John Deakin (footballer)
John Deakin (born 29 September 1966) is an English former professional footballer who made 33 appearances in the Football League playing for Doncaster Rovers, Birmingham City and Carlisle United. Career Deakin was born in Stocksbridge, West Riding of Yorkshire. He began his football career as an apprentice with Barnsley, but first played in the Football League as a non-contracted player with Doncaster Rovers. Two years in non-League football with Frickley Athletic and Shepshed Charterhouse preceded a return to the Football League with Birmingham City in 1989. Deakin, a hard-working midfielder, went straight into the starting eleven, but his Birmingham career was disrupted by injury, and he had a brief spell at Carlisle United before returning to non-league with Wycombe Wanderers. Released at the end of the 1991–92 season, having made 23 appearances for the club, he joined Kidderminster Harriers. Deakin helped Kidderminster to the Conference title in 1994, though they were not promoted to the Football League because their ground was below standard. He played in their 1993–94 FA Cup run which took them past former club Birmingham City and Preston North End to become only the fourth non-league team to reach the fifth round, in which they lost narrowly