The Longside Reference

Name: William 'Willie' Brown                                                  

D.O.B: 5th February 1950

Place of Birth: Falkirk

Clubs: Burnley, Carlisle United, Barrow (Loan), Newport County, Hereford United (Loan), Brentford, Torquay United

Clubs Managed: Minehead

Burnley Fee: from youth

Signed by Harry Potts

Burnley Debut: 24th August 1968, West Bromwich Albion (A) (Sub)

Last appearance for Burnley: As above

Claret Stats: (1) Appearance no goals

Claret Honours: FA Youth Cup Winner 1968

International Honours: Scottish Youth International

Claret Stat:  Willie Brown began his career as a junior with The Clarets, turning professional in February 1967. His only league appearance for the Clarets came as a substitute against West Bromwich Albion in the 1968-69 season, coming of the bench to replace Dave Thomas.

He will be remembered though as Burnley's centre forward, it there FA Youth Cup triumph in 1968, scoring four goals in the run which saw Burnley crowned FA Youth cup winners.

In July 1969, he moved to Carlisle United on a free transfer, but was sent on loan to Barrow in September 1969, scoring once in 6 league games. He returned to Carlisle, scoring 8 goals in 19 league games that season, before leaving for Newport County in August 1970 for a fee of £1,500.

He fitted into the Newport side and became a regular goalscorer, scoring 50 goals in 168 league appearances, before joining Hereford United on loan in March 1974.

In November 1974 he joined Brentford for a fee of £4,000, a year later he joined Torquay United for a fee of £5,000.

His regular goalscoring soon made him a crowd favourite at Plainmoor, Brown scoring 47 goals in 139 league games before leaving league football in 1978. He was later commercial manager at Western League side Minehead, and since owned a newsagents in Minehead.