Stephen Brackstone

Stephen Brackstone
Personal information
Full name Stephen Brackstone[1]
Date of birth (1982-09-19) 19 September 1982 (age 42)[1]
Place of birth Hartlepool, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
?–2002 Middlesbrough
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 York City 44 (4)
2004 Bishop Auckland 6 (0)
International career
2000 England U18 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Stephen Brackstone (born 19 September 1982) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder.

Brackstone played in the Middlesbrough youth system before joining York City in 2002. He had an operation to remove his appendix in December 2002 and he made his return to playing in March 2003. He was released by the club in 2004 and he finished his career with Bishop Auckland.

His younger brother John also became a professional footballer.[2]

Club career

Born in Hartlepool, County Durham, Brackstone played in the Middlesbrough youth system as a trainee before signing a professional contract on 7 July 2000.[1] After being deemed surplus to requirements at Middlesbrough he signed for Third Division team York City on 27 February 2002 on a contract until the end of the 2001–02 season following a trial.[3][4] He made his first team debut as an 87th minute substitute in a 2–0 victory over Darlington on 15 March.[5] He finished the season with nine appearances and signed a new contract in May.[6][7] Brackstone scored a direct free kick from 20 yards in stoppage time to give York a 2–2 draw with Bristol Rovers on 19 October.[8] He suffered a back injury in October and after a late fitness check missed a game against Wrexham, eventually making his return in a 0–0 draw at Hartlepool United.[9][10][11]

He had an operation to remove his appendix after being taken to hospital following his substitution against Lincoln City in December and after being expected to be out of action for six weeks he made his return in a 1–0 victory over Bournemouth on 15 March 2003.[12][13] He finished the 2002–03 season with 29 appearances and two goals.[14] He finished the 2003–04 season with 11 appearances and two goals for York and the club announced that he would be released when his contract expired on 30 June.[15][16] He signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division team Bishop Auckland and made six appearances for them during the 2004–05 season.[17][18]

International career

Brackstone was capped twice by England at under-18 level, playing in games against France on 8 March 2000 and Luxembourg on 27 April.[19]

Career statistics

Club Season League[A] FA Cup League Cup Other[B] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
York City 2001–02[6] 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
2002–03[14] 26 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 29 2
2003–04[15] 9 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 11 2
Total 44 4 3 0 1 0 1 0 49 4
Bishop Auckland 2004–05[18] 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Career totals 50 4 3 0 1 0 1 0 55 4
A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League and Northern Premier League.
B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League Trophy.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2004). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2004/2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-85291-660-2.
  2. ^ "Composed Brackstone enjoying the time of his footballing life". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 30 September 2006. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Stephen Brackstone". Evening Press. York. 19 March 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Brackston in York move". BBC Sport. 27 February 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  5. ^ "York 2–0 Darlington". BBC Sport. 15 March 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  6. ^ a b Batters, Dave (2008). York City The Complete Record. The Breedon Books Publishing Company Limited. pp. 398–419. ISBN 978-1-85983-633-0.
  7. ^ "Duffield wins new deal". BBC Sport. 13 May 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  8. ^ "York 2–2 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 19 October 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  9. ^ "Hobson to miss out for York". Yorkshire Evening Post. Leeds. 29 October 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  10. ^ "York 1–1 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 29 October 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  11. ^ "Hartlepool 0–0 York". BBC Sport. 1 November 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  12. ^ "Brackstone out for six weeks". BBC Sport. 24 December 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  13. ^ "York 1–0 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 15 March 2003. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  14. ^ a b Batters. York City The Complete Record. pp. 400–419.
  15. ^ a b Batters. York City The Complete Record. pp. 402–419.
  16. ^ "Seven players exit York". BBC Sport. 29 April 2004. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  17. ^ "York City : 1946/47 – 2003/04". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  18. ^ a b "Player Details: Season 2004–2005". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  19. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2000). Rothmans Football Yearbook 2000–2001. Headline Publishing Group. p. 872. ISBN 978-0-7472-7232-8.