Death of soccer legend:
AKEY player in Bangor City’s Welsh Cup winners and European heroes of the early 1960s has passed away aged 85, reports Kevin Owen.
Eddie Brown, a bustling centre forward renowned for his heading ability, was part of Bangor’s team which defeated Wrexham in the 1961-62 Welsh Cup final in a play-off at Rhyl. This great side went on to make headlines for their exploits against Italian giants Napoli in the European Cup Winners Cup the following season.
Brown, a schoolteacher, began his footballing career on the books of Arsenal before joining then Football League club Chesterfield. A successful spell with Cheshire League out- fit Winsford United followed, with Brown establishing himself as a prolific marksman.
Brown’s goalscoring prowess attracted the attention of Bangor City manager Tommy Jones and the much-admired centre forward eventually signed for the Citizens in December 1960, scoring on his debut against Stalybridge Celtic.
The Citizens would go on to make their first Welsh Cup Final appearance in 33 years that season, with the final against Swansea Town controversially held midweek in Cardiff.
Bangor took an early lead, with Brian Ellis netting a rebound after Brown’s initial powerful drive had been saved, but would eventually lose 3-1.
Despite that Bangor rounded off the season in style with an 8-1 Cheshire League mauling of Wigan Rovers, Brown notching five of City’s goals.
The Citizens went one step further the following season, lifting the Welsh Cup for the first time in 66 years. After beating Pwllheli and Barry Town, two goals by Brown ensured a 2-0 semi-final success over First Division Cardiff City.
The two-leg final pitted the Citizens against Fourth Division promotion contenders Wrexham. City were beaten 3-0 in the first leg, with Brown suffering a suspected broken jaw leaving him doubtful for the return at Farrar Road a fortnight later.
Bangor boss Jones took a risk by starting Brown in the second leg, with the centre forward passed fit less than an hour before kick off. The gamble paid off as Brown’s 20th minute header set the Citizens on the path to a 2-0 victory. Barry Wilkinson netted the second goal to set up a replay at Rhyl’s Belle Vue. With an estimated 12,000 fans in attendance, goals from Brian Ellis, Brown and Reg Hunter saw Bangor triumph 3-1 and lift the trophy for the first time since 1896.
Drawn against Napoli in the following season’s European Cup Winners’ Cup, Bangor stunned the footballing world by beating the star-studded Neapolitans 2-0 in the first leg in front of a capacity crowd at Farrar Road. A goal from Roy Matthews shortly before the interval set Bangor on their way and skipper Ken Birch doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute.
The second leg saw Bangor set up a replay as the Italians clinched a 3-1 win (3-3 aggre- gate). Jimmy McAllister scored Bangor’s “golden goal”.
Brown returned to Highbury for the replay on Wednesday, October 10, 1962 – the first ever match in European competition to be held at the stadium.
McAllister was again on target for City as he levelled matters on 66 minutes after Napoli had taken a first-half lead. Bangor hearts were eventually broken by an 84th minute winner.
Brown scored more than 50 goals in all competitions during his three-year stay with Bangor, transferring to Runcorn during the 1963-64 season.
Brown would go on to feature for Cheltenham Town and Rugby Town and also enjoyed a spell as manager of Macclesfield Town, leading them to an FA Trophy semi-final in the 1973-74 season.