Euan East programme article
Posted : 1st October 2023
‘Look at Linfield’ this week catches up with recent signing Euan East, the Scottish defender who arrived at Windsor Park on deadline day of the summer transfer window. The 23-year-old was without a club after deciding to leave Queen of the South at the end of last season in search of a new challenge and, after various trials and interest elsewhere, he bid his time before jumping when Linfield came calling.
“The move came about very quickly. It was a long summer without a club but you can’t let it get you down when you’re in that situation. I had interest in Scotland and, although I really enjoyed my three seasons at senior level back home, I felt it was time for a new challenge. There is expectation and pressure to win here and that’s something that appealed to me when Linfield came calling. Pressure isn’t for everyone, but I believe I can handle it. I’ve settled in very well and I’m enjoying Belfast. I hadn’t been before but I like it here. I stay on my own here but my parents would come over and watch games which is good.
“When you’re offered the chance to play your football at Windsor Park, it’s hard to turn down. It’s a brilliant stadium – the facilities are fantastic and the playing surface is immaculate. Seeing it for the first time, I was very impressed, and I loved making my debut on it against Larne.
“It’s a big club – in terms of home support, I have played against teams back home who have similar attendances, however this is the biggest fanbase that I have played for in my career to date, and they can drive us on.”
The man from Paisley says the competitiveness of the Irish League is something of great appeal to outsiders like him, and he sees similarities between the current make-up of the league compared to the Scottish Championship, in which he played two seasons for Queen of the South.
“I feel I can develop as a player here because it’s a good level. We played away to Loughgall last week, a newly-promoted team and it wasn’t an easy game, we had to stay solid and take our chances, and thankfully we got the points – but that’s a pointer to how strong this league is. In terms of style, it seems very similar to Scotland, which is unsurprising, given its close proximity to Northern Ireland. It’s an interesting league with no easy games. Two of my seasons in Scotland were spent playing in the SPFL Championship and that’s similar to here in the sense that you have some Full-Time teams and some Part-Time teams. Each team brings a different type of challenge, regardless of where they’re positioned, whether that be a physical or tactical kind of battle, and hopefully, we’re on our game against Newry today because we need to keep picking up points.”
Despite only being 23 years of age, East’s career has an interesting background. When he left Albion Rovers to pursue Full-Time football with Queen of the South in 2020, he was signed as a striker, and that’s where he played until two years ago when an injury crisis led to him being deployed as a centre half. He was never shifted from there and his performances made him a fans-favourite in Dumfries.
“I played as a striker a few years ago for Queen of the South FC, and then I moved into centre half, but I’d like to think I have kept some of my ball-playing skills from then. I certainly feel comfortable when I am in possession and playing out from the back. I like to get on the ball and play, and I love a tackle. I’m not the biggest centre half you’ll see, but I enjoy the battles and the challenge of trying to outsmart forwards, when required.
“To be honest, as a youth player at St. Mirren, I played in virtually every position. It was really only my first few years in Professional football that I played on the left wing and up top. There was an injury crisis at Queen of the South and, given that I’d played there in my younger days, I was slotted into central defence, and I haven’t looked back since.”
A warm Windsor welcome to Euan who we hope will have an enjoyable and successful time ahead in the famous blue shirt.