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Archived News from June 2011

ISTEAD JOINS EASTWOOD
23rd June 2011 10:28


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Badgers Squad Grows!
eastwoodtownfc.co.uk, Thu, 9th June 2011

Eastwood Town would like to announce the signing of Steven Istead. Steven was released from Mansfield by the new management and is the 9th signing so far.

http://www.eastwoodtownfc.co.uk/newsitem.php?category=4&id=837

Jamie Brough 1st team manager “We are delighted to secure the services of Stevie, from our point of view it shows the Clubs intent for the future. He is a born winner, tenacious in the tackle and a great all round footballer and can only be an asset to the Club and will surely become a huge favourite with the Eastwood Town Faithful.

After signing Stevie said “I was contacted by Craig who I had played with at Mansfield and the conversation we had was so positive that I had to become a part of the team. Craig is a player I have lots of respect for and I also have a very good relationship with Steve and Rachel from my time at Ilkeston. Jamie had also done some A license coaching at Mansfield and his enthusiasm and sessions were great. I hope the fans can get behind us and join in the positive feel around the place and potential sponsors also buy into the plans. I know everyone was disappointed with the end of last season but I hope the team can be as competitive and successful as the previous one was”

Craig Armstrong was influential in capturing Stevie “ I am so pleased Stevie has decided to join us, many other Clubs were after him so we feel rather honoured that he is now an Eastwood Town player. Other players will see the calibre of team we are building and this will only help us in the search for quality”

Former Forest Starlet Aaron Mitchell also joins the new look Badgers Squad today. 6' 5” Aaron has signed from Tamworth and joins the growing gang of talent at Coronation Park.

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Former Stag Istead happy to sign for pal Armstrong at Eastwood
Nottingham Post, Saturday, June 18, 2011

STEVEN Istead is determined to make his mark on football in Notts after swapping Mansfield Town for Eastwood Town.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Stag-Istead-happy-sign-pal-Armstrong-Eastwood/story-12793804-detail/story.html

The combative midfielder has dropped down a level and gone part-time to make the move to Coronation Park.

But the 25-year-old is convinced joining the Badgers is the right move for him.

He is one of a raft of new signings announced by the club after it changed ownership at the start of June.

"It was a pretty easy decision to move to Eastwood in the end. I know Craig Armstrong really well from Mansfield," said Istead.

"He is a north-east lad like myself and we just really clicked when we first met.

"I also know Jamie Brough and Rachel Thornton (secretary) as well.

"We have kept in touch and when the club finalised the budget they were able to offer me something and it felt right, so I was happy to sign.

"It is an exciting time. They have been through a massive disappointment with what happened at the end of last season with not being able to compete in the play-offs because of the ground technicality.

"They then lost their manager, chairman and backer and I'm sure that left the fans hugely deflated.

"But they have now got some good people in place who love their football.

"I think Craig has been involved in the game from before I was born!

"They have already made some good signings and if we can get some more backing then I'm sure the team could get in the play-offs again."

Istead spent two seasons at Field Mill having been signed for the Stags by David Holdsworth from Ilkeston.

But he struggled to break into the Mansfield starting line-up on a regular basis and was often used as a substitute.

He said: "I never really got a proper run at Mansfield but that's football.

"There were times when I felt I should have been playing but then I'm sure there would have been other people in the squad who felt the same. I wished it had gone better because I liked everything about the club.

"I know the new manager is looking to have a fresh start and bring in all his own players, which is fair enough.

"The only disappointing thing was that I didn't get a phone call from him to say he was letting me go and I had to chase it up with (chief executive) Steve Barker."

Istead's biggest disappointment was missing out on playing for Mansfield against Darlington in May's FA Trophy final at Wembley.

He was unavailable to play after being sent off during the club's final league game of the campaign, a 2-0 defeat at Bath City.

"I could have finished off my time at Mansfield playing at Wembley – and I think I would have done with the way Duncan Russell was talking," said Istead.

"The worst thing about the sending off was that it was not a nasty tackle – it was just clumsy.

"I missed out because of that and it is a place where everyone dreams of playing.

"I had it with Hartlepool as well where I missed out on playing at the Millennium Stadium, so that made it even worse.

"You know as a player at this level that you aren't likely to get many chances to play at grounds like that."

Istead is hoping to be a key performer for Eastwood come August.

No decision has yet been made on who will be the club captain, but the South Shields-born player is happy to throw his hat in the ring.

He said: "Any player likes to be wanted, it's a great feeling.

"I think the lads here know what I am about and have seen me behind the scenes.

"They know I will train hard and try to be a positive influence in the dressing room, as well as trying to perform on the pitch.

"I won't change if I am or am not made captain. I love to be vocal anyway and get in and around the lads.

"That has always been the same since I played for my school.

"But it would be a terrific honour if I did get the nod."

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