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John Brackstone

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John Brackstone
Personal information
Full name John Brackstone
Date of birth (1985-02-09) 9 February 1985 (age 39)[1]
Place of birth Hartlepool, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
Hartlepool United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2007 Hartlepool United 25 (0)
2007–2008 Darlington 3 (0)
2008–2009 Gateshead 15 (1)
2009–2010 Blyth Spartans
2010–2012 Bedlington Terriers
2012–201? Shildon
2015–2016 → West Auckland Town (loan)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Brackstone (born 9 February 1985) is an English former footballer who played as a left back. He played in the Football League for Hartlepool United and Darlington, and in non-league football for clubs including Gateshead, Blyth Spartans, Bedlington Terriers, Shildon and West Auckland Town.

Playing career

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Brackstone began his career in Hartlepool United's youth development programme. He moved on to the reserves, but his progress was temporarily halted when he broke his leg during the 2002–03 season.[3]

By October 2003, he had recovered well enough for manager Neale Cooper to give him a first-team debut, as a half-time substitute away to Blackpool in the Second Division. Cooper said afterwards that Brackstone was one of only two players to "come out of [the 4–0 defeat] with any credit",[4] and his performance earned him a first start three days later against Chesterfield. On his fifth appearance, against Whitby Town in the FA Cup, he scored his first senior goal from a free kick, but the run of games was ended by a groin problem,[5] followed by a bout of pleurisy,[6] and he played just twice more that season.[7] In March 2004, he signed his first professional contract.[6] He was a member of the Hartlepool United youth squad that took part in the 2004 Dallas Cup, and converted a penalty to open the scoring in the under-19 final, in which they beat New York/New Jersey MetroStars U19 4–1.[8]

Described by his club profile as "an aggressive and tough-tackling defender, [who] also possesses a lot of skill and [whose] sweet left-foot means he is a threat from set-pieces",[2] Brackstone came into the side for a run of six games in February and March 2005, but his season was ended prematurely by an attack of glandular fever.[9] He played little in the 2005–06 season as the team were relegated to League Two. He signed a contract extension and, under the management of Danny Wilson, began the 2006–07 season as starting left back.[10][11] In mid-November, he underwent surgery on a double hernia;[12] he regained fitness but not his place in the team, and was released at the end of the season.[13]

Brackstone moved on to League Two club Darlington, where manager, Dave Penney saw him as competition for established left back Tim Ryan.[14] He played little: apart from four games in November between Ryan's hamstring injury and the arrival of loanee Lee Ridley[15] he made just two appearances, and was released at the end of the season.[16][17]

Brackstone signed for Conference North club Gateshead,[18] but failed to establish himself in the side, was transfer-listed in November, and transferred to local rivals Blyth Spartans in February 2009 for a £3,000 fee.[19][20] By the end of the 2009–10 season, he had made 50 appearances, mostly in the starting eleven.[21] He then moved into Northern League football, first with Bedlington Terriers,[22] where he spent two years before joining Shildon.[23] In November 2015, he joined West Auckland Town on a short-term loan.[24]

Personal life

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Brackstone was born in 1985 in Hartlepool, County Durham,[1] where he attended Henry Smith School.[25] His older brother, Stephen, also went on to play professional football.[11] Brackstone grew up as a Hartlepool United supporter.[11]

While playing football part-time, Brackstone spent time as a coach with a Teesside- and County Durham-based group of children's coaching academies.[26]

In October 2019, Brackstone played alongside his former Hartlepool teammates in a Legends v Fan Match. The 2004–05 side he played in is seen as one of the club's greatest sides. The Legends won 19–0 and Brackstone managed to get on the scoresheet.[27]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup[a] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hartlepool United 2003–04[7] Second Division 6 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 7 1
2004–05[28] League One 9 0 1 0 0 0 2[b] 0 12 0
2005–06[29] League One 2 0 1 0 0 0 1[b] 0 4 0
2006–07[30] League Two 8 0 0 0 2 0 2[b] 0 12 0
Total 25 0 3 1 2 0 5 0 35 1
Darlington 2007–08[16] League Two 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 6 0
Gateshead 2008–09[19] Conference North 15 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 19 1
Career total 43 1 8 1 4 0 5 0 60 2
  1. ^ Includes Football League Cup, Conference League Cup
  2. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy

Honours

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Club

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Hartlepool United

References

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  1. ^ a b "John Brackstone". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Team: Profiles: John Brackstone". Hartlepool United F.C. Archived from the original on 15 February 2009.
  3. ^ "Brothers in arms". The Press. York. 15 February 2003. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Impressive Brackstone set for Spireites test". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 20 October 2003. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  5. ^ "The future's bright insists Cooper". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 14 November 2003. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Pools' hopefuls handed pro contracts". Hartlepool Mail. 11 March 2004. Retrieved 10 March 2021 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  7. ^ a b "Games played by John Brackstone in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Young guns on target". Evening Gazette. Middlesbrough. 17 April 2004. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
    "Dallas Cup Tournament Champions by Year". Dallas Cup. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Bates boosts Quakers". Evening Gazette. Middlesbrough. 22 April 2005. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  10. ^ Loughlin, Nick (23 May 2006). "Seven are shown the door in Pool reshuffle". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "Composed Brackstone enjoying the time of his footballing life". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 30 September 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Games can't come quickly enough for eager Wilson". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 18 November 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  13. ^ Loughlin, Nick (25 January 2007). "Weather holds Proctor back". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
    "Wonder goal not enough to earn Williams contract". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Penney's rebuilding job continues". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 24 May 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  15. ^ Stoddart, Craig (13 November 2007). "Foran in as Penney looks to strengthen". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
    Stoddart, Craig (23 November 2007). "Ridley signs, Wainwright returns". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Games played by John Brackstone in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  17. ^ Stoddart, Craig (21 May 2008). "Quakers trio are deemed surplus to requirements". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Brackstone signs for Gateshead". Gateshead F.C. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  19. ^ a b "Gateshead FC 2008/09". Heedarmy Stats. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012.
  20. ^ "Soccer in brief. John on list". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle. 6 November 2008. p. 67. Retrieved 10 March 2021 – via Gale OneFile: News.
    "Brackstone set for Spartans move". BBC Sport. 6 February 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  21. ^ "John Brackstone". Blyth Spartans A.F.C. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011.
  22. ^ "John Brackstone". Bedlington Terriers F.C. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012.
  23. ^ "STL Northern League". The Journal. Newcastle. 30 April 2012. p. 53. Retrieved 10 March 2021 – via Gale OneFile: News.
    Simpson, Ray (5 October 2012). "Consett try to stop the Spennymoor juggernaut". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  24. ^ "Ex-Pools defender loaned to West". Non-League Pitchero. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  25. ^ "Bracca joins Darlo". Hartlepool Mail. 24 May 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2021 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  26. ^ "Learn from the professionals". European Union News. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  27. ^ "Hartlepool legends player ratings from 19-0 win! Have they still got it?". 15 October 2019.
  28. ^ "Games played by John Brackstone in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Games played by John Brackstone in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Games played by John Brackstone in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
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