LONG-SERVING Tom Eastman is aiming to rack up even more appearances for Colchester United after committing his future to the club.

The consistent defender, who had been due to be out of contract this summer, has penned a new two-year deal to stay at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Eastman has been at Colchester for nearly ten years and is in the club’s top ten all-time leading appearance makers, having joined them in the summer of 2011 from neighbours Ipswich Town.

The 29-year-old has already racked up more than 400 league and cup appearances for his home-town club and is looking forward to playing many more times for the U’s, after signing his new deal.

Eastman said: “It’s nice to get it sorted and it’s nice to have a two-year deal for me and my family.

“I’m really happy to get it done.

“There was a slight bit of interest from elsewhere but I was very happy to stay.

“My family is all settled in the area with my kids at school and I enjoy playing football here, so it was quite an easy decision.

“I was always going to sign it so it was nice to get it done and now I’m going to start getting fit, ready for next season.

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“I feel that I’m quite a consistent player and age only helps with that.

“I feel like I can definitely keep going for a few years yet and hopefully, if I can keep performing well then that will be the case.

“It doesn’t happen often these days for a player to stay at a club for as long as I have but it’s my home town club and it’s something to be proud of.

“The aim is to clock up even more appearances over the next couple of years.

“I always want to play as many games as I can.

“Touch wood, I’ve been lucky with injuries and I’ve trained pretty much every day and been mostly available for every match, so that’s something I pride myself on.

"Hopefully, I can keep that going in the next couple of years.”

Eastman was Colchester’s leading appearance maker this season, having played 49 times for them in the 2020-21 campaign.

He played the majority of those matches alongside central defensive partner Tommy Smith, with the duo both finishing a testing season strongly under new boss Hayden Mullins.

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Eastman said: “I think it was only one league game that I missed this season which I’m really proud of and it’s a nice stat to have.

“I think especially towards the end of the season you could see a really good partnership with Tommy Smith and hopefully, we’ll take that into next season with the new signings that come in.

“I think for both Tommy and I our best spell of the season was the last eight to ten games.

“I think we both looked really strong and that was a good foundation for the team.

“We definitely looked stronger defensively and attacking-wise, as well and finished the season well, so hopefully it’s something to build on.

“Since Hayden took over, we played better and we’re definitely not looking to be in the same position next year as we were, this season.

“It was nice to stay up and hopefully we can push on, next season.

“I know he was the assistant manager before but since he took over, he’s brought his own spin on things and it does help when the performances on the pitch match the ambition of the coach and I think that’s happened.”

Eastman says he is looking forward to playing in front of the Colchester supporters again, after clubs played the vast majority of their games this season behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

He added: “The fans add so much more to the game and it hasn’t been nice playing in quiet stadiums.

“We’re definitely excited to see them back and hopefully, we can put in some better performances than we did this season.”