Laurie Brown (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Laurence Brown (22 August 1937 – 30 September 1998) was an English
former football player and manager. He is the father of field hockey international Karen Brown.
Brown was born in Shildon
, County Durham
and started his career at non-league side Bishop Auckland
and then Woking
. He also made three appearances as an amateur for Darlington
at the end of the 1958-59
season. He performed well enough to be picked for the England amateur team
, and the Great Britain side at the 1960 Olympics
in Rome
; the British team failed to progress to the knockout stage and came eighth overall.
On his return to England he turned professional and signed for Northampton Town
, and was the club's scorer in 1960-61
as they were promoted to the Third Division
. However, he had been switched from centre-forward
into central defence, and from then on flourished in that position. In August 1961 he was signed by First Division
Arsenal
, and immediately became a first-team regular in the Arsenal side.
Brown amassed 109 appearances for the Gunners in two-and-a-half seasons, scoring two goals. At the time, Arsenal were the less successful of the two north London
sides, and Brown made the surprising move up the Seven Sisters Road
to Arsenal's deadly rivals, Tottenham Hotspur
in February 1964, for a fee of £40,000. Brown became one of the few players to play for both clubs, and by sheer coincidence, his first match for Spurs, on 22 February 1964, was against his old club Arsenal; Brown nearly scored in a 3-1 Spurs win.
Brown was relatively disappointing at Spurs, though he still made 62 League appearances over two seasons. In 1966 he was sold to Norwich City, and spent two seasons there before finishing his career at Bradford Park Avenue
, where he became the club's player-manager, but presided over the club's relegation from the Football League. He joined Altrincham
as player-manager in August 1969, resigning in September 1970.
He later had spells as manager of King's Lynn
and Stockton
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former football player and manager. He is the father of field hockey international Karen Brown.
Brown was born in Shildon
Shildon
Shildon is a town in County Durham, in England. It is situated 2 miles to the south east of Bishop Auckland and 11 miles north of Darlington. It is 13 miles away from Durham, 23 miles from Sunderland and 23 miles from Newcastle-upon-Tyne...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
and started his career at non-league side Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland F.C.
Bishop Auckland Football Club are an English football team based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. They are one of the most successful amateur sides, having won the old FA Amateur Cup on 10 occasions , and losing finalists on a further 8. They currently play in the Northern League Division One. ...
and then Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
. He also made three appearances as an amateur for Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
at the end of the 1958-59
1958-59 in English football
The 1958–59 season was the 79th season of competitive football in England.-Diary of the season:August 1958: The Football League season begins with the new national Third and Fourth divisions that have been created from the old Third Division North and Third Division South.September 1958: Manchester...
season. He performed well enough to be picked for the England amateur team
England national amateur football team
The England national amateur football team was the amateur representative team for England at football. It was formed in 1906, due to the growth of the professional game which meant that amateur players could no longer easily find places in the main England national team.-First match and unbeaten...
, and the Great Britain side at the 1960 Olympics
Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics
The football tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics was held from 26 August to 10 September in 1960 throughout Italy.-Venues:-Medalists:-Group A:---------------------Group B:---------------------Group C:--------...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
; the British team failed to progress to the knockout stage and came eighth overall.
On his return to England he turned professional and signed for Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
, and was the club's scorer in 1960-61
1960-61 in English football
The 1960–61 season was the 81st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season was a historic one for domestic football in England, as Tottenham Hotspur F.C. became the first club in the twentieth century to "do the Double" by winning both the League and the FA Cup competitions...
as they were promoted to the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. However, he had been switched from centre-forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
into central defence, and from then on flourished in that position. In August 1961 he was signed by First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, and immediately became a first-team regular in the Arsenal side.
Brown amassed 109 appearances for the Gunners in two-and-a-half seasons, scoring two goals. At the time, Arsenal were the less successful of the two north London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
sides, and Brown made the surprising move up the Seven Sisters Road
Seven Sisters Road
Seven Sisters Road is a road in north London, England which runs within the boroughs of Islington, Hackney and Haringey. It is an extension of Camden Road, running from Holloway Road at the Nags Head crossroads then on to another crossroads with Blackstock Road and Stroud Green Road...
to Arsenal's deadly rivals, Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in February 1964, for a fee of £40,000. Brown became one of the few players to play for both clubs, and by sheer coincidence, his first match for Spurs, on 22 February 1964, was against his old club Arsenal; Brown nearly scored in a 3-1 Spurs win.
Brown was relatively disappointing at Spurs, though he still made 62 League appearances over two seasons. In 1966 he was sold to Norwich City, and spent two seasons there before finishing his career at Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
, where he became the club's player-manager, but presided over the club's relegation from the Football League. He joined Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
as player-manager in August 1969, resigning in September 1970.
He later had spells as manager of King's Lynn
King's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
and Stockton
Stockton F.C.
Stockton F.C. was an English football club based in Stockton-on-Tees. The club were known as 'The Ancients' because of their long-standing presence in the town. Their traditional colours were red and black quartered shirts with white shorts.-History:...
.