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Players Index Page Last Updated
1 October 2018
 
 

Arthur Brown

Aston Villa FC

 3 appearances, 4 goals (all on his debut)

P 3 W 1 D 0 L 2 F 17: A 10
33% successful
1882

captain: none
minutes played: 270

Timeline
  Arthur Brown
Birth Friday, 3 December 1858 at Broomfield Place, Spon End, Coventry, Warwickshire [registered in Coventry, December 1858].

Birth notes

 Alleged to be born on 15 March 1859 in Birmingham. There is no registration to confirm this. In fact, his 1881 census, the only Birmingham-area Arthur Brown with a younger brother, Albert, was found to be born in Coventry, which led to the Arthur Brown mentioned, and corrected by Coventry City FC's historian, Lionel Bird, who also provided us with Brown's birth certificate.
 

According to the 1861 census, Arthur is the third of three children to Benjamin and Elizabeth (née Ellis), living at Court 8, 4 Sovereign Place in the Spon End area of Coventry. His father is a watchmaker.
It appears they were back at Broomfield Place for the birth of his younger brother, Albert.
 

According to the 1871 census, Arthur is the second of the six children at home with their parents at 2 Thomas Place, Wheeler Street in Birmingham. Arthur is an errand boy. His father is a watch finisher.
 

According to the 1881 census, the five Brown children and parents are living at (7 court 4 house) 28 Wheeler Street in Birmingham. Arthur is an ear ring maker. Father is still a watch finisher.
Marriage to Eliza Jane Stagg [registered in West Bromwich, June 1883].
 

According to the 1891 census, Arthur has married Eliza had have three children, Arthur B, Samuel B and Harold T. They live in 61 Albert Place in Wheeler Street. Arthur is a jeweller.
 

According to the 1901 census, at an address written as 61 Wheeler Street, Arthur and Eliza have two more children, Archie and Eveline. Arthur is now a Tobacconist, and a jeweller.
Death Thursday, 1 July 1909 at 184 Anglesey Street, Aston, Warwickshire, aged 50 years 210 days [registered in Aston, September 1909]. Died from Phlebitis of the right leg and Embolism Syncope.

Obituary
"OLD ASTON VILLA PLAYER'S DEATH.
"A Birmingham telegram announces the death of Mr Arthur Brown, who was a great footballer in the infancy of the game, and was prominent in popularising the pastime and in laying the foundation of the fame of Aston Villa Club. Brilliant in attack, a prolific scorer in many memorable games 30 years ago, he represented England against Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and shared in the English Cup triumph of Aston Villa, when they defeated the then formidable Wednesday Old Athletic by six clear goals. He also played in all the inter-Association matches. His great specialty was skilful dribbling and shooting."
- Saturday, 3 July 1909, Southern Echo

 "FAMOUS VILLA PLAYER DEAD.
 "Footballers generally will regret to hear of the death of Arthur Brown, a famous Aston Villa player, who a quarter of a century ago was one of the greatest dribblers the game ever produced. His name will always be associated with Aston Villa and Archie Hunter. Brown flourished at a time when individuality in the game of football was more pronounced than it is to-day, and the deceased was one of the cleverest exponents of the art of close dribbling at a time when brilliant players were numerous. In 1881 he was selected to play for England against Ireland, and he and his clubmate, Howard Vaughton, gave the Irishmen a good thrashing on their own ground, scoring nine goals between them out of 13 recorded against the Irish. He played against Scotland in 1882, and gained the only goal scored for England in a 5£1 defeat. He also did duty for the mother country versus Wales, at Wrexham. A man of somewhat slight build, he was a champion in the days of W. Mosforth, Wm. Gunn (Notts), George Holden (Wolverhampton Old Athletic), and a host of others who helped in no small way by their brilliance to establish the game amongst the popular pastimes of the nation."
- Monday, 5 July 1909, Sheffield Independent


Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], Lionel Bird, Coventry City FC historian &

Playing Career
Club(s) Began with Florence FC in Aston, Birmingham, then Aston Unity FC and Mitchell St. George's FC. Joined Aston Villa FC in August 1878 until August 1879 and again from February 1880 until May 1886. In between which, he played for Birchfield Trinity FC from 1891 and Birmingham Excelsior FC. Went on to a second spell with Mitchell St. George's FC. For the 1894-95 and 1895-96 seasons, Brown was playing for Evesham Wanderers FC.
Club honours Studley and District League winners 1894-95, 1895-96.
Individual honours None
Height/Weight one source states 5' 8"

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & Steve Emms, Evesham historian.

England Career
Player number One of seven who became the ninetieth players (95) to appear for England.
Position(s) Inside-right, centre-forward, half-back;
First match No. 14, 18 February 1882, Ireland 0 England 13, a friendly match at Knock Ground, Bloomfield, Belfast, aged 23 years 77 days.
Last match No. 16, 13 March 1882, Wales 5 England 3, a friendly match at The Racecourse, Mold Road, Wrexham, aged 23 years 100 days.
Individual honours None
Distinctions Older brother of Aston Villa FC's Albert Brown.
Along with Howard Vaughton, the first Villa players to represent England

Beyond England

Retired from football through ill-health. He worked as a club steward until 1908. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.49./Spartacus.Schoolnet.co.uk/Aston


The Numbers
parties Appearances minutes Goals ave.min captain
3 3 270 4 67.5min none
minutes are approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stuck to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts % W/L
3 1 0 2 17 10 +7 0 1 5.667 3.333 33.3 -1

Match Record

Venue & Competition P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts % W/L
Away venues
 Friendly matches		 3 1 0 2 17 10 +7 0 1 5.667 3.333 33.3 -1

Match History

 Club: Aston Villa F.C. - three full appearances (270 min)

F.A. Committee (Charles Alcock) - three full appearances (270 min)x

Age 23
1 14 18 February 1882 - Ireland 0 England 13, Knock Ground, Belfast Fr AW Start

15,?,?,?,?		 ir
2 15 11 March 1882 - Scotland 5 England 1, Hampden Park, Glasgow Fr AL Start ir
3 16 13 March 1882 - Wales 5 England 3, The Racecourse, Wrexham AL Start cf/
hb
   

Notes

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CG