Chris Brown (footballer)
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| Chris Brown | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11/12/1984 | |
| Place of birth | Doncaster, England | |
| Nickname | Browny | |
| Position | Striker | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Sunderland | |
| Number | 20 | |
| Professional clubs* | ||
| Years | Club | Apps (goals) |
| 2003- 2003-2004 2005 |
Sunderland Doncaster Rovers (loan) Hull City (loan) |
53 (7) 22 (10) 13 (1) |
|
* Professional club appearances and goals |
||
Chris Brown (born 11 December 1984) is finished at Sunderland AFC
Contents |
[edit] Playing Career
A prolific goalscorer at youth level, Brown rose through the youth ranks at Sunderland, making his debut for the under-19 team at the age of just 15. However, Brown suffered a setback in 2002 when he damaged his cruciate ligament whilst playing for the reserve side, forcing him to miss the entire 2002/2003 season. During this season Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League.
After making a succesful recovery, Brown was promoted to the Sunderland first team, and was allocted the number 31 shirt for the clubs first season back in the first division. During the season, Brown was loaned to hometown club Doncaster Rovers, where he made 22 appearances during his seven month stay, scoring 10 goals. Brown ended the season with a Nationwide Division Three winners medal, finishing four points ahead of future club Hull City, who finished second.
Brown was handed the number 20 squad number at Sunderland for the 04/05 season, with many tipping Brown to break through into the first team that season as the club bounced back from a play-off defeat to Crystal Palace the year below. Brown was named as an unused substitute for the trip to Plymouth on August 21, and officially Brown made his debut for Sunderland on September 21, scoring twice in the 3-3 draw with Crewe Alexandra in the Carling Cup. Although Sunderland lost the game on penalties, Brown impressed enough to retain his place for the trip to Leeds United four days later, with the game resuling in a 1-0 victory for Sunderland.
Brown featured throughout the season for Sunderland, making 14 starts and 23 substitute appearances, scoring 7 goals. Although mainly being used as a substitute during the first half of the season, Brown enjoyed an extended run in the side towards the end of the campaign, as Sunderland clinched the newly renamed Coca Cola Championship title and won promotion. At the end of the season, Brown was beaten by team-mate Stephen Elliott for the clubs "young player of the year" award.
Brown featured for Sunderland during the pre-season tour of USA and Canada, though was told by manager Mick McCarthy that he needed to gain further first team experience on loan at another club. Brown made a second half substitute appearance against Liverpool FC at Anfield on August 20, and later joined Championship side Hull on loan on September 8 until January. Brown struggled during his time at the KC Stadium however, scoring once in 13 appearances, and was recalled by Sunderland in November. After three appearances back at Sunderland however, Brown picked up an injury which would sideline him until March, by which time Sunderland looked destined for relegation after a disaster of a season.
Brown featured regularly for Sunderland after making his return, however could not save the club from the drop as the Black Cats were relegated with a new record low of just 15 points. Brown did manage to score in the clubs final home game of the season against Fulham FC on May 4 - one of only three victories for the club in the league.
Brown became a regular for Sunderland under new boss Roy Keane during the 06/07 season, however his future hangs in the balance following controversial off the field activities reported in The Sun newspaper (see below).
[edit] Controversy
[edit] Paintball shooting
On September 7, 2004, shortly before Brown's debut for the club, Brown was cautioned by Northumbria Police along with team-mates Sean Taylor and Ryan Bell for firing paintballs at passers by from a car.[1] The trio were initially suspended by the club during investigations, and were fined and haned written warnings for their behaviour. During a statement, the trio said they were "embarassed" by their behaviour, and apologised for their actions. [2]
A fourth player, Niall Flynn, was also disciplined for a similar, seperate incident. Whilst Bell and Flynn and Taylor were released in 2005 and 2006 without making an appearance for Sunderland, Brown made his debut the same day his fine was announced on September 21, 2004, and has been a first team regular ever since.
[edit] Sex tape allegations
On December 7, 2006, tabloid newspaper The Sun reported Brown, along with team-mates Ben Alnwick and Liam Lawrence had filmed themselves in an orgy with a brunette girl refered to as 'Stevie.' In the video, Brown is said to give "Match of the Day" style commentary as his team-mates perform sexual acts on the girl. Former Sunderland midfielder Martin Woods also features on the tape, but remains fully clothed, along with two other men. In reference to the watching men, Brown reportedly comments “Here’s the boys — the watching faithful — every week without fail.”[3]
On December 8, The Sun reported that the girl in the video was just 16 years old, with the girl claiming she had no idea she was being filmed.[4]
| Sunderland A.F.C. - Current Squad |
|---|
|
1 Alnwick | 2 Wright | 3 Nyatanga | 5 Cunningham | 6 Caldwell | 8 Whitehead | 10 S. Elliott | 11 Murphy | 12 Nosworthy | 13 Ward | 15 D. Collins | 16 Hysén | 20 Brown | 23 Leadbitter | 24 Carson | 26 R. Elliott | 27 Varga | 28 Kavanagh | 29 Hartley | 30 Richardson | 31 Connolly | 32 Fülöp | 33 Wallace | 34 Yorke | 36 Miller | Manager: Keane |
