Youth Matters day continues with a look at Grant Brown
Born in Sunderland, Grant Brown was scouted by Leicester City and joined at 13 making his debut in what turned out to be a long old career at 17 in the middle of his A levels.
Initially things seemed to go well before Grant found himself pushed into the reserves after 12 appearances during the 88/89 season. It was at this point that Colin Murphy intervened bringing Grant and Paul Groves to the Imps on a two month loan whilst negotiations continued over a £150,000 move for Tony James to go the other way. Both debuted in a 1-0 defeat at Wolves in the League Cup, Groves returned at the end of the loan, whilst Grant Brown stayed another month before Murphy made it permanent with a then Club record fee of £63,000.
Murphy the first of his 11 ‘gaffers` at the Imps, and that is just as a player, parted company with the Imps two months later, but he left another Lincoln legacy. For the next 12 seasons the name of Grant Brown would be an almost ever-present on the team sheet going on to make 462 appearances in the Red and White stripes of Lincoln as opposed to this Sunderland boyhood heroes.
During his 1999/2000 testimonial season, Grant overtook Tony Emery’s appearance record of 424 League and cup games in an LDV Vans Trophy game against Morecambe in the November. He then broke his leg at home to Hull which kept him out for nine-months. We had to wait a while for him to break the 403 League Games record (again held by Emery) however it came on Tuesday 26th March 2002 in the derby against York at Bootham Crescent. Grant would make just 4 more appearance before being released. He would part company with his beloved Imps on a very sad note as we tottered towards administration.
Grant signed a one year contract with Telford United in July 2002 before moving to Alfreton Town for two more seasons. Then in July 2005 just after agreeing to join Worksop Town for the season the Imps came calling. With Schoey moving to the first team set up following Simmo`s sudden departure, he was appointed as a youth team coach. Grant`s career appeared to have gone full circle with him again swatting at his books one minute, this time for coaching badges, then working for his adopted Imps the next. With all the balls in the air Grant Brown also played the last season of his career at Grantham Town.
Grant became caretaker manager after the sackings of John Schofield and John Deehan on 15 October 2007, a post he would hold until Peter Jackson joined the club. When Jacko underwent treatment for throat cancer in the February Brown assisted Iffy Onuora and was very much part of the first team family with Tom Spall running the Youth sessions. Then with Simon Clark becoming first team coach in 2008-09 Grant was relegated back to the youth team with his future in doubt. Then in July 2009 he was promoted to Assistant Head of Youth at the club taking over the rains when Tom Spall and Simon Clark took over when Iffy and Jacko were sacked.
Full Imps record :
Apps : 462 (Sub 7) Goals : 18
Football League record :
Apps : 401 ; (Sub 6) Goals : 15
Debut : 22/08/1989, Wolverhampton Wanderers (a) 0-1, LC Rd 1 1st leg
Last Game : 20/04/2002, Hull City (a) 1-1, Div 3
Grant Brown
(1989/90-2001/02)
Full name Grant Ashley Brown
Date of birth 19-11-69) (age 40)
Place of birth Sunderland, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position Central defender
Current Roll Assistant Head of Youth
1988-1989 Leicester City 14 aps
1989-2002 Lincoln City 407 aps (18)
2003-2005 Telford United 35 (0)
2005-2006 Alfreton Town 83 (1)
2006-2007 Grantham Town 42 (6)
