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 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. 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", 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, followed by a bout of pleurisy, and he played just twice more that season. In March 2004, he signed his first professional contract. 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. 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", 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. 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. In mid-November, he underwent surgery on a double hernia; he regained fitness but not his place in the team, and was released at the end of the season. Brackstone moved on to League Two club Darlington, where manager, Dave Penney saw him as competition for established left back Tim Ryan. He played little: apart from four games in November between Ryan's hamstring injury and the arrival of loanee Lee Ridley he made