Charlie Brown (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Charles "Charlie" Brown (14 January 1898 – 2 February 1979) was an English footballer who played at outside-right for Southampton
and Queens Park Rangers
in the 1920s.
, Northumberland
and played for his local non-league side where he was spotted by a scout
from Southampton
. He signed for the "Saints" in March 1920, and played the last three Southern League
matches in April/May 1920, playing at inside-right alongside Arthur Dominy
and Jimmy Moore.
Under manager Jimmy McIntyre
, the Saints were admitted into Division 3
of the Football League in 1920, in common with most clubs in the Southern League Division One. Brown made intermittent appearances in the early part of the season, but in December he was dropped following a poor game at Grimsby Town
. He was re-called to the side in March, taking over at outside-right from Joe Barratt
and retained his place for the rest of the season.
In 1921–22, Brown was used as cover for Barratt and was in and out of the side until Barratt was sold to Birmingham in March, when Brown made the No. 7 shirt his own. In the following season, Brown was a permanent fixture until early December when an injury caused him to miss a month, with Robert Blyth
taking over. Brown regained his place in January for the rest of the season, and also played an important part in the Saints' FA Cup
run, where they reached the Fourth Round going out to eventual cup winners, West Ham United
after two replays.
Brown was described as a "quick and crafty" winger, whose play "had a subtle way of drawing a defence before centring". Unfortunately for the Dell faithful, his best play tended to come in away matches and the Dell crowd seemed to unsettle him.
For the start of the 1923–24 season, Brown lost his place to Sammy Meston
, but regained his place after the first six matches before new signing Bill Henderson
took over in November.
In August 1924, Brown moved to Queens Park Rangers
where he had two good seasons before dropping down to non-league football
.
to live and took up employment with Supermarine
at Woolston
, before joining Vosper Thornycroft in 1936 where he remained until his retirement in 1967.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in the 1920s.
Football career
Brown was born in StakefordStakeford
Stakeford is a village in south east Northumberland, England, about north of Newcastle upon Tyne. It lies across the River Wansbeck from Ashington, the nearest town. The village takes its name from the former river crossing to the north of the village, this was a crossing through the mudflats...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
and played for his local non-league side where he was spotted by a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
from Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. He signed for the "Saints" in March 1920, and played the last three Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
matches in April/May 1920, playing at inside-right alongside Arthur Dominy
Arthur Dominy
Arthur Albert Dominy was an English professional footballer, who played as an inside-forward, and football manager, spending most of his career with Southampton....
and Jimmy Moore.
Under manager Jimmy McIntyre
Jimmy McIntyre
James Alfred "Jimmy" McIntyre was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton, Coventry City and Fulham.-Playing career:...
, the Saints were admitted into Division 3
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...
of the Football League in 1920, in common with most clubs in the Southern League Division One. Brown made intermittent appearances in the early part of the season, but in December he was dropped following a poor game at Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
. He was re-called to the side in March, taking over at outside-right from Joe Barratt
Joe Barratt
Josiah Barratt was an English professional footballer who played as a winger for various clubs in the 1920s.-Playing career:...
and retained his place for the rest of the season.
In 1921–22, Brown was used as cover for Barratt and was in and out of the side until Barratt was sold to Birmingham in March, when Brown made the No. 7 shirt his own. In the following season, Brown was a permanent fixture until early December when an injury caused him to miss a month, with Robert Blyth
Robert Blyth
Robert Roberts Taylor Blyth was a Scottish professional footballer in the 1920s.-Football career:Blyth was born in Muirkirk Scotland – his father was the Portsmouth player Bob Blyth, who went on to manage Portsmouth from 1901 to 1904 and his cousins included Bill Shankly and Bob Shankly.He made...
taking over. Brown regained his place in January for the rest of the season, and also played an important part in the Saints' FA Cup
FA Cup 1922–23
The 1922–23 FA Cup was the 48th season of the world's oldest association football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup...
run, where they reached the Fourth Round going out to eventual cup winners, West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
after two replays.
Brown was described as a "quick and crafty" winger, whose play "had a subtle way of drawing a defence before centring". Unfortunately for the Dell faithful, his best play tended to come in away matches and the Dell crowd seemed to unsettle him.
For the start of the 1923–24 season, Brown lost his place to Sammy Meston
Sammy Meston
Samuel William Meston was a professional footballer who played as a winger for Tranmere Rovers as well as for Southampton, Gillingham and Everton.-Playing career:...
, but regained his place after the first six matches before new signing Bill Henderson
Bill Henderson (footballer born 1899)
William James "Bill" Henderson was an English footballer who played at outside-right in the 1920s, spending most of his career with Southampton.-Early career:...
took over in November.
In August 1924, Brown moved to Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
where he had two good seasons before dropping down to 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...
.
Later career
In 1926, Brown returned to 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...
to live and took up employment with Supermarine
Supermarine
Supermarine was a British aircraft manufacturer that became famous for producing a range of sea planes and the Supermarine Spitfire fighter. The name now belongs to an English motorboat manufacturer.-History:...
at Woolston
Woolston, Southampton
Woolston is a suburb of Southampton, Hampshire, located on the eastern bank of the River Itchen. It is bounded by the River Itchen, Hampshire, Sholing, Peartree Green, Itchen and Weston.The area is rich in maritime and aviation history...
, before joining Vosper Thornycroft in 1936 where he remained until his retirement in 1967.