The Daily Telegraph claimed, “Channel Four’s Faking It programme, which sees individuals lean a new profession in quick time, could not have concocted anything better”, hailing the 20-year-old’s Blues debut. As a mark of the confidence of the striker, still contracted to Grays Athletic, he is quoted as saying, “I expected a bigger difference in standard. But I did notice defenders reacting quicker and with more agility”.
Steve Tilson, the man who appears to have plucked yet another fantastic signing from oblivion following success in luring Mark Bentley and Carl Pettefer to United, says in The Sporting Life, “It was an incredible debut. He’s got an uncanny knack of finding space in the box and I’m sure he will go on to have a decent career in the game. Hopefully that will be with us. He is only on loan at the moment but I am hoping to sort something out on a permanent basis over the next few days”.
The BBC website include some even more positive words from the Shrimpers manager, as he reveals, “We brought Freddy in on loan from Grays to score goals and here we have seen that he can do that. When we first signed him, Grays said they were looking for a minimal fee so we decided to get him on loan and take a look”.
Continuing in the same vein, the Seasiders chief added optimistically, “We are taking a look at him and now we just hope Grays don’t go back on their word”. That, unfortunately, is a distinct possibility, with the Conference South outfit reportedly turning down a six-figure bid from Northampton Town earlier in the campaign, though this has not been confirmed by either camp.
Barbara Douglas in The Times boasts, “Not since November 1992 has Roots Hall seen such a special debut. A certain Stanley Victor Collymore hit a double that day – but Freddy Eastwood went one better for Southend United on Saturday”. She also reveals, “Not only did the 19-year-old [actually he’s 20] score a hat-trick on his professional debut, but he did it against what had been the meanest defence outside of the Premiership”.
The striker is quoted as saying, “I’m over the moon. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better debut”. Talking of his opener, after just 7.64 seconds, the Essex lad said, “Getting a goal with just my second touch straight from kick-off was great, especially as we usually play the ball backwards”. And yet more encouraging signs over a permanent move were forthcoming, “Now I would love to extend my loan period, as I’m playing higher league”.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com