Stuart Brightwell is an English football midfielder

Midfielder

A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...

 who one season in the USL First Division

USL First Division

The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. He currently plays for Horden Colliery Welfare A.F.C.

Horden Colliery Welfare A.F.C.

Horden Colliery Welfare A.F.C. are a football club based in Horden, near Peterlee, County Durham, England. They were formed in 1908 and joined the North Eastern League in 1935. They reached the 2nd round of the FA Cup in the 1938–39 season.-History:...

 in the Northern League

Northern League (football)

The Northern League is a football league in North East England for semi-professional and amateur teams. Having been founded in 1889, it is the oldest surviving football league in the world after the Football League....

.

Brightwell came up through the Manchester United youth system, before transferring to Hartlepool United in 1998. Brightwell played in 20 games for the Monkey Hangers. He then played for Bishop Auckland

Bishop Auckland

Bishop Auckland is a market town and civil parish in County Durham in north east England. It is located about northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless...

 and Durham City

Durham City A.F.C.

Durham City A.F.C. are an English football club that currently plays in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They are based in the city of Durham in North East England.-History:...

. In November 2002, he transferred from Durham City to Spennymoor United. In the summer of 2004, he moved back to Durham City before transferring to Billingham Town on 12 October 2004.

At Hetton Lyons CC, he scored a hattrick in the FA Sunday Cup Final.

In May 2007, Brightwell signed with the Carolina RailHawks of the USL First Division

USL First Division

The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....

. He played well, seeing extensive playing time, but was released by the team at the end of the season.