Career
Born in, Austin came through the youth ranks with his local club F.C., playing 165 first team games, including 25 games in the 2006-2007 Championship season. He made his debut on 10 August 2002 against Swindon Town. Despite struggling with an injury for a period of the 2005-2006 season, Austin still managed to make 44 appearances for the reds helping them secure their return to the Football League Championship.
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.
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 2008-2009 season.
Austin"s superb form saw him voted in the League 2 Team of the Season.
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 2012-2013 campaign, the first Hartlepool player to do so since Tommy Miller in 1999-1900.
