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Players Index Page Last Updated
26 January 2023
 
 

Jimmy Brown

Blackburn Rovers FC

 5 appearances, 3 goals

P 5 W 2 D 2 L 1 F 19: A 3
60% successful
1881-85

captain: none
minutes played: 450

Timeline
  James Brown
Birth Thursday, 31 July 1862 in Fox Street, Blackburn, Lancashire
registered in Blackburn July-September 1862
Baptism 17 August 1862 in St. Paul's Church, Blackburn, by R.J. Wallace.
 

According to the 1871 census, James is the youngest of three children living at Beer House in 1 Limbrick, in Blackburn with Darwen, to John Wilkinson and Elizabeth (née Haworth). His father is a beer seller.
 

According to the 1881 census, James is now a solicitors clerk and with his older sister, they live with their parents at the 'Sir Charles Napier', a public house at 13 Limbrick. His father is a licensed victualler and they live next door to the Police Office and prison.
(His father died on 23 May 1885)
  "HISTORY OF THE BLACKBURN ROVERS' FOOTBALL CLUB [BY JOSPEH BARON.] 1885-6.
"Returning home the Rovers defeated Oswaldtwistle, 1—0, on the 21st. (English Cup tie), Derby County, at Blackburn, 3—2, on the 28th, and the Darwen Old Wanderers (English Cup tie) 6—1, at Blackburn, on December 5th; Jimmy Brown reappeared in the latter match, having previously been reading up for his intermediate examination in the law" - Saturday, 10 March 1894, The Weekly Standard and Express
Marriage to Emma Dixon, on 13 October 1889 at Christ Church, Blackpool. James is a solicitor's clerk living at 13 Dickson Road, Emma is a spinster living at 12 Bright Street.
registered in Fylde October-December 1889
Children Jimmy and Emma Brown had three children together. Gertrude Elizabeth (b.13 May 1890), James (b.1892) and Lilian Eleanor (b.31 May 1900)
  "EAGLE AND CHILD HOTEL, DARWEN—STREET
(Tram Terminus), BLACKBURN.
JAMES BROWN,
The Old Rovers' captain and International Centre Forward, begs to intimate to the public of Blackburn and District that he has taken the above Hotel, and hopes to meet his old and new friends,
Choice Ales, Wines, and Spirits. Cigars of the finest brand." - Saturday, 29 November 1890, The Preston Herald
 

According to the 1891 census, Blackburn-born James is a Hotel Keeper and is married to Emma with a daughter, Gertrude Elizabeth, and a servant, at The Eagle & Child at 18 Darwen Street.
 

(His mother died in January 1899).
According to the 1901 census, in a return to his earlier vocation, James is a solicitor's clerk and still married to Emma, with two more children, James and Lilian Eleanor. They live at 88 Napier Street West in Oldham.
 

According to the 1911 census, James, Emma and their three children are now living on the opposite side of the street at 83 Napier Street West. James is a solicitors managing clerk.
 

(His son, James, died on 30 November 1918)
According to the 1921 census, James, still an out of work solicitor's clerk (last employed by Arnold, Brierley & Robinson), and Emma and two of their children are now living at 309 Park Road in Oldham (James had died on 30 November 1918).
Death Tuesday, 4 July 1922 at 309 Park Road, Oldham, Lancashire.
aged 59 years 338 days registered in Oldham July-September 1922

Obituary

"DEATH OF JIMMY BROWN.
"The death has occurred of Jimmy Brown, a famous international of the 'eighties, who helped the Blackburn Rovers to win the English Cup three years in succession. A midget in stature, Brown ranked with Cobbold as the finest dribbler of his day. In the final of 1886 he ran three-quarters of the length of the field and scored the winning goal." - Thursday, 6 July 1922, The Yorkshire Post/Friday, 7 July 1922, Northampton Chronicle & Echo.

 "THE LATE JAMES BROWN.
"The past week has seen a once famous personality of the Association football field taken from us. We refer to the death, at Oldham of James Brown, the captain of Blackburn Rovers in the far-off days of that club's greatness.
"Jimmy Brown was born in Fox-street, Blackburn, on July 31, 1862. As a youth he played with the Blackburn Law Club, and he made his first appearance with the Rovers in August, 1879, playing on the right wing with Duckworth. Then he was put in the centre and soon became a regular member of the team. Prior to that he had for three years captained the Mintholme College (Preston) cricket and football club. In 1883 he succeeded Fred Hargreaves as the Rovers' captain. International honours soon came his way against all the three countries, and for long years he was one of the great forwards of his time!
"It was not only in football that he distinguished himself, for he was a fine runner and had many sprint prizes. He stood about 5ft. 5½in., and at the height of his career weighed 9st. 10lb.
"Very fast and quick in his footwork, Jimmy Brown was one of the most accomplished dribblers and surest shots the game has known." - Monday, 10 July 1922, Athletic News.
Probate "BROWN James of 309 Park-road Oldham died 4 July 1922 at Administration London 20 July to Emma Brown widow.
 Effects £399 15s. 4d." [2019 equivalent: £22,843].


Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], Lan-opc.org.uk &

Playing Career
Club(s) Played his schoolboy football in Blackburn before playing for clubs such as Mintholme College CFC in Preston, then the Blackburn Law Club. He played with Blackburn Rovers FC from August 1879 through to December 1889, becoming club captain in 1883, also playing for the Olympic club at the same time.
League appearances
four appearances		 Blackburn Rovers FC 1888, four league appearances
debut: 17 November 1888, Blackburn Rovers FC 5 Aston Villa FC 1.
last: 29 December 1888 Preston North End FC 1 Blackburn Rovers FC 0.
Club honours FA Cup runners up 1881-82; winners 1883-84, 1884-85 (captain), 1885-86 (captain);
Football League fourth place 1888-89 (four apps);
Individual honours None
Height/Weight 5' 5½", 9st. 10lbs [1884].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career
Player number One of seven who became the 81st players (85) to appear for England.
Position(s) Centre-forward
First match No. 12, 26 February 1881, England 0 Wales 1, a friendly match at East Lancashire Cricket Ground, Alexandra Meadows, Blackburn, aged 18 years 210 days.
Last match
4 years 23 days		 No. 25, 21 May 1885, Scotland 1 England 1, a British Championship match at The Surrey Cricket Ground, The Oval, Kennington, London, aged 22 years 294 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1884-85;
Team honours None
Individual honours The North (four appearances, 3ᵍ 1881-85)
England trial (one appearance, March 1881)
The Gentlemen (January 1886)
Distinctions England's youngest goalscorer between 1882 and 1938.

Beyond England

Described as a brilliant individualist. A Solicitor's clerk living in Blackburn at the time of his first England appearance. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.50.


The Numbers
parties Apps comp. apps minutes Goals ave.min comp. goals captain
6 5 3 450 3 150 min 1 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
5 2 2 1 19 3 +16 1 2 3.8 0.6 60 +1

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 3 0 2 1 2 3 -1 1 0 0.67 1.00 33.3 -1
Away 2 2 0 0 17 0 +17 0 2 8.50 0.00 100.0 +2

Competition Record

Competition P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
British Championship 3 1 2 0 6 2 +4 0 1 2.00 0.67 66.7 +1
Friendly 2 1 0 1 13 1 +12 1 1 6.50 0.50 50.0 =0

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1884-85 3 1 2 0 6 2 +4 0 1 2.00 0.67 66.7 +1
BC All 3 1 2 0 6 2 +4 0 1 2.00 0.67 66.7 +1

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 3 1 2 0 6 2 +4 0 1 2.00 0.67 66.7 +1
3 1 2 0 6 2 +4 0 1 2 0.67 66.7 +1

Match History

 Club: Blackburn Rovers F.C. - five full appearances (450 min) 3ᵍ F.A. Committee - five full appearances (450 min) 3ᵍx

Age 18 trial  
one appearance - The North vs. The South, 19 February 1881.

apps match match details comp res rundown pos

1 12 26 February 1881 - England 0 Wales 1
East Lancashire Cricket Ground, Blackburn (home ground)		 Fr HL   cf

one of seven who became the 81st (85) players to appear for England
one of two who became the second player from Blackburn Rovers FC to represent England
the fourth youngest player to represent England - until 1955

trial  
one appearance - Birmingham & District vs. England, 5 March 1881

13 12 March 1881 - England 1 Scotland 6, The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington Fr HL reserve

Age 19
2 14 18 February 1882 - Ireland 0 England 13
Knock Ground, Belfast 		Fr AW nk
nk		 cf
   

one of three who became the scorer of the fifth-seventh brace for England - the first teenager

Age 20 trial  
one appearance - The North vs. The South, January 1883.
Age 21    
one appearance - The South vs. The North, January 1884.
Age 22    
one appearance - The North vs. The South, January 1885.

3 23 28 February 1885 - England 4 Ireland 0
Manchester Football Ground, Whalley Range		 BC HW shot hits bar [3-0]
 >77		 cf
4 24 14 March 1885 - England 1 Wales 1
Leamington Street, Blackburn (home ground)		 BC HD   cf
5 25 21 March 1885 - England 1 Scotland 1
The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington		 BC HD   cf
   

Age 23 trial  
two appearances - The Players vs. The Gentlemen, 16 January 1886; The Southc vs. The North, 30 January 1886

   

 
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