Geoff Brown
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey "Geoff" Brown is a Scottish
businessman. He was chairman of St. Johnstone from 1986 until November 2011.
In 1970, Brown founded G. S. Brown Construction, which specialises in homebuilding. Brown is still chairman of the company, which is a family business, with two of his sons also on the board of directors. In June 2011, it was revealed that the company was set to become the shirt sponsors of the club, to mark Brown's quarter-century as chairman.
Brown took control of St. Johnstone in 1986, when they were in deep financial trouble and near the bottom of the Scottish Football League
. A rights issue
raised £150,000, which solved the club's short-term financial problems.
Alex Totten was soon appointed as manager. Under his guidance, the club made a rise from second-bottom in the Scottish Second Division in 1986 to mid-table in the Scottish Premier Division in late 1990. During this period, Brown oversaw the sale of Muirton Park
to Asda
and the club's move to a newly-built McDiarmid Park
stadium in the Tulloch
area of the city, which was opened in 1989.
In August 2006, to mark Brown's twentieth anniversary as chairman of St. Johnstone, the Perthshire Advertiser
published his best-of-Saints XI from the past two decades:
As Steve Lomas
was presented to the media as the new St. Johnstone manager in November 2011, Brown announced that he was going to pass control of the club to his son Steven.
Brown underwent a successful operation for prostate cancer
in July 2001.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
businessman. He was chairman of St. Johnstone from 1986 until November 2011.
In 1970, Brown founded G. S. Brown Construction, which specialises in homebuilding. Brown is still chairman of the company, which is a family business, with two of his sons also on the board of directors. In June 2011, it was revealed that the company was set to become the shirt sponsors of the club, to mark Brown's quarter-century as chairman.
Brown took control of St. Johnstone in 1986, when they were in deep financial trouble and near the bottom of the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
. A rights issue
Rights issue
A rights issue is an issue of additional shares by a company to raise capital under a seasoned equity offering. The rights issue is a special form of shelf offering or shelf registration. With the issued rights, existing shareholders have the privilege to buy a specified number of new shares from...
raised £150,000, which solved the club's short-term financial problems.
Alex Totten was soon appointed as manager. Under his guidance, the club made a rise from second-bottom in the Scottish Second Division in 1986 to mid-table in the Scottish Premier Division in late 1990. During this period, Brown oversaw the sale of Muirton Park
Muirton Park
Muirton Park was the second of three football grounds the Scottish football club St. Johnstone from Perth, Scotland, have occupied in their history...
to Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
and the club's move to a newly-built McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park is a football stadium in Perth, Scotland, the home ground of St. Johnstone FC. It has an all-seated capacity of 10,673.-History:...
stadium in the Tulloch
Tulloch, Perth and Kinross
Tulloch is a residential area of Perth, Scotland, approximately north-west of the centre of Perth.The main access road to Tulloch, from the east or west, is Tulloch Road, reached via the Crieff Road , which bounds it to the south. It is also accessible, albeit less directly, from the Dunkeld Road...
area of the city, which was opened in 1989.
In August 2006, to mark Brown's twentieth anniversary as chairman of St. Johnstone, the Perthshire Advertiser
Perthshire Advertiser
The Perthshire Advertiser is a tabloid newspaper published by Trinity Mirror Scotland in Perth, Scotland. The "PA", as it is commonly known, goes on sale twice a week: a Tuesday edition, and a bigger edition on a Friday...
published his best-of-Saints XI from the past two decades:
- Alan MainAlan MainAlan David Main is a Scottish football goalkeeper.Main made his debut in the Highland Football League aged just fifteen and went on to a professional career exceeding twenty years. He has played for Dundee United, Cowdenbeath, East Stirlingshire, St. Johnstone, Livingston, Gretna and Ayr United...
- Mark TreanorMark TreanorMark Treanor is a Scottish former professional footballer.A right-back, Glasgow-born Treanor began his career with Clydebank in 1979. In nine years with the Bankies, he made 275 league appearances and scored 13 goals....
- Callum DavidsonCallum DavidsonCallum Ian Davidson is a Scottish footballer who currently plays as a left back for St. Johnstone of the Scottish Premier League. He signed for the Perthshire SPL club on 26 May 2011.-Club career:...
- Tommy TurnerTommy TurnerThomas "Tommy" Turner is a Scottish former professional footballer.He was captain of the St. Mirren side that won the Scottish First Division in 1999-2000....
- Sergei Baltacha
- Alan KernaghanAlan KernaghanAlan Kernaghan is an Irish former footballer. Since retiring he has become a coach and manager. Since January 2007 he has been a youth coach at Rangers....
- Allan MooreAllan MooreAllan Moore is a Scottish former association football player and current manager. He is the manager of Scottish First Division club Greenock Morton, a position he has held since May 2010....
- John O'NeilJohn O'Neil (footballer)John Thomas O'Neil is a Scottish former professional association football player. He represented Scotland once, and played for Dundee United, St. Johnstone, Hibernian and Falkirk in the top division.-Career:...
- Roddy Grant
- Paul WrightPaul Wright (footballer)Paul Hamilton Wright is a retired Scottish football player. He played for seven clubs in a fourteen-year career, beginning with Aberdeen in 1988. It was in the mid-to-late '90s, however, that he was at the peak of his career, firstly with St. Johnstone and then Kilmarnock. He was transferred from...
- Harry CurranHarry CurranHenry "Harry" Curran is a Scottish former professional footballer who played in midfield for a number of Scottish clubs.-St. Johnstone:*Scottish Football League First Division: 1-External links:...
As Steve Lomas
Steve Lomas
Stephen "Steve" Lomas is the football manager of St Johnstone and a former Northern Ireland international player. He played for Manchester City, West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers and Gillingham, finishing his playing career at United Counties Football League Premier Division club St Neots Town...
was presented to the media as the new St. Johnstone manager in November 2011, Brown announced that he was going to pass control of the club to his son Steven.
Personal life
Brown married his wife, Joyce, in 1962 and they have three sons (Stuart, Steve and Scott) and a daughter, Susan. His son, Steve, succeded him as chairman of St Johnstone. Brown is also a racehorse owner and breeder.Brown underwent a successful operation for prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
in July 2001.
External links
- Article from The Herald - includes a snippet about Brown
- Article from the Daily Record - "I'm Browned Off..."
- Hail the new manager Brown (right) with Saints manager Owen CoyleOwen CoyleOwen Columba Coyle is a Scottish-born Irish international former professional player and professional association football manager . He is currently the manager of Bolton Wanderers....
(centre) and his assistant Jim WeirJim WeirJames "Jim" McIntosh Weir is a Scottish former professional footballer who is currently the manager of Brechin City.-Playing career:...
(left)
