Scott Brown (born 8 May 1985) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder. He has played in the English Football League for Bristol City, Cheltenham Town, Port Vale, Morecambe and Accrington Stanley.
Starting his career with Everton in their youth system, before moving on to Bristol City, having failed to make an appearance for Everton. After three years with City, he transferred to Cheltenham Town in January 2007. Not longer after joining Cheltenham he broke his leg and spent the next 18 months in recovery and then had a brief spell with Port Vale, before signing for Morecambe in 2010. After a brief spell with Fleetwood Town, he signed with York City in January 2012. He played for York in the victorious 2012 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley Stadium, which saw the club promoted to League Two. He had a brief spell at Macclesfield Town in August 2012, before joining Chester the following month. He helped Chester to win both the Conference North title and the Cheshire Senior Cup in the 2012–13 season.
Brown signed with Southport in July 2013, and stayed with the club for one season before joining Conference Premier club Grimsby Town for an 18-month stay in June 2014. He signed with Accrington Stanley in January 2016, and helped the club win the League Two title in the 2017–18 season. He joined Harrogate Town in May 2019 and spent much of the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons loan at Warrington Town.
Club career
Early career
Born in Runcorn, Cheshire, Brown progressed through the Everton youth system, having joined the club at under-nines level. He was part of the team that reached the 2002 FA Youth Cup Final, which Everton lost 4–2 on aggregate to Aston Villa. After not making a senior appearance for the club he was released in 2004. He then joined Port Vale on trial in July 2004, under manager Martin Foyle, but was not signed to the club on a permanent contract.
Bristol City
In August 2004, he turned professional when he signed for Bristol City when Brian Tinnion offered him an initial three-month contract. In October 2005, Brown and City teammates David Partridge and Bradley Orr were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder after an incident in a nightclub. They were later charged with affray, as was teammate Steve Brooker. Brown denied the offence but admitted the lesser charge of a section 4 public-order offence. His three teammates were sent to prison, but Brown escaped this punishment and instead was given 120 hours' community service for his part in the drunken brawl.
Cheltenham Town (loan) He was voted the Professional Footballers' Association Fans' Player of the Month for September 2006. Brown joined fellow League One club Cheltenham Town in January 2007. He broke his leg in a collision with teammate Damian Spencer in a match against his former team and was ruled out for the rest of the 2006–07 season. His full recovery from the double leg fracture and dislocated ankle took a total of 18 months despite the surgeon initially fearing that Brown would struggle to ever walk properly again. Despite having left Bristol City halfway through the 2006–07 season he was presented with a promotion medal by Gary Johnson for his contribution in the first half of the campaign.
Port Vale (loan) In November 2008, Brown went to Port Vale on loan after failing to make an appearance under manager Martin Allen. He scored on his debut on 22 November, in a 4–2 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers at Vale Park. In January 2009, Vale signed Brown on a free transfer after his Cheltenham contract expired. With 19 appearances for Vale in 2008–09, he was released upon the season's conclusion. He rejoined Cheltenham on 25 March 2010 on non-contract terms, but was released by the club along with seven other players in May, having only played 16 minutes in the final match of the season.
Morecambe
In July 2010, he joined Grimsby Town on trial and played in the club's 3–0 win over Winterton Rangers. In September 2010, he signed with Morecambe. He scored three goals in 33 matches before being released at the end of the season.