Edward “Eddie” Brown 1933 – 2018
Eddie Brown: The Arsenal 1954-1957
An Arsenal reserve and A team player he was unlucky in the timing of his national service call up while at Highbury, but found his feet at Bangor City.
Born on 31 August 1933 in Choppington, Northumberland, Eddie played for Bedlington Mechanics FC as a marauding centre forward who was especially good with his head.
Recommended to the club by former Arsenal winger and fellow Northumbrian Henry Waller in July 1954, he signed professionally, after a series of trials, a month later on 12 August 1954. Unfortunately he was called up in September 1954 and served his national service with the RAF in Cheshire.
He made five reserve appearances scoring two goals, and in 24 ‘A’ team games notched six goals for the Arsenal.
Given a free transfer on 30 June 1957, Brown was snapped up soon afterwards by Chesterfield of the Third Division (North). He then moved to the Cheshire League with Winsford United, followed by a three year stint at Bangor City starting in December 1960.
This was his most successful period as a player scoring over 50 goals for the club and in the process helped them to win the Welsh Cup and beat Napoli in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1962. As Bangor won 2-0 at home but lost 3-1 away the tie went to a replay. Napoli won the replay at Highbury 2-1, but had the away goals rule been in place Bangor would have gone on to the second round!
Appearances for Runcorn, Cheltenham Town and Rugby Town followed, before arriving at Macclesfield for the 1972/73 season. He started in the reserves but then became first team manager in January 1974, a position he held until September of the same year after his resignation.
Eddie Brown passed away on 28 September 2018 aged 85.
Good to see respect and remembrance given to Arsenal players who did not make it in the first team .