Former boss Joe Brown passes away

Last updated : 30 October 2014 By Tony Scholes
Joe Brown pictured second left with Dr. Iven, Jimmy Adamson and Bob Lord

"We won't go down, we've got Joe Brown," a banner at Carrow Road proclaimed as he came out for his first game in charge of the Clarets following the dismissal of Jimmy Adamson. It was the start of his last year at Burnley. We did go down, with Joe Brown, and after a difficult few months in the second division he was replaced by Harry Potts who he himself had brought back to the club as chief scout.

Cramlington born Joe had been a player at Burnley from 1952 to 1954 having been signed from Middlesbrough, but made only six appearances for us mainly due to a back problem. In the summer of 1954 he was sold to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic where he ended his playing career.

He wouldn't have been long remembered for his playing days at Turf Moor but he certainly was for a 16 year career back at Burnley as coach and finally manager.

Joe was the youth team coach for some time and it was under his charge that we won the FA Youth Cup in 1968 with a side that included players such as Steve Kindon and Dave Thomas, under the captaincy of Mick Docherty.

Docherty told me today: "I'm extremely sorry to hear of his passing. He was a church going man and I know he's been in poor health recently."

Talking of his time at Turf Moor, Doc added: "He always had a smile on his face, was always keen and excited, and along with Jimmy Adamson they combined to form a brilliant youth team with many going on to play in the first team and other Football League clubs."

Doc described him as a lovely man and they were the same words Colin Waldron used when asked about Brown with Waldo convinced he was caught between a rock and a hard place when he was offered the manager's job in January 1976.

He'd stepped up to become Adamson's number two in 1970 and was given the manager's job following Adamson's sacking. Many said that he was too nice to be a manager and maybe that proved to be the case, but he had little alternative but to take it when offered.

He turned down the opportunity of another role at the club when he lost that job in February 1977 and soon after he joined Manchester United where he remained until well into the 1990s.

He played a significant role in bringing together United's class of 92 and was a key figure in luring Ryan Giggs to Old Trafford, and that wasn't a bad days work.

I knew Joe well during his time at Burnley and often saw him around town afterwards and had many a chat with him. He had been ill for some time and it was sad to see him on occasions out with his wife Connie who herself passed away in February last year.

Joe and Connie had two sons, Martin and Nigel. I knew Nigel very well but he sadly passed away some years ago.

Joe had his 85th birthday in April of this year and passed away this morning at Healey Lodge Nursing Home in Burnley. My thoughts are now with Martin and his family at this very sad time for them.

Joe was a real football man, but I don't think I could choose better words than to describe him as a lovely man.