Edwin Brown
Encyclopedia
Edwin Stanley "Nigger" Brown (1898–1972) was an Australian rugby league
footballer of the 1910s and 20s. A Queensland state and Australian international representative centre, he played club football in Toowoomba for Newtown.
Brown, an Anglo-Australian who was nicknamed "Nigger" because of his fair complexion (or perhaps because of his use of the "Nigger Brown" variety of Kiwi
shoe polish), became Toowoomba's first rugby league international when he was selected to go on the 1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain
, during which he played four matches.
Brown forged a world-class centre combination with Tom Gorman
in the famous Toowoomba sides of the 1920s, and in 1925 injured his ankle playing in their win over the New Zealand national side
before a crowd of around 5,000 in Toowoomba.
Brown later served as a judge for The Sunday Herald
s player of the season award. He was also president of the Toowoomba Rugby League during the eary 1950s and became a local councillor in Toowoomba. He was Kangaroo Tour
manager in 1954.
In the 1960s a grandstand in Toowoomba's main football stadium, the Toowoomba Sports Ground, was named the 'E S "Nigger" Brown Stand' in his honour. Brown died in 1972 aged 74.
The 'E S "Nigger" Brown Stand' later became the subject of a book, The N Word: One Man's Stand, by Stephen Hagan
who campaigned for its removal. When the stand was demolished in September 2008, the Toowoomba Sports Ground Inc decided not to use the "Nigger" nickname in future references to Brown.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1910s and 20s. A Queensland state and Australian international representative centre, he played club football in Toowoomba for Newtown.
Brown, an Anglo-Australian who was nicknamed "Nigger" because of his fair complexion (or perhaps because of his use of the "Nigger Brown" variety of Kiwi
Kiwi (shoe polish)
Kiwi is the brand name of a shoe polish, first made in Australia in 1906 and sold in almost 180 countries. Previously owned by the Sara Lee Corporation since 1984, it was sold in 2011 to SC Johnson...
shoe polish), became Toowoomba's first rugby league international when he was selected to go on the 1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain
1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain
The 1921–22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain was the third ever Kangaroo tour. Again an Australasian side rather than an Australian team alone travelled to Great Britain to contest The Ashes...
, during which he played four matches.
Brown forged a world-class centre combination with Tom Gorman
Tom Gorman (rugby league)
Tom Gorman was an Australian rugby league player. He was a Centre three-quarter for the Australian national team. He played in 10 Tests between 1924 and 1930 as captain on 7 occasions....
in the famous Toowoomba sides of the 1920s, and in 1925 injured his ankle playing in their win over the New Zealand national side
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
before a crowd of around 5,000 in Toowoomba.
Brown later served as a judge for The Sunday Herald
The Sun-Herald
The Sun-Herald is an Australian tabloid newspaper published on Sundays in Sydney by Fairfax Media. It is the Sunday counterpart of The Sydney Morning Herald. In the 6 months to September 2005, The Sun-Herald had a circulation of 515,000...
s player of the season award. He was also president of the Toowoomba Rugby League during the eary 1950s and became a local councillor in Toowoomba. He was Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour
Kangaroo Tour is the name given to Australian national rugby league team tours of Great Britain and France. The first Kangaroo Tour was in 1908. Traditionally, Kangaroo Tours took place every four years and involved a three-Test Ashes series against Great Britain and a number of tour matches...
manager in 1954.
In the 1960s a grandstand in Toowoomba's main football stadium, the Toowoomba Sports Ground, was named the 'E S "Nigger" Brown Stand' in his honour. Brown died in 1972 aged 74.
The 'E S "Nigger" Brown Stand' later became the subject of a book, The N Word: One Man's Stand, by Stephen Hagan
Stephen Hagan
Stephen Hagan is an Australian author, activist and campaigner against racism. He is also a newspaper editor, documentary maker, university lecturer and former diplomat....
who campaigned for its removal. When the stand was demolished in September 2008, the Toowoomba Sports Ground Inc decided not to use the "Nigger" nickname in future references to Brown.