 Brown playing forForest Green Rovers in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Alistair Brown[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1978-10-02)2 October 1978 (age 47)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Bolton, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 199?–1995 | Oldham Athletic | ||
| 1995–1997 | Manchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997–1998 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
| 1998 | →Hull City (loan) | 8 | (2) |
| 1998–2001 | Hull City | 123 | (21) |
| 2001 | Torquay United | 2 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | Chester City | 13 | (2) |
| 2002–2003 | Telford United | 34 | (14) |
| 2003–2005 | Hereford United | 67 | (22) |
| 2005–2008 | Accrington Stanley | 75 | (14) |
| 2006 | →Burton Albion (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2008 | →Rushden & Diamonds (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2008 | →Northwich Victoria (loan) | 9 | (1) |
| 2008–2009 | Barrow | 11 | (3) |
| 2009–2010 | Forest Green Rovers | 60 | (7) |
| 2010–2011 | Wrexham | 9 | (1) |
| Total | 417 | (87) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2009 | Forest Green Rovers (caretaker) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:19, 4 April 2010 (UTC) | |||
David Alistair Brown (born 2 October 1978) is an English formerfootballer who last played forConference National sideWrexham as astriker.
Born inBolton, Greater Manchester,[1] Brown began his career withOldham Athletic, but signed forManchester United as an apprentice in July 1995. However, the method by which United signed Brown was deemed to have been againstFootball Association regulations, and the club was fined£20,000. He turned professional in August 1997, but failed to break into the first team at Old Trafford. In March 1998 he joinedHull City on loan until the end of the season, making his league debut on 28 March 1998 in a 0–0 draw againstMacclesfield Town atBoothferry Park. In the remainder of the season he played well enough to earn himself a permanent move, completed in June 1998.
He immediately became a regular in the Hull side the following season and even scored against hometown clubBolton Wanderers in a league cup tie, but his failure to score regularly and the signing of new players byBrian Little pushed him out of the frame for a regular starting place. In the July 2001, Brown was made available on a free transfer by Hull City after playing 123 league games, in which he scored 21 times. On 4 September 2001 Brown joinedTorquay United on trial, at the same time asGary Brabin. Neither were taken on at the time by Torquay managerRoy McFarland, although Brabin joined soon after fromBoston United.
After playing in Australia, Brown began a second trial with Torquay in early November 2001, McFarland noting that his lack of fitness was the main problem before and giving him a second chance. He signed non-contract terms for Torquay on 9 November, making his debut the following day in the 2–1 defeat at home toSwansea City. He played the following week in theFA Cup againstNorthampton Town, but was dropped for the derby game againstExeter City a few days later. With Torquay struggling to find a settled forward line, he was recalled for the defeat away toHalifax Town on 24 November, but after another disappointing performance was released immediately after the game.
In December 2001 Brown joinedChester City on trial, impressing managerSteve Mungall enough to earn a contract. However, within days of Brown signing Mungall was sacked and replaced byMark Wright who released Brown on a free transfer at the end of the season.
He joinedTelford United in August 2002,[2] moving toHereford United in June 2003, although missed the start of the season after breaking his collar-bone in pre-season training.[3] He remained with Hereford until March 2005 when he moved toAccrington Stanley, signing a new two-year deal in June 2005.[4] In the 2005–06 season Brown helped Stanley to promotion tothe Football League, with his former club Hereford taking the second promotion place. Brown struggled to gain a regular place in Stanley's league side and in November 2006 joinedBurton Albion on loan.[5] He joinedConference National sideYork City on trial in September 2008 and featured for the reserves in a 2–1 victory againstGrimsby Town.[6] However, he was not offered a contract by the club.[6] He joinedBarrow of the Conference on non-contract terms in October 2008.[7] His stay with them was brief, being released in January 2009.[8] He was snapped up later that month byForest Green Rovers.[9]
Brown ended the season partnering prolific strikerAndy Mangan and in the summer of 2009 agreed to become player/assistant manager atThe New Lawn for the 2009–10 season.[10] After managerJim Harvey left the club in August, Brown took over as player-caretaker manager.[11] Brown picked up his first point in management leading Forest Green to a battling goalless draw againstOxford United at theKassam Stadium later that month.[12] In September 2009 his short stint as player-caretaker manager came to an end whenDave Hockaday was appointed permanently as the new manager at the club. Brown remained on the playing staff.[13]
In July 2010, Brown left Forest Green to sign forWrexham.[14] but was released by the Welsh side after just one season.
