Neil Austin

Neil Jeffrey Austin (born 26 April 1983) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender. He started his career at Barnsley, and spent time playing for Darlington and Hartlepool United in the Football League, and played at non-league level with Gateshead, Shaw Lane and Gainsborough Trinity. He also earned a combined 26 Youth International Caps with England at U15 to U20 levels.[3]

This article is about the English footballer. For the New Zealand politician, see Neill Austin. For the British lighting designer, see Neil Austin (lighting designer).

Neil Austin
Austin playing for Hartlepool United in 2013
Personal information
Full name Neil Jeffrey Austin[1]
Date of birth (1983-04-26) 26 April 1983
Place of birth Barnsley, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1998–2000 Barnsley
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2007 Barnsley 148 (0)
2002 → Gateshead (loan)[2] 3 (0)
2007–2009 Darlington 62 (5)
2009–2015 Hartlepool United 223 (10)
2015–2018 Shaw Lane 46 (0)
2018–2019 Gainsborough Trinity 35 (0)
National team
1999–2000 England U16 9 (0)
2000–2001 England U17 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:08, 13 July 2015 (UTC)

Biography

Barnsley

Born in Barnsley, Austin came through the youth ranks with his local club Barnsley F.C., playing 165 first team games, including 25 games in the 2006–07 Championship season. He made his debut on 10 August 2002 against Swindon Town.

Despite struggling with an injury for a period of the 2005–06 season, Austin still managed to make 44 appearances for the reds helping them secure their return to the Football League Championship.

Darlington

In his first season at Darlington he played 29 games and scored 2 goals, his first was a mazy run from the edge of his own 18 yard box played a one – two then finished with aplomb. His season ended early though as he collected an injury that had plagued him the previous season.

In June 2008, Austin underwent an operation on his troublesome ankle which was successful. He scored his 1st goal of the season in Darlington's 6–0 away win at Macclesfield Town, it been a nice 25 yard drive. Live on Sky Austin netted a superb 25 yard free-kick against fellow promotion hopefuls Bradford City in Darlington's 2–1 victory. The tough tackling right back put Darlington's off field problems of administration to the side and went on to make 39 appearances scoring 3 goals and receiving 4 yellow cards in the 2008–09 season. Austin's superb form saw him voted in the League 2 Team of the Season.

Hartlepool United

In June 2009, he joined Darlington's arch rivals Hartlepool United[4] and won the Player and Players' Player of the Year Award at the end of his first season with Pools.

An injury in early February 2011 saw Austin out injured until the final two games of the season with Steve Haslam replacing him at right-back. However, he regained his place next season and played every single minute of the 2012–13 campaign,[5][6] the first Hartlepool player to do so since Tommy Miller in 1999–00.

Shaw Lane

Following his release by Hartlepool in 2015, Austin signed for Shaw Lane.[7] He helped Shaw Lane win the Northern Premier League Division 1 South 2016/17 title, winning the Players Player of the Year award in the process.

Gainsborough Trinity

After 3 seasons with Shaw Lane, Austin joined Gainsborough Trinity following a successful trial.[8] He made a total of 39 appearances for Gainsborough and, following the conclusion of the 2018/19 season, retired from football.

Honours

Barnsley

Individual

  • Hartlepool United Player of the Year: 2010[9]
  • Shaw Lane Players Player of the Year: 2017

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 30. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
  2. "Players A to Z 00-01 to 08–09". Unofficial Gateshead Football Club Statistics Database. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  3. https://uk.linkedin.com/in/neil-austin-253955103
  4. "Austin Completes Move To Pools". Vital Hartlepool. 10 June 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  5. "Bionic man Neil Austin does not want to miss a minute for Hartlepool United". Sunderland Echo. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  6. "Neil Austin will be fit to face Scunthorpe United". Hartlepool Mail. 29 August 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  7. http://barnsleynewsandsport.com/2015/08/03/ex-barnsley-defender-set-to-join-shaw-lane-aquaforce/
  8. http://gainsboroughtrinity.com/latest-gainsborough-trinity-news/neil-austin-joins-trinity.html
  9. "Neil Austin". inthemadcrowd.co.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
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