Brabin began his senior career with Fourth Division side Stockport County, making three appearances under Danny Bergara during the 1989–90 season.
[5] Brabin departed Canal Street and made a return to the Football League after being signed by Doncaster Rovers manager Sammy Chung for a £45,000 fee in July 1994.
[6] Brabin joined Blackpool for the 1996–97 season for a £200,000 fee, and scored two goals from 38 matches as manager Gary Megson led the "Tangerines" to a seventh-place finish in the Second Division.
He played ten games at the start of the 1998–99 season before leaving Bloomfield Road to join Hull City at the bottom of the Third Division in January 1999.
[6] Player-manager Warren Joyce organised a turnaround in the "Tigers" form, as the club salvaged their Football League status with a 21st-place finish at the end of the 1998–99 season, with Brabin contributing four goals from his 23 appearances.
[6] Brian Little then took charge as manager and led Hull to the play-offs at the end of the 2000–01 season, with Brabin again a key first-team player having made 43 appearances and contributed two goals.
However, they were beaten by Leyton Orient in the play-off semi-finals, and Brabin departed Boothferry Park after accepting a severance payment for the remaining year of his contract in August 2001.
Despite joining the "Seals" relatively late on in the campaign, he was named Chester City's Player of the Season as he helped the "Blues" to avoid relegation.
[12] Brabin left the Deva Stadium and then signed with Total Network Solutions, and scored six goals in 30 Welsh Premier League matches in the 2002–03 campaign, as TNS finished as runners-up to Barry Town.
[6] He returned to playing in the Conference National to feature in four games for Chris Wilder's Halifax Town during the 2005–06 campaign, scoring one goal for the "Shaymen".
[14] He guided the "Sandgrounders" into the Conference North play-offs, where they were beaten by Stalybridge Celtic in the penalty shoot-out after a 2–2 aggregate draw over the two legs of the semi-final.
[23] In the final at the City of Manchester Stadium, Luton drew 0–0 after extra time with AFC Wimbledon, and eventually lost 4–3 in a penalty shootout that left the club facing a third-year at non-League level.
[24] Brabin received the full support from the Luton board despite the disappointment of the defeat and, one week later, he signed a new two-year contract to stay as permanent manager.
[28] Ironically, just five days later Brabin was convicted of using threatening and behaviour, but cleared of assault, following an altercation with two stewards after he was sent to the stands during a match at York City on 19 April 2011.
[35][36] He was succeeded by Micky Mellon, who led Tranmere to the 2017 National League play-off final, where they were beaten by Forest Green Rovers.
[39] In September 2018 he left Vale Park to take up the position as assistant manager to Terry McPhillips at EFL League One side Blackpool.
[45] In October 2023, he was appointed assistant manager to Micky Mellon at National League side Oldham Athletic, whilst continuing his role at The New Saints.