Thanks – Steve Brown

I couldn’t work out whether to make this a no thanks, or a thanks. Steve Brown was a great lad, a real character who had barely kicked a ball for the Gills when he signed for us in 1995. In 82 outings for City he scored nine which is the sort of return which should have me calling him, but I just can’t and I don’t know why.

Brown enjoyed a goal ever three games ratio at Colchester and it was hoped he could recreate that form for Steve Wicks, the manager who signed him. Sadly, Wicks only lasted a few weeks before being replaced by John Beck. Beck liked Brown’s enthusiasm and attitude, which overshadowed the distinct lack of goals.

Brown was popular with the fans as well and he became something of a cult hero for a while. A winner away at Northampton helped secure that status as well as further goals against Fulham and Wigan as John Beck steered us away from the relegation spots. He had a never say die attitude that means he is recalled just as fondly now, twenty years after kicking his first ball in anger for us.

Brown was famous for once playing in a pair of trainers belonging to groundsman Nigel Dennis, as well as for dating a page three girl. However, his popularity off the pitch wasn’t matched by a goal return on it. He had further committed outings without a high goal return until our promotion to the third tier in 1998. Once we went up he was deemed surplus to requirements and he left the club in the summer, later having a decent spell with Dover.

Yet I still like him…..