Liverpool-born Gary Brabin became Cambridge United manager on 23rd June 2008, leaving Blue Square North side Southport and signing a two-year contract to become Jimmy Quinn's successor.

A strong, tough midfielder who made over 200 League appearances during his playing career, Brabin started as a trainee at Stockport in 1989 and made one league appearance before dropping out of the Football League for spells with Gateshead and then Runcorn. Two FA Trophy final appearances later he attracted the interest of Doncaster Rovers who paid £45,000 for him in July 1994.

After two seasons at Doncaster, Bury paid £125,000 for his services in 1996, and after just one full season at Gigg Lane he was on the move again when a £200,000 transfer took him to Blackpool, which is where he first met his U's assistant Paul Carden, who was his apprentice and 'boot boy'.

After 50 appearances for Blackpool, Brabin, now 29, joined the League's bottom club Hull City in January 1999 and played a major role in preserving their Football League status, earning the nickname 'The Enforcer' from Tigers' fans. He helped Hull to the Play-Offs in 2001, but a major restructuring of the squad by then-manager Brian Little saw Brabin leave the club that summer after 85 league games and 9 goals.

Brief spells followed with Conference side Boston (non-contract) and Roy McFarland's Torquay United (failed to settle in the area) before he signed for Chester in January 2001, where he again played alongside Paul Carden, and despite only playing for four months earned the Player of the Season award as he helped them avoid relegation from the Conference.

Joining Welsh League side TNS in July 2002, Brabin enjoyed European competition for the Welsh champions and made 47 Welsh Premier appearances between 2002 and 2004, before retiring from playing in February 2004 on medical advice.

Brabin joined Unibond League side Witton Albion as assistant manager in November 2004 and decided to return to playing with Halifax Town, Southport and Burscough. At Burscough he combined playing with coaching to help the Lancashire club to the Unibond League title in April 2007 to secure automatic promotion to Conference North.

In June 2007, Brabin returned to The New Saints as assistant manager, and in April 2008 he was appointed manager of Blue Square North side Southport, taking over at one of his former clubs for the final seven games of last season. He led them to five victories to clinch fourth place in the Blue Square North and qualify for the Play-offs, but lost out on penalties to Stalybridge Celtic in the Semi-finals.

On 23rd June 2008 he stepped up to the Blue Square Premier to become Cambridge United's manager, bringing in Paul Carden for a second spell with the U's, this time as player-assistant manager.

Andrea Thrussell
June 2008