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John Brown (footballer, born 1915)

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John Brown
Personal information
Full name John Bell Brown
Date of birth (1915-02-21)21 February 1915
Place of birth Troon, Scotland
Date of death 30 August 2005(2005-08-30) (aged 90)[1]
Place of death Prestwick, Scotland[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
–1934 Glenburn Rovers
1934–1935 Shawfield[2]
1935–1942 Clyde 129 (0)
1942–1948 Hibernian 12 (0)
1948–1949 Dundee 14 (0)
1949–1950 Kilmarnock 1 (0)
International career
1935[3] Scotland Juniors 3 (0)
1938[4] Scottish League XI 1 (0)
1938 Scotland 1 (0)
1940[5] Scotland (wartime) 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

John Bell Brown (21 February 1915 – 30 August 2005)[6] was a Scottish footballer, who played as a goalkeeper. At club level he played for Clyde, Hibernian, Dundee and Kilmarnock, helping Clyde win the Scottish Cup in 1939.[7] He also played once for the Scotland national football team, in a 1939 British Home Championship match against Wales.

Brown's football career was clearly interrupted by the Second World War, as his two greatest achievements, winning a Scotland cap and the Scottish Cup, came during the last season completed before the war. Brown only conceded one goal in the whole competition en route to winning the Scottish Cup, a penalty kick in a 4–1 win against Rangers.[1] He later complained that he would not have conceded even that solitary goal if Rangers had used their regular penalty taker, Bob McPhail, because Brown knew where McPhail normally placed his penalties.[1] A transfer to Arsenal was proposed, but did not materialise due to the outbreak of war in September 1939.[8]

During the war he entered the service of the Royal Navy, while making guest appearances for Hamilton Academical. He transferred to Hibernian in 1942, but played for teams including St Mirren, Airdrieonians[9] and Gillingham of England's Kent League between 1944 and 1946.[10][11] Upon returning to Hibernian, he helped them win the Scottish league championship in 1947–48.[1]

Brown then had spells with Dundee and Kilmarnock before retiring as a player in 1950. He then became a physiotherapist, working for Kilmarnock, the All Blacks[1] and the Scotland national rugby union team. Brown was the first person to serve in that function for the Scotland rugby side.[1]

At junior level, while at Glenburn, Brown was a reserve for the national team,[12] and played in the annual West v East of Scotland international trial.[13] After he moved to Shawfield, Brown won all three of his Scotland Juniors caps in 1935.

Brown was part of a sizeable sporting family. His sons Peter and Gordon (Broon frae Troon) both played for Scotland at rugby union,[1] while two of his brothers, Tom and Jim, also played professional football, as did an uncle by marriage, Alex Lambie. Jim was selected by the United States for the 1930 FIFA World Cup, and in turn his son George later also played for the USA (although born in England and raised in Scotland).[14] Brown himself was also a talented player of both badminton and golf, playing off a scratch handicap.[1]

Honours

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Clyde
Hibernian
Scotland

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The original 'Broon from Troon'". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. 1 September 2005. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  2. ^ "The Hawthorns Series" (PDF). www.scottishsporthistory.com. October 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  3. ^ "IRISH PIVOT HOLDS KEY IN JUNIOR 'NATIONAL". Sunday Post. 17 March 1935. Retrieved 22 June 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
    "TEN CHANGERS IN SCOTLAND JUNIOR SIDE". Dundee Courier. 4 April 1935. Retrieved 22 June 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
    "JUNIORS TO OPPOSE WALES". Dundee Courier. 25 April 1935. Retrieved 22 June 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "John 2 Brown". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  5. ^ Irish XI v Scottish XI, 28 April 1940, 11v11.com
  6. ^ John Brown at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
  7. ^ "Broon frae Troon". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. 29 January 2003.
  8. ^ Lindsay, Clive (23 May 2019). "Scottish Cup final: 80th anniversary for Clyde side that held the trophy longest". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  9. ^ John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine.
  10. ^ Brown, Tony (2003). The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record. Soccerdata. p. 55. ISBN 1-899468-20-X.
  11. ^ Brown made eight Kent League appearances for Gillingham in the 1945–46 season but also played in unofficial wartime matches in the previous season.
  12. ^ "SPORTS SECTION". Dundee Courier. 29 March 1934. Retrieved 22 June 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "FOOTBALL: JUNIORS TRIAL GAME". West Lothian Courier. 13 April 1934. Retrieved 22 June 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ "Soccer Player Profile: Jim Brown". NJsportsheroes.com. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  15. ^ "ONLY MOONEY & BRADY IMPRESSED IN PAISLEY'S ALL-CORNER FINAL". Daily Record. 15 May 1939. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
    "WORSTGAME I'VE SEEN". Daily Record. 3 June 1940. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
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