Wayne Brown (footballer, born August 1977)

Wayne Lawrence Brown (born 20 August 1977) is an English football coach and former player who was most recently manager of Colchester United.

Wayne Brown
Brown playing for Leicester City in 2010
Personal information
Full name Wayne Lawrence Brown[1]
Date of birth (1977-08-20) 20 August 1977 (age 47)[2]
Place of birth Barking, London, England
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1993–1997 Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2002 Ipswich Town 40 (0)
1997Colchester United (loan) 2 (0)
2001Queens Park Rangers (loan) 2 (0)
2001Wimbledon (loan) 17 (1)
2002Watford (loan) 11 (3)
2002–2004 Watford 25 (1)
2003Gillingham (loan) 4 (1)
2004Colchester United (loan) 16 (0)
2004–2007 Colchester United 124 (4)
2007–2009 Hull City 42 (1)
2008Preston North End (loan) 6 (0)
2009Leicester City (loan) 9 (0)
2009–2010 Leicester City 39 (0)
2010–2011 Preston North End 13 (0)
2011 Bury Town 0 (0)
Total 350 (11)
Managerial career
2015 Colchester United (caretaker)
2018–2022 Maldon & Tiptree
2021 Colchester United (caretaker)
2022 Colchester United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals


Brown began his playing career with Ipswich Town where he progressed through the club's Academy. He made his professional debut on loan at Colchester United in 1997, going on to make 40 league appearances for Ipswich. He also had loan spells with Queens Park Rangers, Wimbledon and Watford, before permanently moving to the latter in 2002. He made 25 league appearances for Watford in two years with the club, failing to establish himself in the first team. Brown was again loaned out to Gillingham in 2003, and once more to Colchester in 2004. He sealed a move to Colchester following his loan, where he made over 120 league appearances and helped guide the club to the Championship for the first time in their history in 2006. He was also named the club's Player of the Year for his efforts.

After one season in the Championship with Colchester, Brown moved to Hull City for £450,000, spending two years with the side. However, he failed to make a mark in the first-team, making 42 league appearances, though he did help the club to promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2008. He was twice loaned out by the club, to Preston North End, and Leicester City. During his loan period with Leicester, Brown was a member of the League One title-winning team. He joined Leicester permanently in the summer of 2009, but spent just one season with the club as they reached the Championship play-off places. Brown rejoined Preston in 2010 after leaving Leicester by mutual consent. He could only manage 13 league appearances in the 2010–11 season. After being deemed surplus to requirements, Brown finally wound down his playing career with local side Bury Town in 2011.

Brown returned to Colchester United in 2012 in a coaching role, assisting John McGreal in managing the under-16 side, before later being appointed joint-manager of the under-18 side alongside McGreal. Brown spent three matches as caretaker manager of Colchester in December 2015, although he returned to his under-18s coaching role following the appointment of Kevin Keen as manager. He has since managed the Colchester United under-23 side and was then appointed manager at Maldon & Tiptree.

During the 2020–21 Isthmian League season, with the season suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Brown was again named interim manager at Colchester United following the exit of Steve Ball from the role.

Playing career

edit

Ipswich Town

edit

Born in Barking, London,[2] Brown joined the Ipswich Town Academy in March 1993.[3] He progressed through the youth team, eventually making his professional debut on 18 October 1997 while on a month-long loan with Third Division side Colchester United. He made two substitute appearances for Colchester, before he made his Ipswich debut on 17 January 1998 in their 1–1 First Division draw with Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.[4] He made just one first-team appearance for Ipswich in the 1998–99 season as a late substitute in their 2–1 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.[5]

Brown began to establish himself in the Town first-team during their 1999–2000 promotion-winning season. He made 30 appearances in all competitions, including both play-off legs against Bolton Wanderers, though he was an unused substitute in the final.[6] He was the first player to receive the John Kerridge Memorial Trophy which recognised him as the most improved Ipswich player for the season.[7]

Brown made just four substitute appearances in the Premiership during the 2000–01 season, and was instead loaned out to First Division Queens Park Rangers until the end of the season in March 2001. He made two appearances for QPR before returning to Ipswich.[8]

Wimbledon signed Brown on a three-month loan deal in September 2001, during which time he scored his first professional goal. He opened the scoring in a 4–0 win for the Dons over Crewe Alexandra on 18 September.[9] He made 17 league appearances for Wimbledon, before returning to Ipswich for their FA Cup third round 4–1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge on 5 January 2002, which was to be his only appearance for his parent club during the course of the campaign. Before the end of January, Brown was on the move again, on this occasion on loan to Watford. In his eleven games for Watford, Brown scored three times; once in a 1–1 draw with West Bromwich Albion on 5 March 2002, and his second and third during a comprehensive 3–0 win over Coventry City eleven days later in his last appearance of his loan for the club.[10]

Brown scored his first and only goal of his Ipswich Town career on 29 August 2002 in their 8–1 UEFA Cup win against Avenir Beggen.[11] Brown featured regularly in the early stages of the 2002–03 season, but would make his final Ipswich appearance on 3 November 2002 as Town fell to a 2–1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Portman Road.[12] Brown made 52 appearances for Ipswich.[2]

Watford

edit

Brown signed for Watford on a free transfer on 18 December 2002, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Hornets. Owing to Watford's financial difficulties, a member of the Watford board had agreed to pay Brown's wages for the first six months of his contract.[13] He made his debut against his former club Wimbledon on Boxing Day in a goalless draw. Brown scored his only goal of his second Watford stint on 5 April 2003 in their 7–4 away win against Burnley.[12]

After failing to make an appearance for Watford in the 2003–04 season, Brown was loaned out to Gillingham for one month on 19 September 2003. He made his debut on 20 September in a 2–0 win over West Ham United, and scored his only goal of his four-game stint on 29 September in a 2–1 away defeat by Walsall. Brown returned to the first-team at Watford and made regular appearances until Christmas 2003. He was then loaned to Colchester United for the second time on 12 February 2004 until the end of the season, making his second debut in the Essex derby in a 1–1 Football League Trophy Area Final 1–1 draw with Southend United. During his stint, he received the first red card of his career for a second bookable offence in Colchester's 2–1 Second Division defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on 20 March. He made 17 appearances for the U's.[14]

Colchester United

edit

Brown signed for Phil Parkinson's Colchester United on a permanent basis ahead of the 2004–05 season following his successful loan at the end of the previous season. He made what was his third debut for the club on 7 August 2004 in Colchester's opening day 3–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. He scored once in a 2–2 draw at Wrexham on 22 February 2005 as he went on to make 47 appearances in all competitions.[15]

During the 2005–06 season Brown helped his side to second position in the League One table, earning promotion to the Championship for the first time in the club's history. He made 45 appearances in all competitions. He had received only his second-ever dismissal on 3 September 2005 during Colchester's goalless draw at Bristol City.[16] He scored three times during the season, with a goal in Colchester's record-equalling 9–1 victory over Leamington in the FA Cup first round,[17] another in their 5–0 win at Layer Road against his former side Gillingham,[18] and in a 1–0 home victory against Tranmere Rovers.[19] He was named as Colchester United Player of the Year at the end of the season.[20]

Brown's good form continued into Colchester's inaugural season in English football's second tier, guiding the side to their highest-ever league finish of 10th position in the Championship. He appeared 48 times, scoring once in Colchester's 3–1 home win against Sunderland on 21 April 2007.[21] With one year remaining on his contract, Brown put in a transfer request during the summer of 2007.[22]

Hull City

edit

With Brown demanding a move away from Layer Road and an opportunity to speak to Hull City, Colchester reluctantly accepted an offer from Hull for Brown.[23] His transfer was completed on 14 July 2007, signing a three-year contract for a £450,000 fee.[24] In his first season with Hull, Brown helped them win promotion to the Premier League following a 1–0 win against Bristol City in the 2008 play-off final.[25] Brown scored once during the course of the season with a goal in Hull's 3–1 win over his boyhood club Ipswich on 29 September 2007.[26] He made 47 appearances across the campaign.[27]

After just one Premier League and one League Cup appearance in the first three months of the 2008–09 season, Brown joined Preston North End on loan for a month, having been found surplus to requirements at his parent club.[28] Brown made six appearances for Preston through October and November 2008, before being loaned out once again by Hull.[29]

On 30 January 2009, Brown joined League One promotion hopefuls Leicester City on loan for the remainder of the 2008–09 season with a view to a permanent transfer in the summer.[30] He made nine appearances for Leicester as he helped them to regain promotion to the Championship as League One champions after beating Southend United 2–0 on 18 April 2009.[31]

Leicester City

edit
 
Jack Hobbs and Wayne Brown playing for Leicester City in January 2010.

Ten days after helping the club to the League One title, Brown signed a two-year contract with the club for an undisclosed fee.[32] He made his second debut for the club on 8 August 2009 in Leicester's 2–1 win at home to Swansea City and went on to make 39 Championship appearances for Leicester during the course of the season.[33]

During the close season, Brown left the club to sign for Preston North End.[38]

Preston North End

edit

Preston North End manager Darren Ferguson brought Brown to the club following his mutually agreed release from Leicester on 6 July 2010.[34] He made his second Preston debut on 18 September in their 1–0 home defeat by Norwich City, going on to make 13 appearances between his debut and the beginning of January 2011.[35] However, following Ferguson's dismissal as manager and his reunion with newly appointed former Hull City manager Phil Brown on 6 January 2011,[36] Wayne would make just one further substitute appearance in February 2011. Phil Brown had told Wayne that he would not be considered for selection,[37] and he was one of five players released by the club at the end of the season following Preston's relegation to League One.[38]

Bury Town

edit

After being released by Preston, Brown began training with Football League clubs Peterborough United, Bradford City and his former side Colchester United. However, he decided to sign for his former teammate at Colchester Richard Wilkins, who was managing Isthmian League side Bury Town at the time. Brown signed on 18 October 2011, turning down offers from Football League sides in order to not uproot his young family and reluctance to be a squad player. He also said that he was becoming more involved in his family business, and that his wife was expecting a baby in December. The terms with Bury allowed Brown to leave in January 2012 if a Football League club came in for him that would be financially and geographically suitable for Brown.[37]

Brown made his debut for Bury in their Isthmian League Cup first round win at home to Harlow Town on 18 October, keeping a clean sheet and playing the full 90-minutes of the 1–0 victory.[39] He played his next and what would be his final game for the club in an FA Trophy first qualifying round match against Aveley on 22 October, but was replaced by Roscoe Hipperson after just 16-minutes due to injury.[40] Brown remained out of action for the remainder of 2011, suffering from a recurrence of a calf injury and illness.[41]

Coaching career

edit

Brown returned to Colchester United in a coaching capacity at the club's Academy, where he took up a full-time role in 2013.[42] He was later appointed manager of the under-18 side alongside his former Ipswich Town teammate John McGreal,[43] and led the side to the Football League Youth Alliance South East title and won the Youth Alliance Cup in April 2014. Following Richard Hall's promotion to assistant manager in September 2014, McGreal stepped up to replace Hall as under-21s manager, while Brown remained in-charge of the under-18s.[44] Academy coach Steve Ball was promoted to jointly manage the under-18s alongside Brown.[45]

Brown was named as assistant to joint-caretaker managers Richard Hall and John McGreal at Colchester United following Tony Humes dismissal as manager on 26 November 2015.[46] However, following a 5–1 defeat against Burton Albion in their only match in charge, Brown was appointed as caretaker manager on 2 December.[47] Brown led his side to a 3–2 win in his first match in charge in the FA Cup second round against Altrincham on 6 December,[48] However, after two games managing the side, Brown dropped out of the running to become the next permanent manager following a long discussion with club chairman Robbie Cowling. Brown said "I don't feel ready and this football club needs a manager that is going into the job backing himself 100 per cent".[49] Following the appointment of Kevin Keen as permanent U's manager, Brown reverted to his role as under-18 coach.[50]

Following a shake-up of Colchester's backroom staff and John McGreal's subsequent promotion to first-team manager in May 2016, Brown was named as the new manager of the Colchester United under-21 side.[51] Brown and Kevin Horlock then switched roles in May 2018, with Horlock replacing Brown as under-23 manager, and Brown taking charge of Isthmian League North Division side Maldon & Tiptree.[52]

On 24 February 2021, with the 2020–21 Isthmian League suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Brown was named interim manager of Colchester United for a second spell, following Steve Ball's exit from the role.[53] He was replaced by Hayden Mullins from 31 March after one win in nine games.[54]

On 19 January 2022, following the departure of Mullins, Brown was again named interim manager of Colchester United.[55] With Brown having steered the club away from relegation and to a mid-table finish, he was given the job on a permanent basis on 17 May 2022.[56] On 18 September 2022, following a home defeat to Grimsby, Brown was sacked as head coach of Colchester.[57]

Career statistics

edit
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ipswich Town 1997–98[4] First Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1998–99[5] First Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1999–2000[6] First Division 25 0 1 0 2 0 2[a] 0 30 0
2000–01[8] Premiership 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2001–02[10] Premiership 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2002–03[12] First Division 9 0 1 0 3[b] 1 13 1
Total 40 0 2 0 3 0 3 1 4 0 52 1
Colchester United (loan) 1997–98[4] Third Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Queens Park Rangers (loan) 2000–01[8] First Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Wimbledon (loan) 2001–02[10] First Division 17 1 0 0 17 1
Watford (loan) 2001–02[10] First Division 11 3 0 0 11 3
Watford 2002–03[12] First Division 13 1 1 0 0 0 14 1
2003–04[14] First Division 12 0 0 0 0 0 12 0
Total 25 1 1 0 0 0 26 1
Gillingham (loan) 2003–04[14] First Division 4 1 0 0 0 0 4 1
Colchester United (loan) 2003–04[14] Second Division 16 0 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 17 0
Colchester United 2004–05[15] League One 42 1 3 0 1 0 1[c] 0 47 1
2005–06[16] League One 38 2 4 1 1 0 2[c] 0 45 3
2006–07[21] Championship 46 1 1 0 1 0 48 1
Total 124 4 8 1 5 0 3 0 140 5
Hull City 2007–08[27] Championship 41 1 0 0 3 0 3[a] 0 47 1
2008–09[29] Premier League 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
Total 42 1 0 0 4 0 3 0 49 1
Preston North End (loan) 2008–09[29] Championship 6 0 0 0 6 0
Leicester City (loan) 2008–09[29] League One 9 0 0 0 9 0
Leicester City 2009–10[33] Championship 39 0 1 0 0 0 40 0
Preston North End 2010–11[35] Championship 13 0 0 0 1 0 14 0
Bury Town 2011–12[58] Isthmian League Premier Division 0 0 0 0 2[d][e] 0 2 0
Career total 352 11 12 1 11 0 3 1 11 0 389 13
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Football League play-offs
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  4. ^ Appearance in Isthmian League Cup
  5. ^ Appearance in FA Trophy

Managerial statistics

edit
As of 17 September 2022[59]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Colchester United (caretaker) 2 December 2015 21 December 2015 3 1 0 2 033.3
Maldon & Tiptree 22 May 2018 17 May 2022 141 96 16 29 068.1
Colchester United (caretaker) 24 February 2021 31 March 2021 9 1 3 5 011.1
Colchester United 19 January 2022 18 September 2022 34 12 9 13 035.3
Total 182 102 31 49 056.04

Honours

edit

Ipswich Town

Hull City

Leicester City

Individual

References

edit
  1. ^ Hugman, Barry (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. ^ a b c d Wayne Brown at Soccerbase
  3. ^ "Wayne Brown". Pride of Anglia – Ipswich Town Football Club. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Games played by Wayne Brown in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Games played by Wayne Brown in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Games played by Wayne Brown in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  7. ^ Garnett, Tony (8 May 2000). "Those nine minutes in heaven". East Anglian Daily Times. p. 40.
  8. ^ a b c "Games played by Wayne Brown in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Crewe 0–4 Wimbledon". BBC Sport. 18 September 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d "Games played by Wayne Brown in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Ipswich thrash Beggen". BBC Sport. 29 August 2002. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  12. ^ a b c d "Games played by Wayne Brown in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Brown Signs for Watford". TWTD. 18 December 2002. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  14. ^ a b c d "Games played by Wayne Brown in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  15. ^ a b "Games played by Wayne Brown in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  16. ^ a b "Games played by Wayne Brown in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Colchester 9–1 Leamington". BBC Sport. 5 November 2005. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  18. ^ "Colchester 5–0 Gillingham". BBC Sport. 26 November 2005. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  19. ^ "Colchester 1–0 Tranmere". BBC Sport. 17 April 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Colchester United Player of the Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  21. ^ a b "Games played by Wayne Brown in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  22. ^ Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
  23. ^ Buckingham, Mark. "Hull agree fee for Brown". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  24. ^ "Tigers wrap up transfer of Brown". BBC Sport. 14 July 2007.
  25. ^ a b McNulty, Phil (24 May 2008). "Bristol City 0–1 Hull". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  26. ^ "Hull 3–1 Ipswich". BBC Sport. 29 September 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  27. ^ a b "Games played by Wayne Brown in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  28. ^ "Preston sign Hull defender Brown". BBC Sport. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  29. ^ a b c d "Games played by Wayne Brown in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  30. ^ "Brown swaps Tigers for Leicester". BBC Sport. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  31. ^ a b "Southend 0–2 Leicester". BBC Sport. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  32. ^ "Brown seals permanent Foxes deal". BBC Sport. 28 April 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  33. ^ a b "Games played by Wayne Brown in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  34. ^ "Preston North End sign Craig Morgan and Wayne Brown". BBC Sport. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  35. ^ a b "Games played by Wayne Brown in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  36. ^ "Phil Brown appointed Preston North End's new manager". BBC Sport. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  37. ^ a b Brammer, Chris (18 October 2011). "Wayne Brown happy to sign for Bury Town". Green'Un. Ipswich. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  38. ^ "Five players free to leave PNE". Lancashire Evening Post. Preston. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  39. ^ "Bury Town 1–0 Harlow Town". Bury Town FC. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  40. ^ "Aveley 0–1 Bury Town". Bury Town FC. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  41. ^ "Injury crisis sees Blues play through pain barrier". Bury Free Press. Bury St Edmunds. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  42. ^ "Scowcroft: Agents Will Tell Players to Sit Tight". TWTD. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  43. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (12 November 2013). "U's youngsters are repaying Cowling's support". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  44. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (8 September 2014). "McGreal ready for first game in charge of U's under-21s". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  45. ^ "Brown believes Colchester United's youngsters have a great incentive to play well". Daily Gazette. Colchester. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  46. ^ Spurgeon, Simon (26 November 2015). "Tony Humes departs as Colchester United manager". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  47. ^ "Colchester name Wayne Brown as caretaker manager". Sky Sports. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  48. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (6 December 2015). "Colchester United caretaker manager Wayne Brown pleased with the togetherness of his side in Altrincham win". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  49. ^ "Wayne Brown doesn't want to be Colchester United's next manager". Daily Gazette. Colchester. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  50. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (29 December 2015). "Colchester United academy coach Steve Ball succeeds David Wright in Maldon and Tiptree hot seat". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  51. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (17 May 2016). "Wayne Brown appointed as Colchester United's new under-21 manager". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  52. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (22 May 2018). "Colchester United favourite Wayne Brown is new Maldon and Tiptree boss". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  53. ^ "Wayne Brown: Colchester United name interim first-team coach". BBC Sport. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  54. ^ "Colchester United: Hayden Mullins replaces Wayne Brown as interim boss". BBC Sport. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  55. ^ "Club Statement". www.cu-fc.com. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  56. ^ "Brown, Dunne and Huzzey Appointed Permanent Management Team". www.cu-fc.com. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  57. ^ "Colchester sack head coach Brown". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  58. ^ "Wayne Brown". Bury Town FC. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  59. ^ "1st Team fixtures & results". Maldon&Tiptree. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  60. ^ "Ipswich triumph at last". BBC News. 29 May 2000. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
edit