Phil Brown (footballer born 1966)
Encyclopedia
Philip James "Phil" Brown (born 16 January 1966 in Sheffield
) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League
for Chesterfield
, Stockport County
, and Lincoln City
. He plays as a striker or attacking midfielder
.
He started his career as an apprentice at Chesterfield
, and made his debut on 14 May 1983 as a substitute in a 1–0 home defeat to Millwall
in the Third Division
. In December 1986, Ernie Moss
and Brown were transferred to Stockport County
for a joint fee of £10,000. In the summer of 1987 he moved to Lincoln City
, who had recently become the first club to be automatically relegated
out of the Football League
. He was the leading goalscorer as the Imps secured their return to the league at the first attempt. He spent a further two seasons with Lincoln before moving into non-League football
with Kettering Town
, where he was leading scorer in the 1992–93 season, Boston United, and Gainsborough Trinity
.
Brown was originally signed by Matlock Town
in 2002 as a player, but he and Gareth Williams were made joint player-managers in 2004 after previous manager Ernie Moss left for Hucknall Town
. The pair remained in post for more than four years until sacked in October 2008.
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
) is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, and Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
. He plays as a striker or attacking 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...
.
He started his career as an apprentice at Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, and made his debut on 14 May 1983 as a substitute in a 1–0 home defeat to Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
in 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...
. In December 1986, Ernie Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...
and Brown were transferred to Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
for a joint fee of £10,000. In the summer of 1987 he moved to Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, who had recently become the first club to be automatically relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
out of the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. He was the leading goalscorer as the Imps secured their return to the league at the first attempt. He spent a further two seasons with Lincoln before moving into non-League football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
, where he was leading scorer in the 1992–93 season, Boston United, and Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
.
Brown was originally signed by Matlock Town
Matlock Town F.C.
Matlock Town F.C. is an English football club based at Causeway Lane in Matlock, Derbyshire.-History:The club was established in the late 1870s and have competed in the Central Alliance and the Midland Counties League before reaching the Northern Premier League.In the 1974–75 season the club won...
in 2002 as a player, but he and Gareth Williams were made joint player-managers in 2004 after previous manager Ernie Moss left for Hucknall Town
Hucknall Town F.C.
Hucknall Town F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Watnall Road.-History:...
. The pair remained in post for more than four years until sacked in October 2008.