Tom Eastman

Ipswich Town

Born in Colchester, Essex, Eastman grew up in nearby Clacton, where he attended Clacton County High School. He grew up on the same street as former Ipswich Town and Leeds United footballer Ian Westlake, and followed in Westlake's footsteps by joining Ipswich's Academy in 2000 at the age of eight. Eastman made his under-18s debut for Ipswich on 17 November 2007, coming on as a substitute in their 2–1 defeat at Southampton. At the age of 16, Eastman was offered a two-year apprenticeship with the club in February 2008. Shortly afterwards, he made his first appearance for the reserve team against Stevenage Borough in March 2008. His season ended with his solitary reserve appearance, alongside nine appearances for the under-18 team, and made a further 30 under-18 appearances in the 2008–09 season, and played eight reserve team matches.

2009–10 season

In the 2009–10 season, manager Roy Keane said Eastman was "a good lad with a good attitude" and that he "had a chance" of having a career in football, while admitting that there was a possibility that he could feature for the first-team before the end of the season. He was an unused substitute for the Ipswich first-team matches against Nottingham Forest and Derby County in April 2010, before being offered a professional contract by the club. Following his professional contract offer, Eastman was given Ipswich's 'Academy Player of the Year' award. Keane then handed Eastman his professional debut in the…

As of match played 4 March 2025

Individual

Ipswich Town Young Player of the Year: 2009–10 Colchester United Young Player of the Year: 2011–12 Colchester United Player of the Year: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2019–20