| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gary Brabin[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1970-12-09)9 December 1970 (age 54)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Liverpool, England[3] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder;centre back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Oldham Athletic (assistant manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Stockport County | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1989–1991 | Stockport County | 2 | (0) |
| 1991 | →Gateshead (loan) | ||
| 1991 | Gateshead | ||
| 1991–1994 | Runcorn | ||
| 1994–1996 | Doncaster Rovers | 59 | (11) |
| 1996 | Bury | 5 | (0) |
| 1996–1999 | Blackpool | 63 | (5) |
| 1998–1999 | →Lincoln City (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 1999–2001 | Hull City | 95 | (9) |
| 2001 | Boston United | 1 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | Torquay United | 6 | (0) |
| 2002 | Chester City | 16 | (3) |
| 2002–2004 | Total Network Solutions | 48 | (7) |
| 2005–2006 | Halifax Town | 4 | (1) |
| 2006 | Southport | 14 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Burscough | 12 | (3) |
| 2007–2008 | The New Saints | 2 | (0) |
| Total | 331 | (39) | |
| International career | |||
| 1994 | England C | 3 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2008 | Southport | ||
| 2008–2009 | Cambridge United | ||
| 2011–2012 | Luton Town | ||
| 2014–2015 | Southport | ||
| 2015–2016 | Tranmere Rovers | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Gary Brabin (born 9 December 1970) is an English former professionalfootballer,coach andmanager who is the assistant manager atNational League clubOldham Athletic and the sporting director atCymru Premier clubThe New Saints.
Amidfielder with a 12-year career in theEnglish Football League, he representedStockport County,Doncaster Rovers,Bury,Blackpool,Lincoln City,Hull City andTorquay United. He also playednon-League football forGateshead,Runcorn,Boston United,Chester City,Halifax Town,Southport andBurscough, and also played in theWelsh Premier League forTotal Network Solutions / The New Saints. He was named Chester City's Player of the Year in 2001–02, winning three caps for theEngland C team.
He later went into coaching, firstly with Burscough and The New Saints, before he was appointed manager at Southport in April 2008. Two months later, he went on to be named asCambridge United manager, and despite being named asConference Premier Manager of the Year for 2008–09, was sacked in July 2009. He laterscouted for and coached atLuton Town before he was promoted to first-team manager in March 2011. He led the club to theConference play-off final two months later, which ended in defeat, and he was sacked in March 2012. He returned to Southport as manager in October 2014 before again leaving the club three months later to work as a coach atEverton. He was appointed manager atTranmere Rovers in May 2015 before being sacked in September 2016. He joinedPort Vale as a coach in October 2017 and was appointed assistant manager atBlackpool 11 months later. In June 2019, he returned to Luton Town as the club's assistant manager for the 2019–20 season. He went on to work in the backroom staff at The New Saints and Oldham Athletic.
Brabin began his senior career withFourth Division sideStockport County, making three appearances underDanny Bergara during the1989–90 season. He played just one further match atEdgeley Park in the1990–91 campaign before leaving the "Hatters" and dropping into theNorthern Premier League withTony Lee'sGateshead following a successfulloan period at theGateshead International Stadium. He then left the "Tynesiders" and joinedConference clubRuncorn, who struggled in the1991–92 and1992–93 seasons, before he helped the "Linnets" to a fifth-place finish in1993–94.[4] He also made two appearances atWembley Stadium in the1993 and1994FA Trophy finals as Runcorn lost out 4–1 toWycombe Wanderers and then 2–1 toWoking.[4] He worked as abouncer during his time at Runcorn.[5]
Brabin departedCanal Street and made a return to theFootball League after being signed byDoncaster RoversmanagerSammy Chung for a £45,000 fee in July 1994.[6] He also played three games for theEngland C team againstWales,Finland andNorway.[6] He went on to score eight goals from 33 appearances for "Donny" throughout the1994–95 season. He added three goals from 34 games in the1995–96 campaign before he leftBelle Vue and was moved on toStan Ternent'sBury for a £125,000 fee in March 1996.[6] He featured just five times for the "Shakers" during his time atGigg Lane.[6]
Brabin joinedBlackpool for the1996–97 season for a £200,000 fee, and scored two goals from 38 matches as managerGary Megson led the "Tangerines" to a seventh-place finish in theSecond Division.[6] He also enjoyed a brief spell on loan atLincoln City, featuring in five games forJohn Reames's "Imps" in a brief stay atSincil Bank. However, he was arrested in September 1997 after an alleged assault onBrentfordcaptainJamie Bates.[7] AnFA disciplinary committee later found him guilty of 'ungentlemanly and improper behaviour'. It fined him £500 and banned him for two matches to run consecutively, with a three-match ban he picked up for accumulating 21 disciplinary points.[8] He scored a further three goals from 29 appearances during the1997–98 season, asplayer-managerNigel Worthington led the "Seasiders" to a 12th-place finish. He played ten games at the start of the1998–99 season before leavingBloomfield Road to joinHull City at the bottom of the Third Division in January 1999.[6]
Player-managerWarren Joyce organised a turnaround in the "Tigers" form, as the club salvaged their Football League status with a 21st-place finish at the end of the1998–99 season, with Brabin contributing four goals from his 23 appearances. Hull then posted a 14th-place finish in the1999–2000 campaign, with Brabin scoring three goals in his 45 appearances despite struggling with a neck injury.[6]Brian Little then took charge as manager and led Hull to theplay-offs at the end of the2000–01 season, with Brabin again a key first-team player having made 43 appearances and contributed two goals. However, they were beaten byLeyton Orient in the play-off semi-finals, and Brabin departedBoothferry Park after accepting a severance payment for the remaining year of his contract in August 2001.[9]
After leaving Hull, Brabin trained withSt. Johnstone and had trials atPlymouth Argyle,Torquay United,Dundee andDundee United.[6] He went on to return to the Conference for the2001–02 season, though played just once forSteve Evans'sBoston United after joining on non-contract terms, playing the first hour of a 4–1 win overHayes atYork Street.[10] He left the "Pilgrims" to make a return to the Third Division with Torquay United. He played seven games forRoy McFarland's "Gulls" before he had his contract atPlainmoor cancelled after failing to settle on the coast; he had beensent off against former club Hull City in his second appearance and sent off again in a 2–0 defeat to local rivalsExeter City after elbowingMartin Barlow in the face.[11] He returned to the Conference to score three goals in 17 appearances forChester City. Despite joining the "Seals" relatively late on in the campaign, he was named Chester City's Player of the Season as he helped the "Blues" to avoidrelegation.[12]
Brabin left theDeva Stadium and then signed withTotal Network Solutions, and scored six goals in 30Welsh Premier League matches in the2002–03 campaign, as TNS finished as runners-up toBarry Town.Ken McKenna's Saints again finished second in2003–04, this time behindRhyl, as Brabin scored just once from his 18 appearances. He retired on medical advice in February 2004 after suffering from breathlessness.[6] He then went on to serveWitton Albion as assistant manager.[6] He returned to playing in the Conference National to feature in four games forChris Wilder'sHalifax Town during the2005–06 campaign, scoring one goal for the "Shaymen". Later in the season, he leftThe Shay and signed forSouthport, and played 14 Conference matches. In November 2006, he signed for Northern Premier League sideBurscough, where he assisted withcoaching in addition to his playing duties.[6] In June 2007, Brabin was appointed as assistant manager of The New Saints and also played two games atPark Hall in the2007–08 season.[13]
Brabin was amidfielder, but could also play atcentre back due to hisheading ability.[4] He had a poor disciplinary record.[4]
On 8 April 2008, Brabin was appointed manager of Southport on a contract running until the end of the2007–08 season, replacingPeter Davenport.[14] He guided the "Sandgrounders" into theConference North play-offs, where they were beaten byStalybridge Celtic in the penalty shoot-out after a 2–2aggregate draw over the two legs of the semi-final.[15]
On 23 June 2008, Brabin was named as manager ofCambridge United on a two-year contract, taking over fromJimmy Quinn.[16] He led the "U's" to runners-up spot in the Conference at the end of the2008–09 season, finishing just two points behindBurton Albion. United defeatedStevenage Borough in the play-off semi-finals but were beaten 2–0 by Torquay United in theplay-off final atWembley Stadium.[17] The following month he was named as the Conference Premier Manager of the Year.[18] However, he was sacked from his post at theAbbey Stadium on 13 July 2009 following a series of disputes with the club's board.[19]
Brabin was appointed as chiefscout atLuton Town in October 2009.[20] In May 2010, he was named as Luton's assistant manager, taking over fromAlan Neilson.[21]
He was promoted to manager atKenilworth Road until the end of the2010–11 season afterRichard Money left the club on 28 March 2011.[22] Brabin secured Luton's place in the Conference Premier play-offs, leading them to a 5–1 aggregate victory overWrexham in the semi-finals.[23] Inthe final at theCity of Manchester Stadium, Luton drew 0–0 afterextra time withAFC Wimbledon, and eventually lost 4–3 in apenalty shootout that left the club facing a third-year atnon-League level.[24] Brabin received the full support from the Luton board despite the disappointment of the defeat and, one week later, he signed a new two-year contract to stay as permanent manager.[25][26]
Brabin was sacked on 31 March 2012 after the team fell out of the play-off positions with seven games remaining of the2011–12 season.[27] His successor,Paul Buckle, led the "Hatters" to the2012 Conference Premier play-off final on 20 May, where they were beaten byYork City.[28] Ironically, just five days later Brabin was convicted of using threatening and behaviour, but cleared of assault, following an altercation with two stewards after he was sent to the stands during a match at York City on 19 April 2011.[29]
Brabin returned to Southport for the third time on 6 October 2014, replacingMartin Foyle.[30] He took the club to anFA Cup Third Round tie withDerby County and up to 20th in the Conference.[31] On 20 January 2015, Brabin left Southport to take up a post atEverton to be part of the coaching set up at theunder-21 level.[32] His successor atHaig Avenue,Paul Carden, led Southport to a 19th-place finish at the end of the2014–15 season.
On 5 May 2015, Brabin was appointed as the manager ofTranmere Rovers following their relegation to the National League. He guided Rovers to a sixth-place finish at the end of the2015–16 season, missing out on the play-offs by just two points. Two of his signings,Andy Cook andJames Norwood, would go on to form a highly effective partnership for the club over the following two seasons.[33] He was named as the National League Manager of the Month for August 2016.[34] However, his contract atPrenton Park was terminated on 18 September 2016, with the club in fifth-place but in poor form and his relationship with the club's supporters remaining consistently tense.[35][36] He was succeeded byMicky Mellon, who led Tranmere to the2017 National League play-off final, where they were beaten byForest Green Rovers.[37]
Brabin was appointed as a coach atEFL League Two sidePort Vale by newly appointed managerNeil Aspin in October 2017.[38] In March 2018, he was named as second favourite to take the management position atWrexham.[39] In September 2018 he leftVale Park to take up the position as assistant manager toTerry McPhillips atEFL League One sideBlackpool.[40] He stepped down from the role for "personal reasons" in March 2019.[41][42] In June 2019, he returned to Luton as one ofGraeme Jones's two assistant managers.[43] Brabin departed Luton in March 2020 following Jones's dismissal.[44]
In April 2021, he was appointed as the Sporting Director atCymru Premier teamThe New Saints.[45] In October 2023, he was appointed assistant manager toMicky Mellon at National League sideOldham Athletic, whilst continuing his role at The New Saints.[46]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stockport County | 1989–90 | Fourth Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1990–91 | Fourth Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Doncaster Rovers | 1994–95 | Third Division | 28 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 8 |
| 1995–96 | Third Division | 31 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 3 | |
| Total | 59 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 67 | 11 | ||
| Bury | 1995–96 | Third Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Blackpool | 1996–97 | Second Division | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 2 |
| 1997–98 | Second Division | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 29 | 3 | |
| 1998–99 | Second Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Total | 63 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 77 | 5 | ||
| Lincoln City (loan) | 1996–97 | Second Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Hull City | 1998–99 | Third Division | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 4 |
| 1999–2000 | Third Division | 37 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 45 | 3 | |
| 2000–01 | Third Division | 37 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 43 | 2 | |
| Total | 95 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 111 | 9 | ||
| Boston United | 2001–02[48] | Conference | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Torquay United | 2001–02 | Third Division | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Chester City | 2001–02[48] | Conference | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 3 |
| Total Network Solutions | 2002–03[49] | Welsh Premier League | 30 | 6 | – | – | – | – | 30 | 6 |
| 2003–04[49] | Welsh Premier League | 18 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 18 | 1 | |
| Total | 48 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 7 | ||
| Halifax Town | 2005–06[50] | Conference National | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Southport | 2005–06[50] | Conference National | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Burscough | 2006–07[51] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 |
| The New Saints | 2007–08[49] | Welsh Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Career total | 331 | 39 | 10 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 375 | 39 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Southport | 8 April 2008 | 23 June 2008 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 071.4 | [52] |
| Cambridge United | 23 June 2008 | 13 July 2009 | 54 | 27 | 14 | 13 | 050.0 | [16][19][53] |
| Luton Town | 28 March 2011 | 31 March 2012 | 62 | 29 | 22 | 11 | 046.8 | [54] |
| Southport | 6 October 2014 | 20 January 2015 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 037.5 | [52] |
| Tranmere Rovers | 5 May 2015 | 18 September 2016 | 60 | 28 | 15 | 17 | 046.7 | [54] |
| Total | 207 | 98 | 60 | 49 | 047.3 | — | ||
Individual
Runcorn