Cup but did not play any games. Despite this, he was awarded a Golden Medal in 2009 after FIFA ruled that all squad members were entitled to medals.
Managerial Career
After retiring, Eastham became an assistant manager at Stoke City under Tony Waddington, replacing him as manager when he resigned in 1977. However, his tenure was unsuccessful, and he resigned in January 1978 after the team was relegated to the Second Division.
