Douglas Alexander Brown (born 21 March 1958) is a former footballer who played as a forward for Sheffield United. Born in England, he played for the Australia B national team.
Born in Poole in Dorset, Brown started his career in Scotland where he was signed by Aberdeen on 16 July 1976 but failed to make the breakthrough into the first team. On 17 May 1978 he moved to Clydebank for a short spell before being signed by English side Sheffield United on 2 March 1979, making his league debut the following day in a 1–1 draw against Oldham Athletic.
Described by the press as an 'enthusiastic' player Brown was unable to establish himself as a first team player and eventually left United in October 1980 after playing 31 games in total and scoring five goals.
Following his departure from United, Brown returned to his former trade as an engineering fitter. Brown worked for his father, George Brown, who was a building sub-contractor. George Brown had also been a Football League player, with Southport and Bradford Park Avenue.
Brown later emigrated to Australia, signing with local giants South Melbourne Hellas in the National Soccer League. In four seasons at the club, he established himself as one of its greatest ever figures, twice finishing as the league's highest scorer and leading the club to the 1984 championship. He has been honoured as a nominee in the club's Hall of Champions.
Honours
Club Domestic with South Melbourne National Soccer League Champions: 1984 Conference Winners: 1984, 1985 Buffalo Gold Cup Winners: 1984 Hellenic Cup Winners: 1984
Individual National Soccer League Top Goalscorer 1983 – 16 goals 1984 – 22 goals
Preston Makedonia Top Goalscorer 1982 – 11 goals
Fawkner Top Goalscorer 1987 – 14 goals 1988 – 8 goals
Australia B Leading Goalscorer 1984 – 2 goals
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueIncludes NSL Conference and Championship play-offsNational CupOtherIncludes League Cup, Scottish League Cup, Anglo-Scottish Cup, Ampol Cup, Buffalo Gold Cup, Hellenic Cup, Buffalo Cup, Dockerty Cup, and Victorian State League Cup.TotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAberdeen1976–77Scottish Premier Division000000001977–78Scottish Premier Division00000000Total00000000Clydebank1978–79Scottish First Division1213120172Sheffield United1978–79English Second Division910000911979–80English Third Division1610063224Total2520063315Stranraer1980–81Scottish Second Division72210093Preston Makedonia1981National Soccer League25721002781982National Soccer League2811203131121983National Soccer League00003131Total531841626321South Melbourne1983National Soccer League2816330031191984National Soccer League3222005237241985National Soccer League2310105129111986National Soccer League30134083Total86485614310557Heidelberg United1986National Soccer League12700001271987National Soccer League10005262Total137 0052189Fawkner1987Victorian State League2214004526191988Victorian State League2480021269Total4622 00665228Career total2421001493916295125
International Australia BYearAppsGoals 1984 5 2Total 5 2
International goals Scores and results list Australia B's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 7 June 1984 Adamstown Oval, Newcastle Rangers 2–4 2–4 Friendly 2. 17 June 1984 Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Iraklis 1–1 1–1 Friendly
References