Wayne Brown
Encyclopedia
Wayne Larry Brown is an English
professional football goalkeeper who currently plays for Oxford United.
, former bricklayer Brown made a switch from Bashley to Bristol City
for £40,000 in December 1992. Between 1993 and 1996 he made only 24 appearance for the Robins due to a number of injuries. After a brief spell with Weston-super-Mare he joined Chester City
in September 1996, initially as cover for Ronnie Sinclair
(who had an elbow injury and needed surgery) and then in direct competition with Neil Cutler
. In a ten-season stint with the club he made 289 appearances, becoming first-choice keeper in the 1999–00 season, the first of two seasons in which he did not miss a league match.
While at Chester he made seven appearances for the England National Game XI
semi-professional side. Unfortunately he suffered an injury in training in December 2003 that sidelined him for the remainder of the 2003–04 season, as Chester ended the season as Nationwide Conference champions. He enjoyed a testimonial match against former players in May 2004 and returned to the side at the start of the next season, but was deemed surplus to requirements in May 2005 and dropped back into the Conference for a season-long loan with Hereford United
.
Brown was the first-choice keeper for Hereford in Conference matches (but was not allowed by Chester to play in cup games) and was an integral part of the best defence in the Conference that season, conceding just 30 goals. He became a fans' favourite, earning the nickname 'Superman'. In the 2006 Conference play-off final with just a few minutes to go in extra time, Brown sustained a head injury in a collision. With all three substitutions made it looked for a moment as if he would be unable to continue, but after several minutes he recovered and even made a good save in the dying minutes to keep Hereford 3–2 up. Hereford went on to win the match and promotion to the Football League, and Brown signed for Hereford permanently soon afterwards.
Brown was first-choice keeper at Edgar Street in Hereford's first two seasons back in the Football League, missing just 9 league matches out of a possible 92. The 2007–08 season saw him keep 17 clean sheets and concede 41 goals in the league, as Hereford gained promotion to League One
. He kept a further four clean sheets in the FA Cup
, most notably in the victory over Leeds United
at Elland Road
. This match was also his 100th competitive appearance for the club.
Brown's highlight of the season, as recognised by Graham Turner
, came in the 1–0 win at Mansfield Town
. In the last minute of normal time he saved Michael Boulding
's penalty in front of the travelling support who celebrated as if Hereford had scored a goal, and in the last seconds of the match he made a further save to deny Jefferson Louis
, rescuing Hereford again.
Despite being named Player of the Year, Brown rejected a new contract and League One football at Edgar Street and instead signed for Bury
on a two-year contract.
In July 2010 he signed with Supersport United
. On 28 July 2011 Brown returned to England, signing a one-year deal with Oxford United
following a successful trial.
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...
professional football goalkeeper who currently plays for Oxford United.
Career
Born in SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, former bricklayer Brown made a switch from Bashley to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
for £40,000 in December 1992. Between 1993 and 1996 he made only 24 appearance for the Robins due to a number of injuries. After a brief spell with Weston-super-Mare he joined Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in September 1996, initially as cover for Ronnie Sinclair
Ronnie Sinclair
Ronnie Sinclair is a former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Although born in Scotland, Sinclair spent his career in England, with the majority of his appearances coming with Bristol City, Stoke City and Chester City.-Playing career:Capped by Scotland at youth and schoolboy...
(who had an elbow injury and needed surgery) and then in direct competition with Neil Cutler
Neil Cutler
Neil Anthony Cutler is an English Goalkeeper Coach and former football goalkeeper who retired in September 2007. He re-registered as a player in November 2010 for Bury. He last played for Rotherham United, whom he joined just a couple of days before the 2005–06 season got under way...
. In a ten-season stint with the club he made 289 appearances, becoming first-choice keeper in the 1999–00 season, the first of two seasons in which he did not miss a league match.
While at Chester he made seven appearances for the England National Game XI
England National Game XI
The England C National Football Team is the football team that represents England at non-league level. Formed in 1979 as the England Non-League team, it features players who play for clubs outside of the Football League...
semi-professional side. Unfortunately he suffered an injury in training in December 2003 that sidelined him for the remainder of the 2003–04 season, as Chester ended the season as Nationwide Conference champions. He enjoyed a testimonial match against former players in May 2004 and returned to the side at the start of the next season, but was deemed surplus to requirements in May 2005 and dropped back into the Conference for a season-long loan with Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
.
Brown was the first-choice keeper for Hereford in Conference matches (but was not allowed by Chester to play in cup games) and was an integral part of the best defence in the Conference that season, conceding just 30 goals. He became a fans' favourite, earning the nickname 'Superman'. In the 2006 Conference play-off final with just a few minutes to go in extra time, Brown sustained a head injury in a collision. With all three substitutions made it looked for a moment as if he would be unable to continue, but after several minutes he recovered and even made a good save in the dying minutes to keep Hereford 3–2 up. Hereford went on to win the match and promotion to the Football League, and Brown signed for Hereford permanently soon afterwards.
Brown was first-choice keeper at Edgar Street in Hereford's first two seasons back in the Football League, missing just 9 league matches out of a possible 92. The 2007–08 season saw him keep 17 clean sheets and concede 41 goals in the league, as Hereford gained promotion to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
. He kept a further four clean sheets in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, most notably in the victory over Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
. This match was also his 100th competitive appearance for the club.
Brown's highlight of the season, as recognised by Graham Turner
Graham Turner
Graham John Turner is an English former footballer who became a manager. He is currently manager of League Two club Shrewsbury Town. His son Mark was also a professional footballer....
, came in the 1–0 win at Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
. In the last minute of normal time he saved Michael Boulding
Michael Boulding
Michael Thomas Boulding is an English professional footballer. He can play as a forward or as a winger, and had previously been a promising young tennis player, ranking among the top 20 players in Britain...
's penalty in front of the travelling support who celebrated as if Hereford had scored a goal, and in the last seconds of the match he made a further save to deny Jefferson Louis
Jefferson Louis
Jefferson Lee Louis is a footballer who plays for Brackley Town. A forward, he has played in the Football League for Oxford United, Bristol Rovers and Mansfield Town, and is a Dominica international.-Club career:...
, rescuing Hereford again.
Despite being named Player of the Year, Brown rejected a new contract and League One football at Edgar Street and instead signed for Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
on a two-year contract.
In July 2010 he signed with Supersport United
Supersport United
SuperSport United is a South African football club based in Pretoria that plays in the Premier Soccer League.The club was originally known as Pretoria City. City was purchased by M-Net in 1994. M-Net got approval from the National Soccer League and the club was renamed.United is known as...
. On 28 July 2011 Brown returned to England, signing a one-year deal with Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
following a successful trial.